Modern Screen (Jan-Dec 1960)

continued Even when Mickey Rooney asks, Zsa Zsa isn't telling her age. Millie Perkins doesn't like publicity, especially concerning her Dean Stockwell. The Fabian-Elvis controversy rages. Who's cutest? A thirty-nine-year-old fan from Switzerland believes she speaks for people in her age bracket ichen slu makes a request to hear about {left to right) Karl Maiden, Alec Guinness, Henry Fonda, Fred Astaire LETTER BOX How can Hollywood be so careless of real talent? asks Roy Hehberger, Williamsville, New York. What has happened to George Nader? Is he on a 'black list'? Where ever did you get that idea? George is busy on TV these days having gone into a new series Man and the Challenge following Ellery Queen. But where movies are concerned, George is holding out for an important picture. No more potboilers. . . . Your glasses must have been smudged with smog when you said that Fabian is more handsome than Elvis Presley, snaps Virginia Minger, Pottstown, Pa., (and at least ten other fans made a similar complaint!) Mrs. Roy Pine. Chesapeake, Ohio, is even more indignant: Presley is Prince, the others just Phonies — incJuding Phabian! All right, I agree that Elvis looks great with his new army hair cut in his photos from Germany. . . . From Zurich, Switzerland, comes a most intelligent letter in excellent English (and typewritten) from Leni Egli: Both you, Miss Parsons, and Modern Screen make a big mis take in cafering so much to the preferences of teenagers. I am 39 years old and there are many fans in the world in my age bracket. We want so much to read about Fred Astaire, Eli Wallach, Karl Maiden, Alec Guinness, Henry Fonda. But all we get are Debbie and Liz and Eddie and Ricky Nelson and some character named 'Hookie.' Why not a department in the magazine devoted to actors — nof rock n' rollers? How about it, David Myers . . . ° Never was I more ashamed and shocked than I was at Anatomy Of A Murder, writes Mrs. J. J. Brown, San Diego. Nothing but sex, sex, sex! I don't agree with you. While I grant there was some ultra frank dialogue, I do not think this picture catered to sensationalism. Its approach was almost clinical. Hollywood films cannot stay forever in swaddling clothes. . . . I'm sick of the names Liz and Debbie, snaps Theresa Townes, Chicago, III. Let's hear about the talent. Don't be quite so snippy, Theresa. You may be sick of Elizabeth Taylor and Debbie Reynolds — but don't sell them short on talent. Liz was up for an Oscar in Cat On a Hof Tin Hoof and Giant (and may be up for another in Suddenly, Last Summer^. And Debbie is proving herself a deft light comedienne in all her films or haven't you read the critics . . . ? Connie Van der Voors, Duluth, asks: Last year Millie Perkins was receiving more publicity than any newcomer in Hollywood. In Diary of Anne Frank she proved she rated all the fuss. Now nothing about Millie? What's happened? Is she being temperamental? No. Millie is a shy girl and doesn't like the spotlight, particularly where her romance with Dean Stockwell is concerned. But 20th is biding its time about her next picture, feeling Millie is a future big star and must have just the right story. . . . How old is Zsa Zsa Gabor? is Mrs. Vera Session's loaded question from Dallas. Even if I knew (which I don't) I wouldn't answer that one, Mrs. S. Zsa Zsa is really in the 'ageless' bracket. . . . A cute letter from "Missy" Tangier, Detroit. who wants to know if movie stars spank their children. (I gather from the printing that Missy is about seven to ten years of age). Well, Missy — all I can say is that some stars spank their children (but never too hard) and some don't. But on the whole, the stars insist on discipline and well-behaved youngsters around the house. . . . That's all for this month.