Screenland (Nov 1938-Apr 1939)

siderable. Then I studied diction and expression under Samuel Kayser, who's coached so many players. "But if I've improved as an actress," asserted Virginia emphatically, "I owe it all to my husband." Such giving of credit where it is due ! She was the most courted young woman in Hollywood when, again suddenly, she fell in love with director J. Walter Ruben, who has since been tipped to a producer at Metro. John Gilbert had died. The fond glances of eligible boys like Jimmy Stewart had failed to touch her heart. Too elementally feminine to do otherwise, she waited until lightning hit anew. Now she contends the inspiration she has received from her second love has not only brought her happiness but direct help in her work. "I think my husband is the finest director in Hollywood, and he helps me with every scene I do. We rehearse at night; he goes over all my next day's lines with me. Last week I did a radio drama. At the dress rehearsal I wasn't so hot. Because I hadn't had a chance to discuss my role at home ! But I was so much better on the following day, when we broadcasted, that they couldn't get over it. If you print this they'll know why. "While I'm at it I'll confess further — I'm the lazy type. Ernst Lubitsch, who labored with me at Paramount when I began, addresses me as 'Lazy' still. But that's the way many of we* women actually are, if we'll be honest about it. We have to be emotionally stimulated to Make Steps. Mother had to practically shove me back into pictures, after my first marriage failed. Now I'd go out of my mirid if I couldn't be in them. I love the work. But I know why — because my husband loves pictures so! He's advancing so remarkably, he's so intrigued with the future of the screen, that now I am, too. Now I seriously want to be good. "Yet I never have fought for better parts and I don't think I'll start now. I quaked when I had to do that Ziegfeld girl. But when it was satisfactory I decided the men who run these film companies are a . whole -lot smarter about casting than I am. Mother wanted me to fight for the lead in 'Idiot's Delight,' but I couldn't! If some people force themselves to try to be what they aren't they lose what personality spark they have, and I'm one of those people. I've come to the conclusion the less you stew and stew, the better. "I have all the true feminine traits. I haven't a logical mind. I don't follow A Plan. I'm usually late. I'm stubborn about the little things ; they seem more important to me at the time. I've never bargained for a raise in salary, I don't mind being loaned out to another studio; but I do like a nice dressing-room and I like it to be clean. I don't study everything under the sun because I don't think life's enough fun if we go around making every minute count. I am one who is not taking singing lessons. I haven't sung in a picture for two years; if they want me to sing, and will give me six weeks to get in voice, I'll know they think I can sing and I'll do something about that matter. "I have," she maintained firmly, "no poise. I'm thrown into absolute confusion by something unexpected. I have been the kind you want to slap down on the screen ; but I don't like to argue in reality. I'd rather give in than fuss. I haven't been jealous to date; but I'll bet I could be. I've always wanted to be grown up, so I know we don't always get what we want most for I'm not all grown up— yet. I never can stop and think before I speak. "Yes, I am so tactless! Except with my husband. He says I'm an entirely different person with him. But with others I'm so anxious to have them like me that I spurt Coming in to see a preview, Mr. and Mrs. Gary Cooper enter the Hollywood Theatre. out some most uncalled-for comment. David Selznick told me the other evening I was the most tactless woman in Hollywood ! Yes, I know it's a fault, that I should be diplomatic, that I'm supposed to use my head all the time. But I start out with the best of intentions, and forget. I make a silly remark, I know it's sounded silly, and then I go on and on until I just run down." She smiled. "Which may take a good two hours ! "Much as I liked New York when I was there, I have never been back. Six years have passed and I don't long to go back. I'm hoplessly inconsistent 'just like a woman !'