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Show STfiGE-SCREENaRSDIO By VIRGINIA VALE Released by Western Newspaper Union. ON THE first day of shook ing for "Mrs. Miniver" Greer Garson was knocked down in a street scene by a boy on a bicycle. On the first day for "Madame Curie" she was knocked down by a camera cam-era perambulator. "Maybe it's a good omen," said she. "But I hope I never start a picture in a scene "with a locomotive!" Nobody was surprised when "Mrs. Miniver" got the Academy Award for the best picture of 1942; it was especially good news to Major William Wyler, who directed he recently directed the filming of the bombing of the German naval base at Wilhelms-haven. Wilhelms-haven. Nan Wynn, the popular radio, night club and motion picture singer, has been placed under long-term long-term contract by Columbia, and will . fci rN V" f S" i j) J; 7i NAN WYNN get a star build-up. She's already been given the top role in the new musical, "Rhapsody in A Flat." An actual attack by British Coastal Coast-al Command planes on Nazi raiders in northern waters is shown in "Coastal Command," the factual film released by RKO. It was made by the producers of "Target for Tonight," To-night," the British navy co-operating. If you think you're busy, consider Anna Lee, one of the many stars of "Forever and a Day." While working work-ing in "Commandos Strike at Dawn" she turned up at the RKO studios at 10 every night and worked till past midnight in "Forever and a Day" also managed her house and family. The only stipulation she made was that after finishing her day's work she must have time off to put her two babies to bed before starting her swing shift at RKO. Robert Haymes also got a Columbia Colum-bia break. With time for only one more film before being inducted into the army, he was removed from the lead of "Doughboys in Ireland" and replaced by Kenny Baker and assigned to the romantic lead in "Two Senoritas From Chicago," the two senoritas being those two very lovely ladies, Jinx Falkenburg and Joan Davis! That Charles Boyer production, so badly titled "Flesh and Fantasy," has a new and better title, "For All We Know." Robert Cummings and Betty Field have been given the romantic leads in the fourth and final sequence. New Yorkers have learned thai the place to be caught during a blackout is a radio studio instead of turning their guests loose to wail in the corridors, the stars turn tc and put on a show. Burns and Allen, the "Duffy's Tavern" folks and the members of "The Aldrich Family' can all give a superb extemporaneous extemporane-ous show when the sirens scream. A stranger in Culver City migh' think that Leo the Lion has turnec prize fight promoter. Five big name boxers are working there. Freddj Steele, ex-middleweight kingpin, has been coaching Richard Carlson foi "The Man Down Under"; Maxie Rosenbloom's working in "Righ About Face," as are Lou Nova anc Jack Roper; Johnny Indrissano former lightweight threat, now a ref ree, is technical adviser. So far Jean Gabin's American pic tures haven't been up to the stand ard of the French ones that mad him famous. But it looks as if h might remedy that situation thi: summer; he's obtained his releasi from 20th Century-Fox and will b starred by RKO in a picture to bi written and produced by Dudle; Nichols, and directed by Jean Re noir, which looks like a perfect com bination. ODDS AD EXDSKay Kyser am the band have started their third yea, o entertaining the boys in the armci forces; in the first two years they plnyct jor more than 4,000,000 soldiers, tailor and marines . . . Hobert Benchley re turns to Metro to urite and star in neic series of thnrts . . . Alec Temple ton gives a half-hour miniature conrer prior to his broadcasts . . . Fred Allei is the only man uho has been master o ceremonies on radios tiro biscest qui programs "Take It or Leave ll" am "Information l'leasen . . . Oinny Simm has been named "the ftirl uilh uhom i paratrooper would most love to b ttranded in a parachute." |