PEEPING AT FILMDOM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 230, 28 September 1935, Page 5 (Supplement)

PEEPING AT FILMDOM.

MERGERS IN HOLLYWOOD. DEATH OF WILL ROGERS. (By MOLLIE MERRICK.) HOLLYWOOD, August 21. Another step in tl?e movement to centralise all motion-picture production, distribution and exhibition into four vast concerns was observed this week when it was revealed that physical acts have occurred toward merging the RKORadio and Paramount studios. A check-up on the personnel of the two studios with an eye to the merger lias been in progress for a month. According to confidential information, a staff is being made up from employees of both plants so that when the union is effected the fence between the two lots may be torn down to form one large studio.

Were it not for the Government's attitude and competition between the sound-device concerns the merger, say those close to the situation, would take place immediately. As it is, it probably will not occur before January. Even then it may be necessary to operate the two studios as separate firms for a time. With the merger probably 1000 of RKO'S 1500 employees would be unemployed, and it is felt that Washington would object to this.

Well-informed sources that give evidence of having known of the carefully guarded Fox and Twentieth Century deal for months before it was made public and, therefore, command respect for their current predictions, see the future thus: —

All independents of standing have been united in Republic Pictures, and will be consolidated with Universal which, in turn, Avill effect an alliance with Warner Brothers.

M.G.M. and Twentieth Century-Fox will find themselves under one management.

United Artists will then embrace Columbia and whatever other concerns there are of similar standing.

Paramount and RKO are uniting because each has things the other lacks, and both have the same ideas about entertainment. The same holds true of Metro and Century. Columbia, because

it is largely individually owned and contributes little to bank manipulation, is a sore spot in the scheme, and the financial forces are anxious to take it in, as it's system of operation fits into United Artists perfectly. Because of the programme of pictures of lesser expense than has been announced, there are those who see in Warner's move a trend toward popular-priced films that, with a raising of the standards of the others involved, would allow a comprehensive product from this group. Complete paralysis of all social and festive occasions in the film capital followed the news that Will Rogers had been killed in an air crash in the far north. When the word of Rogers' death had gone through the studios, orders went forth for cessation of all festive activities. His studio had the difficult task of locating the widely-scattered Rogers family and forming plans for funeral ceremonies. The famous humorist had just signed a contract which covered his motion picture activities for the next four years. His loss to the industry is incalculable. He considered the greatest box-office asset on the screen to-day. Rogers' closest friend, Fred Stone, is now making films at R.K.O. In 1929, when Fred Stone was injured seriously in a similar accident Will Rogers rushed to New York and took Stone's place so that,the show could finish its season.

"The Duster"—a story by James Edward Grant—has been purchased as a possible starring picture for George Raft. If cast, Raft will get a new type of role—that of a commercial aviator. Raft's latest' pictures are "Rumba," "Stolen Harmony" and "The Glass Key."