..T'm very happy when I stay put. I have fun enough after I start to travel, but the thought of traveling bores me. I have no desire to act in a play, ever. I'll take the simple life instead of the night life. I want another baby. I'd rather lean on my husband than be independent. "I am more domestic than you'd guess a Hollywood girl would be. Not that I can cook worth a hoot. But when I maneuvered time to shop for my furnishings for my new home the one thing I spent the most time on was the electric ironer. I convinced my husband we'd certainly save money by buying it. I entertain very little, but I like to go to other women's parties and I love to dance. All my life I was content with gold jewelry; now that I'm earning more money, however, and can afford more elaborate jewelry I'm off the gold standard." The assistant director interrupted. She rose. "In short," she summed herself up, "simplicity is my keynote. Don't be too clever or you'll wreck your life with complications !" The trio of stellar attendants appeared like magic to inspect her once more. "And don't forget," Virginia tossed over her shoulder as she walked into her next scene, "to mention my good luck!" She indulged in no nonsense about getting into the mood, stepping right into the required action. But she has no nerves because she lives placidly and naturally. She would rather be calm than crisp, and she wisely lets who will be clever. Astonishingly unspoiled, very human, personally sought-after because of her good disposition, she's worked up from the bottom to the top. Where— being lucky— I think she's going to stay for quite awhile ! She's Scarlett O'Hara Continued from page 27 next month the letter-writing public had changed to Margaret Sullavan, next month it was Claudette Colbert, Norma Shearer, Carole Lombard, Miriam Hopkins. Mr. Selznick had a sinking feeling about his heart. No matter whom he chose to play Scarlett great masses of people were going to be as mad as wet hens. He might just as well be bold about it and revert to his first decision. And his first decision had been to get an unknown girl to play Scarlett! When he read the book he knew that Scarlett was a great acting part and whoever played the role would very likely become one of the leading stars in Hollywood. Now, to let you in on a bit of inside information, every producer wants to discover star material, for that's where the money lies, but, quite naturally, he wants to discover it for himself, and not for his competitor. Why should he spend thousands of dollars publicizing a girl under contract to another studio? After his picture she would return to the studio she was under contract to and they, not he, would benefit from her success. Look what happened to Hedy Lamarr ! Metro had her under contract at a very small salary, and were planning to drop her when option time came around. In the meantime, Walter Wanger, in desperation, borrowed Hedy, an unknown, from Metro and put her in "Algiers" in which, as you well know, she was nothing short of sensational. But did it benefit Mr. Wanger any? Heavens no, Metro grabbed her back in a flash, lined up pictures for her, and are all prepared to enjoy a star made for them by a competing studio. Mr. Wanger can't even borrow her now ! Nope, Mr. Selznick didn't care to make any stars for any other studios to grow rich on, not if he could help it. And so the great search for an unknown Scarlett was launched. She must look like Scarlett (so the public wouldn't scalp her), and she must be some one he could put under a long-term contract (so Selznic.kInternational could reap the rewards). After all, picture-making is a business, and you can't blame Mr. Selznick for having his eye on the exchequer. However, in all due fairness to him, I must say that if you letter-writing fans had agreed on any one big star from another studio Mr. Selznick would have moved heaven and earth to get her. But you didn't agree. You did agree on Gable for Rhett Butler, though. And what a lot of trouble that caused Mr. Selznick. Metro wasn't at all enthused about loaning out their top star to another studio. They themselves had plenty of pictures on hand for Mr. Gable and they weren't feeling at all charitable to the studio down the road. Mr. Selznick pleaded. Mr. Mayer said no. That went on for some time, the letters were piling up, and Mr. Selznick was getting desperate. So Mr. Mayer, also with his eye on the exchequer said, "I will give you Gable if you will release 'Gone With the Wind' through Metro so we can share in the profits." (This is inside stuff, kids, but I thought you'd like to know how movies are cast.) Now Mr. Selznick had a contract with United Artists to release eight pictures through them. If he suddenly turned on them and released "Gone With the Wind" through Metro they could sue the living daylights out of him. But he had to have Gable. So what? So he had to make his eight pictures to be released through United Artists before he could release a picture through Metro. He has recently completed his eight-picture con 82