Hollywood Studio Magazine (November 1971)

HEDY looks happy, with Marvin Paige just after signing a movie comeback engineered by Paige’s casting offices. to US with good credits, fine photos, and reads well. Yet, there is another element that eludes the actor - that is where we come in — “balanced casting” — how well can this performer play with the other performers? Creative casting can mean money at the boxoffice.” Paige appreciates talent, and has run the show-biz gamut himself, starting as an actor. He became a theatrical agent in New York City, later producing radio and teevee shows. He began distinguishing himself on the West Coast as a Paramount casting director with “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” and “On The Double.” From here to Desilu, and then he set up his own Marvin Paige Independent Casting operation. While on independent assignment at Warners, he cast the “Mr. Roberts,” and “F Troop,” teevee pilots. Bicycling between Warners and ABC and his own offices, he cast “Combat,” “General Hospital,” “Young Marrieds,” and independent features. His reputation brought him to the attention of other major movie producers, and thus he began adding credits quickly. Paige admits to having a “photographic” memory which aids him in talent selections. Nostalgia is upon us and there has been revived interest in some of the great stars. Their films still show all over the world, their talent outshining the time span; a real tribute to superb picture nuking. Paige re-activated the careers of such well known film greats as Hedy Lamarr, Joan Leslie, Richard Arlen, Gloria Graham, and two-time Academy Award winner, Luise Rainer. Miss Rainer hadn’t been in a movie in Hollywood for almost twenty years when Paige located her living in London and convinced her to accept the lead in a “Combat” episode. This kind of creative casting, not only generated a raft of publicity for the star, returning to her MGM home lot, but gave new life to the series, then in its fourth year. Casting young talent makes it necessary for Paige to attend Little Theater productions as well as checking out new talent at new film release screenings and watching much teevee. His casting young talent played a part in the early careers of such young stars as Carol Lynley, Ronny Howard, Don Grady, Tim Matheson, Michael Christian, Barbara McNair (who’d never made a major movie until Paige convinced producer Charles Martin she was “right” for a starring role in “If He Hollers, Let Him Go!”) Contacting Pete Duel between takes at Universal teevee where he is starring in “Alias Smith & Jones,” he had this to say, “When I came to Hollywood, I didn’t have a dime or a foot of film to my credit. Marvin Paige cast me in a lead and I was off and running!” Paige is constantly looking for new performers with star potential, who spark of something extra the public finds unforgettable. Star power is boxoffice power. It is upon this premise Hollywood rose to its heights, and under the banner of his Marvin Paige Enterprises, he is presently preparing a teevee series, “Those Fabulous Ladies” starring some of the greatest of the all time Hollywood superstars, such as Dorothy Lamour, Alice Faye, June Allyson, and more. With studios no longer building stars as they did in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s it may well be up to independent casting director Marvin Paige to be the Star-Builder of the 70’s. *** Two-time Academy Award winner Luise Rainer (“The Great Ziegfeld” “The Good Earth”) appeared as the special guest star, as a French countess, in “Finest Hour” on ABC-TV’s “Combat!” A Paige casting coup. Left: Miss Rainer as she appeared in her famous phone talk with Ziegfeld in the 1936 film and right: as she is today, recreating for cast and crew her memorable scene. 8