Modern Screen (Dec 1949 - Nov 1950)

■ What happened to Shirley Temple and John Agar to break up their "perfect" marriage? My Modern Screen readers are asking that, I know. Was Hollywood to blame? Shirley says that John Agar did not understand the demands her career made upon her and that he was unhappy every time a lot of attention was paid her when they went out to night spots and to parties. He didn't want to be "Shirley Temple's husband." He wanted her to be strictly Mrs. Agar. Few men can stand playing second fiddle. Shirley, the most publicized little girl in the world, could never, even with the best intentions in the world, be merely "Mrs." anybody. Living with Shirley — pampered and treated like a queen from the day she crept into the hearts of the whole movie-going world — wasn't at all easy. I have, necessarily, written a lot of stories about break-ups of Hollywood marriages. But this seems to be the saddest. The young Agars started out with such high hopes for a successful marriage. John had a flourishing career, and money in his own right. Shirley stood for everything that was beautiful in the minds of her adoring public. She was the whole world's little-girl-grown-up. Linda Susan Agar was baby royalty, a child who belonged to the public, in the same way that Bonnie Prince Charlie of the British royal family belongs to all of us. Remember when first John courted her? She was in school — 17 years old and not in motion pictures. He was in uniform and it seemed they might have much the same normal life that any other young couple would. But then the whole picture changed. Shirley returned to work and John started out on his own acting career. How will this divorce affect Shirley's screen career? Well, only time can answer that question. I really don't know. I do know that she will get her way about playing sophisticated rcles because this divorce gives us a new Shirley — a divorced woman. Shirley's mother stayed completely out of her matrimonial troubles. The only time Mr. and Mrs. Temple mixed in was when there was a story going the rounds that Shirley was casting romantic eyes in the direction of a young Hollywood boy. Then, I understand, the Temples consulted attorneys, determined that their daughter's name should not suffer. For further details, see "Why Shirley's Marriage Failed" on page 26. — Ed. * * * Another instance of young love lost is the case of Wanda Hendrix and Audie Murphy. This time everybody knows where to put the blame: Right on the war. Audie survived what killed most boys — but his health has never been strong since then and his nerves are plainly shaken. The kids have had a lot of plain bad luck, too. They were no more than married when they both became ill. Before they had time to recuperate, they were sent on personal-appearance tours, which meant they had no chance to establish a home. Back again in Hollywood, their work separated them, Audie at Allied Artists, Wanda at Paramount. They parted and reconciled; parted and reconciled. Now Wanda has taken a small, unfurnished apartment, high up in the Hollywood hills, while Audie has gone back to his native Texas. His present plans are to return to Hollywood only when he's actively shooting a picture. Interestingly enough, the first niaht she was alone, Wanda had a chance at three dates. And all for the premiere of The Heiress. Bob Sterling, Bob Stack and Anthony Curtis all called her. Wanda accepted none of them. Her reason? "I wouldn't want Audie to read about it and be unhappy," she said. Do you make of that what I do? Most any girl whose man had delivered her such a blow by publicly announcing a separation, wouldn't care how much the man suffered. But Wanda is different. She won't even let the rumors of Audie's dates with other girls influence her. Wanda tells me she isn't getting a divorce. My chapeau is off to this girl, who is making such a valiant and dignified effort. * * * The third matrimonial break-up happened to an older and more experienced actress, but it's just as sad. Bette Davis sued her husband, William Grant Sherry, for divorce. In Betty's compi.aiit, she charged she was afraid of Sherry, as she called her husband. He admitted he had a frightful temper and broke up the furniture when he was angry, so Bette felt he might do something to her or the baby. Bette had been unhappy for a long time, but she kept her trouble to herself, because she adores their little daughter, Barbara. She, too, tried hard to keep her marriage together. Bette is never one who likes to be bothered when she's working, and Sherry was constantly on the set. There is, of course, his side to it. He was a comparatively unknown man who was suddenly thrust into the Hollywood whirl, which is different from any other place in the wide 7