Modern Screen (Jan-Dec 1960)

Eddie Cantor has Liz backstage at Everything's Going for Eddie Elizabeth Taylor, looking slim and her glamorous self again after losing all that unbecoming weight, sat with us during Eddie Fisher's show at the Desert Inn. As usual, when Eddie is performing, Liz didn't take her eyes off him. And, he still directs all his love songs straight to "Mrs. Fisher," as Eddie always introduces her. Liz was wearing a black lace cocktail gown and even after the lights were lowered for Eddie's act, a lot of people kept watching Elizabeth — particularly the women. It was the first time I had spent an evening with Elizabeth since the start of all the LizEddie-Debbie fuss. It's typical of Liz that she made no reference to this interim. Poised and sure of herself as always, she sort of 'picked up,' as it were, where we left off. At this time, she was terribly upset that MGM was going to suspend her for refusing to do Butterheld 8 which would kill her chances of doing Cleopatra and picking up a cool million dollars offered her by 20th. (Later, Elizabeth won every point she had demanded in this battle. The script of Butter held 8 was rewritten to suit her. with much of the salaciousness taken out. And she was given permission to do Cleopatra as well! If you think Elizabeth Taylor isn't a plenty smart business woman you've under-estimated this belle.) But at this time, she didn't know she was going to get her way. "If I can only accept Cleopatra I'll take the money I receive and establish a trust fund for my children which will insure their security for life," she told me. "I suppose MGM thought if I got the million for Cleopatra I would retire without doing the movie I owe them on my old contract," she went on. "I offered to put up the million as collateral to prove my good faith and that I would keep my word to MGM. I never go back on my word," she said firmly. After Eddie's show, we went with Liz to his dressing room where we had champagne and toasted old times — and new. Eddie was in a wonderful humor and I meant it when I told him he was singing better than I had ever heard him. I've always liked him, and we were so close he used to call me "Mom." "I'm singing better because I am so happy," he said, putting his arm around "Mrs. Fisher." He drew Liz close and kissed her on the cheek, "I've got everything going for me. Mom," he whispered. I nominate for STARDOM Diane Baker: I don't know when I've been more impressed with a newcomer than I am with Diane in The Best of Everything. What a socko performance she gives as the pretty little secretary whose love is betrayed by a rich young cad. With her heart-shaped face, •wide hazel eyes, a completely natural beauty, she is unlike any other star personality. At first meeting, she strikes you as a demure, rather strait-laced little person with a formal manner. One of the 20th press agents :old me he was in daily contact with Diane dor eight weeks making Best and it wasn't until the last day of the picture that she called him by his first name! Also, she stated quite firmly in her polite way that she didn't think she would like to pose for cheesecake art. Nor would she attend movie premieres or parties with young actors she didn't know, just to be seen at the right places. A native of Los Angeles, her parents live here, but Diane doesn't live with them. She has a small apartment at the Chateau Marmont where she lives alone — and likes it. "I'm so single-minded about my career and I study drama so many long hours a day, it's best that I have my own place so I don't upset the routine of my family," she says. Diane was born in Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital during a terrific flood. Her mother is Dorothy Harrington Baker who used to play in Marx Brothers movies; her father is Clyde Baker, former USC star athlete. Diane attended local grade schools until her family moved to Laguna and it was in the little beach resort town that she became interested in school plays. Later, at Van Nuys High school, Diane was the star of the drama class. The rest of her way to a studio contract is almost routine — modeling, beauty contests, TV commercials in New York and then thp proverbial talent cout for 20th. 11