The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 44

bikings' V. enes To 1 ow 4 2 By Harold Stern EX PRO FOOTBALL STAR Walter Barnes (who plays a berserk) takes on Jerome Courtland (right) in one of the many terocious hand-to-hand combat scenes in "Tales ot the vlff rr it if- 4 4 I St-Z. r-7; 7 4 Credit Brynaprod, S. A. (Kirk Douglas's independent film company), with some long-range planning.

The company, which was responsible for the feature film, was so confident that the subject matter and character types of "The Vikings" would achieve instant popularity that it planned a T. V. scries at the same time the film was blueprinted. Calling it the most expensive pilot film ever made, the feature was screened for potential sponsors of the T. V.

series before the film was released to theaters. The screenings must have been successful. The T. V. series, "Talcs Of The is in production right now near Munich, Germany.

And nobody's coming home until 39 episodes, each averaging six days of production, are completed. Star of the series is Jerome Courtland, fresh from his T. triumph as Walt Disney's Andy Burnett. Now, bearded, and rugged as ever, Jerry plays Leif, a Viking chieftain. 1 saw Jerry as he was passing through New York, en route to Europe.

"This series has all the elements of a western," Jerry commented, getting right to the commercial heart of the matter, "except the quick draw." In place of the quick draw, I've been led to believe, the scries will employ the quick twang. Jerry's a professional archer and several of the episodes will include archery to enable him to display his ability. Jerry's also a-professional singer, so the episodes of the series will include singing. But, unlike the material he used when he won the old "Chance of a Lifetime" T. V.

competition eight weeks in a row, Jerry's singing will be confined to war chants and old Nordic ballads with one exception. There will be a title song and Jerry will sing it over the credits. Since this outfit means business, plans are already formulated to issue an original sound track album of the music used on the series! Twenty-six of the scripts were completed before Jerome Courtland was signed as the star, so they all had to be rewritten to take advantage of the considerable talents of the gangling and personable young man. There's apparently such a thing as carrying the Boy Scout Be Prepared motto too far. "Since they knew they were going to be making the T.

V. series while they were shooting the feature," Jerry told me, "all sorts of background shots were taken specifically for the series. We're not using material that was cut from the film. "There are a few vague similarities between the feature and the series," he continued, "but we're using different plots, situations and characters. The T.

V. series has its own distinct identity. "Getting the part of Leif was a plum for me," Jerry went on. "I love doing westerns and outdoor pictures and this is strictly an outdoor show. As far as I'm I don't ever want to do a series or a picture that takes place indoors.

I'm just not the type. And I've been dying to get to Europe for a long time so this series is literally my chance of a lifetime." On the subject of "Chance Of A I felt compelled to ask Jerry why, since he had been a successful professional singer for a long time, he had chosen to participate in that glorified amateur hour. "Sure I sang on Broadway and in pictures," Jerry said, "but the' reason I felt I had to do that T. V. show was that I used to see my pictures in movie, houses and invariably, whenever I sang in them, the person in front of me would turn to his neighbor and say, 'Courtland can't really sing.

His voice is being dubbed." WIFE JANET casts an admiring glance at the target as Jerry Courtland gets in a few last-minute archery practice shots just prior to leavinq for Europe and location work on "Tales Of The Vikings." SATURDAY MARCH 21, 1939 TVKey Previews: Today's top tele vision shows as previewed and selected by T. V. Key's staff of experts who attend rehearsals, watch screenings, and analyze scripts New York and Hollywood. TVKey Mailbag Question. I would like to know if Jack Webb was one of "The Little D.

M. Clover, S. C. Answer. Jack did not get into show business until he was in his 20s.

He started as a radu announcer with a San Francisco station. However, his sidekick, Ben Alexander, was a child actor and although he doesn't remember appearing with "The Little was one of the stars of the "Penrod" series during the days of silent movies. Question. Is Jack Paar's hair real or is it false? B. Savannah, Ga.

