Daily News from New York, New York • 652

If l' i aaaai 1 I ij By HEDDA HOPPER i Hollywood, June 9. Josh New York, bought "Birdman E. Gaddis wrote about Robert Logan, before taking off for of Alcatraz," which Thomas Stroud. It's a fantastic tale. Vs II.

m.mm i Iff I 1 rr, I 'IK I I -tart-" iJf V. y. i rborah Kerr's pantaloon create a stir in the palace of the King King and CaneanaSccpe 55 movie which premieres June 28 of Siain. Scene is from "The at the Rosy Theatre. Slate 'King md Vea' Bebutl Joan," based Bv KATE CAMERON fpVVENTIETII CENTURY-FOX is following up its successful initiation of A CinemaScope 55 on "Carousel," with a second production in the new process.

"The Kirn and which will have its first showing at the Roxy Theatre on Thursday, June 28, is being presented on the new wide screen there in De Luxe color and with Deborah Kerr and Yul Brvnner in the I- FT k- 1 1 title roles. IteU.rah the part created by the late (Jertrude on the stage and Hryrrur reeas his arresting characterization of the Kinr of Siam. "The Kirg and is the third adaptation, and the sec-i'd film, 1-ased on Margaret I-amion's Liigraphy of Anna lmiinw, called "Anna and the King ef Siam." First, the book was adapted to the serpen ten years airo by liOth Century-Fox with Irene Dunne and Kex representing Anna and the King. Later, Rodger and came up with a delightful musical production of the same lory in which Miss Lawrence and Brynner covered themselves ith glory on the New York stage. Ard now, Fox ha made the f.m adap tation of the musical.

neoMJe Story If this WriM a little involved. It is tniy because the real-life try of the widow who which Josh will make for his? Mansfield with a Warner Bros, release. When I asked why the name Mansfield, Josh said: "Mansfield, is the town of my birth." I Robert Stroud started studying birds when he caught three spar rows while at Leavenworth. Be-: fore he was transferred to Alca- I traz, he had acquired hundreds of i birds and wrote a book about their habits, care and His knowledge of birds supported! his mother. But Alcatraz didn't; i allow birds.

Stroud, in solitary confinement there, educated him-! i self, became a lawyer and learned French. He is a most controversial figure and is still in lngrid on TV I gman is making the nastasia." I hear NBC TV spectacular for star lngrid in "Saint! on the play she did on Broadway. I've been in and out of Ver- sailles for the last two but wouldn't you know I'd miss i Fred Astaire's dancing around those fountains Face." I learned that before Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer left for France, it was their agent who kept them off the Person to Person TV show. He thinks he has something better for them next fall. No wonder the $64,000 Chal lenge divided the money between those remarkable spellbinding spelling bees Gloria Lockerman and Andy Douglass.

They received 17,000 letters demanding they divide the loot. Lana Turner turned down Henry Hathaway's script he wanted her to do with Van Johnson. The story didn't come out as it was told to her. On the Road When I phoned George Gobel, I learned he and Alice were motoring to Ojai, then to his Sahara motel in Phoenix, for a twe-week vacation. Fred MacMurray opened George's TV series and will close it this season.

George is looking forward to doing the Goodman Ace story, Married a Woman," which he'll (make for RKO with Hal Kanter 'directing. That busty English Diana DoS aady signed for it. Betty Furness arrives next iiff.T... li sequence in movie, 1." "The King Yul Brjnnrr and Deborah Kerr play title roles in I. De Love color film.

responded to an appeal fr.m the- aw, aitinsr its release with pleasur-court of Siani to travel from atu, anticipation. England to Siam in the middle tf lngrid Bergman week for a six-week holiday before tackling national conventions in Chicago and San Francisco. Perle Mesta invited me to attend the Democratic convention in Chicago with her. Imagine my getting mixed up with them Democrats Raymond Massey phoned from Connecticut that he's jubilant over the independent ticket being voted in its entirety by Equity members. Hurrah! I hope one of our studios buys: Victor Riesel's story for the screen it should be done.

