Screenland Plus TV-Land (Nov 1952 - Oct 1953)

she builds herself into a 3-D sized letdown. "Maybe some girls act this way because they're basically afraid of marriage — or because they're insecure within themselves and need some kind of self-confidence. They believe that by playing and running away from all responsibilities they can have a gay time and feel important to themselves. But the day always comes when they realize that if they want a good life they have to stop running and face facts. Usually, they learn this too late. "Yet, I've seen some girls go to great lengths to be popular and alluring. For one thing, they adopt every trapping known in an attempt to be glamourous and only end up being phony and obvious. They play the alluring female so convincingly they wonder why men get the wrong ideas about them. They also like to surround themselves with people who are as phony as they are. So they and their friends end up merely using one another. "The false conception of glamour is a typical mistake the play girl makes. If all the trimmings she has adopted went up in a fire she'd be stuck. Glamour is not a white fox cape or a Bikini bathing suit. It's an inner quality that shines through — and that quality can never come to life if a girl wastes her time on an endless round of playful pleasures. "I can't be bothered with the phony ideas of glamour. Why, it's hard even to get me to plan on what to wear the few 'imes I do go out. Recently Harry and I were invited to the annual Jockey Ball and I didn't have an evening gown to my name. So I bought one — and I'll probably never wear it again. One thing for sure — I can't wear it to next year's ball. "I've never been one to like shopping for clothes. If I need something for a special occasion I do get excited and then enjoy going to a store. Otherwise, you couldn't drag me out for a shopping spree." Betty has based her whole life on the importance of a happy marriage. And, to her, there's only one way to prepare for it. That is to fill your life with the right ideals, to build your moments not towards the next cocktail bar but towards your future home. "A man wants to marry a girl who still has a few ideals and illusions left," Betty said. "If there are any changes for her to make, he'll tell her about them afterwards but, basically, he wants to feel she has waited all her life for him. Of course, after I married, Harry wanted me to make some changes. Like my blonde hair, for instance. Once I became Mrs. Harry James he wanted me to darken it. I reminded him I was a blonde when he asked me to marry him. He saw the point. "But marriage has changed me — and it changes every girl. Harry is responsible for some personality alterations. He has the disposition of an angel — and I have not. He got me to relax more, not to fly off the handle so much. He was a balance wheel for me. I was willing to make such changes because I had — and still have — very great respect for him." 60 Betty didn't add this, but she was able to change too because she had gone into marriage with self-respect. She had lived a decent kind of life and was, therefore, not filled with the frustrations that are part and parcel of every play girl. She had a happy home and marriage as her goal — and no superficial gaiety blocked the clear view ahead for her. "If only the play girl would realize how much fun she is missing by being on the merry-go-round she'd get back actor who had spent a month in a wheelchair in a paraplegics' hospital in order to give an honest interpretation of the problems and triumphs of such men. The reason most people are somewhat afraid of Marlon Brando is that he is a natural-born clipper of ears that he decides have grown too long. Whether a situation warrants it or not, Marlon is likely to bring out the scissors. Laslo Benedek, Marlon's friend and director of "The Wild One," is a busy man; normally he has more to do in 24 hours than the average person could do in 48, so occasionally he has to be brusque in dealing with the horde of job-seekers who pester every director. Marlon was in Mr. Benedek's office one afternoon when a call came in from a lad who, having read the short story from which "The Wild One" was fashioned, wanted a part which he felt was tailor-made for him. Unfortunately the character had been eliminated from the screen play, but Mr. Benedek didn't have time to explain that change. He said merely, "I'm sorry, but I can't use you," and hung up. Marlon Brando, sitting across the desk to earth faster," Betty said with great sincerity. "Why not start living now? Why wait until you're tired of playing and then find the boat has sailed? Why not take time to look at yourself and admit that you're running away from the very things that will bring you real and lasting happiness? "Or is the giddy whirl your idea of the way to find honest love and complete living? If so, good luck to you. You'll need it." END from the director, his chin sunk into his chest, his neck disappearing into the seat of the chair, growled, "So that's the way the great director gets rid of the poor devils who are trying to get jobs . . . " He continued this needling for several minutes until the director, a kindly man, made arrangements to interview the boy and explain in person that the coveted part simply didn't exist in the picture. Marlon Brando, personally, summons from sound stage to New York theatre and back again a group that might be called the Brando Repertory Company. When Brando works, so do they. "Julius Caesar" represented one of the finest spoils systems of Brando's career, because the mob scenes were numerous and populous. Practically everyone with whom Marlon had ever worked was with him somewhere in the busy and bloody tale of the Roman dictator. When Marlon went to work in "The Wild One" he handed Mr. Benedek a long list of names and telephone numbers. "These are the people I'd like to have working with me," he said in a tone of sweet compliance, as if the list Betty Grable and her husband, Harry James, enjoying their favorite sport. "Harry has the disposition of an angel. I have not. He taught me to relax." THE NIMBLE NON-CONFORMIST [CONTINUED FROM PACE 36]