Answer. Jack's hair is real hair and some of it is his own. Jack, when asked point blank on the show whether he wears a toupe, lifted a small hair piece from the crown of his head and thus answered the question effectively, Question. Please tell me who took Jan Clayton's place on the "Lassie" program? Mrs. B.

Tenn. Answer. Jan Clayton was replaced by Cloris Leaehman. This season Miss Leaehman was replaced by June "Lockhart on Lassie. Question.

I recently saw a movie on T. V. called "Strawberry James Cagney, Rita Ilayworth and Jack Carson. It was strangely similar to another movie, "One Sunday starring Dennis Morgan and Janis Paige. Are they the same story? R.

E. San Antonio, Texas. Answer. Yes. "One Sunday Afternoon" was a remake of "Strawberry Question.

How old is Brigitte Bardot? Will her movies be shown on television? A. San Antonio, Tex. Answer. Brigitte is 24. Her films, unlike most foreign movies, are nearly all unavailable to T.

V. The simple reason is that they still have drawing power at the box office. However, one or two old Bardot films may come to TV soon. Question. Is Jackie Coogan the brother of actor Richard Coogan? Is Gloria Blondell, who played "Ilonev Bee" on "The Life of the sister of Joan Blondell? Mrs.

R. M. Vandalia. 111. Answer.

The Coogans aren't related. But Gloria and Joan Blondell arc sisters. i 8 ful rogue, who acts as the judge. The locale, on the edges of Lake Tahoe, is nice on the eyes, and the judge, played by Jacques Aubuchon, is a most agreeable treat. 2 GUNSMOKE.

Marshal Dillon has a hard time of it, trying to run a so-called lady out of Dodge City tonight. Not only is the lady a shill for a gambler, but she's also a kicking, fighting, gun-totin' creature, and the Marshal isn't quite sure just how to handle her. Deputy Chester, his assistant, is properly shocked at the vixen's behavior. 4 D. MAN.

"Two for The first fiction drama we can recall that actually calls prostitution by its maiden name. Aside from one rather bold line, there's little here which can be classed as lurid and. having named the subject, it's sad to relate that the show doesn't do much with it. The girlie racket is concealed behind the marquee of a rather half-baked, off-Broadway theater which advertises Shakespeare, but features what's supposed to be a beat-generation take-off. On the whole, standard cops-and-robbers fare.

2 THE LATE SHOW. "They Made Me a (1939). Well-made, gripping drama about a boxer who flees to a small town after he's been framed for murder. With John Garfield and Claude Rains. 4 MOVIE FOUR.

"The (1950). Marlon Brando stars in this dramatic, persuasive film about a paralyzed war veteran who tries to adjust to society without the use of his limbs. It was Brando's first film, and a superb one. Have Gun, Will Travel is fun and Gunsmoke has a good entry. Perry Conio's guests include showman P.illy Iose with a round of songs he had a hand in.

plus Nanette Fabray and the Everly Ilrothers. D. Man has some interest but doesn't come up to expectation. In case you missed Marlon Brando in "The it's being shown at 11:13 tonight on Movie Four. Ice hockey at .2, college basketball at 4, and All-Star Golf at 5.

2 ICE HOCKEY. New York Rangers vs. Detroit Red from Detroit. 4:00 6:00 4 COLLEGE BASKETBALL. National Invitation Tournament Championship Game.

From Madison Square Garden. 7 ALL-STAR GOLF. And still they come bravely onward to cross drivers with the amazing Mr. Snead. Today, it's Jackie Burke.

Highlight comes on the 6th hole where one of the players manages an eagle 2. Overall match is one-sided. 5 MOVIE, "lie Ran All the (1952). Exciting, if contrived melodrama, with an excellent performance by John Garfield. Story of a holds a decent family at bay while he hides'out in their home.

Shelley Winters co-stars. 2 HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL. "Incident at Borrasca Humorous episode. Paladin rides into an isolated gold camp and finds himself immediately tried for murder by a delight- 1" I i-i BERGEN EVENING RECORD 16 Mar. 21, 1959.