Pic- ture research might just unearth the culprit who blinded him faster than forces of the law. fourth Dimensional Peter Ballbusrh, director of montage at MGM for 19 years, tells me "The Body Is a whiph hp wrote the original story and screenplay, opens at Marcel Theatre here the 13th. It's based on a metaphysical theme which sounds fascinating. The producer, Merle Gould, who flew 39- combat missions in the South Pacific during World War II, had plenty of reason to think of life after death. He'll never forget when a Jap shell exploded his DomDer, pumng holes in his chair and cutting his electric suit cord.

Sinrn thpn lie determined to find out all he could about life after death. Ballbusch, while at Metro, spent his spare time studying and writing on meta physical subjects. Yes, Dick Powell goes with June Allyson to Munich, but I'll 'A 'TP that, while she's making theepicture he'll be seeing Europe, and vice versa Just as ouh" Gray and her mother finished furnishing a jewel box of a house here her Metro contract ended. But she'll be able to get a fabulous price for her domicile. Tliis Week's Openings TUESDAY Mavfair "Unidentified Flying Objects." WEDNESDAY Astor "The Proud and Profane," Holden Kerr.

Brooklyn Albee "Star in the Dust," Agar Van Doren. Brooklyn Metropolitan "The Black Sheep," Rathbone Ta-miroff; "The Creeping Unknown," Donlevy Dean. THURSDAY Victoria "The Catered Affair," Davis Borgnine Reynolds. FRIDAY Casino "Mutter gegen Tochter," Deltgen Schmitz. Palace "The Rawhide Years," Curtis Miller.

the ll'th Ctnti.ry to teach the yo.ing-tr their Englih' harjes Erackett. who knows AbCs, has intrurued ytare ar.i producers durinjr the pan more lout making than Not much was known the population of Mrs. Leonouens work un-'wv4i put together, has produced til Margartt Union' liography ke icturf for Fofc The screc3 her reared in the book; written by Ernest Leh- cor.lea her experiences V. to hng- after she had returned land. It totk erest rfiurac in hi-r iay fi-r a your.p to make 'tein Menard, trio halfway anund the world Kodgers are familiar to only by her 7-year-old foers and record-buyers, but they 'The King and l.n,trr.n) h.

and Jerome nubbins staeed the dances. jo vv Dancers in the Uncle Tom hallet and V. -i jr j- a ion. Hut Anna made it. to her vi mi.

verta-tinsr cre.iit and to the bet- not been spoiled by repeU-ter underjtan.ilng of the EaU tn. It 1 to hear the Vet. K.r Anna nut on! afain such strains as the "March taus-ht the Kirt- rhtldren an'l of the Siamese Children." "Get- thr rr.Ar it th. niMir. as it is bound to reach -ider au- dju-e and one that has been man ho did such brilliant jobs on the scenarios of "Executive Suite- -Sabrina Fair." The Ivrics br 0car Hammer- the musical rights, also.

Leon Sharr.roy. who is the possessor cf guld Oscars, was the cin- their various mother, but she t.r.g To Know You," a instructed the King himself, who' Happy Tune," "Hello, Young was an avi.l and intelligent pupil. Invert," "I Have We Dance" and "Some-i Departure for Deborah Wonderful." i The rcle cf Anna represents a1 besides Deborah Kerr and Yul i i Brvnner, the cast includes Rita departure from the type roles Jr Moreno in the roie of Tuptim, rnborah Kerr has ltn p.ayirg Martin Benson. Terry Saunders, lately. Her fetume fatale char- Kex Thompson, Carlos as xn.plit..d her ap-'Alan Mowbray and Geoffrey, in rom Here to Eter- Tt.r.e.

Walter Lang directed the mty," and "The Proud and picture for Fox, but before that, Frofar.e," are tally unlike the Bracken spent two years prepar-lit'Ie widow -aho had a passion ir.sr the material for the screen, for punng knowledge into rt- The rights to Margaret Lan-j etptive minds. don's boks were already held ty The first about Anna was the studio, as wt-n as the mu an engaging ntt riair.ment. bat sital pt-ned to such great ac-. rj ip.t 1 1 1 n-. rt-ri i i ir 1....

rt art i -i i na I mizK. i a I "Tk particular mairic into the story when they et it to music. The Bev sBuSscal veisicn ahuuid fax.