PRODUCERS' FEAR

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13014, 4 December 1942, Page 3

PRODUCERS' FEAR

MOVIES MAY BE DOOMED

ACTORS IN THE FORCES

Hollywood producers complain that if toji-rankins; stars continue to enter the fighting forces at their present rate, the movie industry will soon face a perilous situation, says a Sydney message.

Their representative. producer Arthur Hornblow, is in Washington, fighting to retain stars in Hollywood.

He declares that apart from the enlistment of many, including James Stewart and Clark Gable, most other stars now face Army or Navy service. He mentioned particularly Robert Taylor, Spencer Tracy, Gary Cooper and James Cagney. Hornblow maintains the issue is not whether the stars should join the millions of others joining the Army and Navy, but of actual usefulness for the war effort.

Roosevelt to Gable

He revealed that President Roosevelt himself wrote a letter to Clark Gable earlier, telling the actor he could do more useful work if he remained in the movie industry. Hornblow said James Stewart was at present a ground instructor in the Air Force, but was hardly aiding the war effort to the same extent as previously. "There are at least 10,000 persons able to do Stewart's present work, but only one able to accomplish his screen performances," Hombrbw added.

"If things continue as at present there won't be a motion picture industry worth mentioning in a few months."

Meanwhile, Hollywood is reported to be working at top pressure to turn out films at the fastest rate possible. Many are being frozen in order to

create a reserve against a future shortage. Producers declare these films may be released in Australia before Americans see them.