Hollywood (1942)

Xtae liii^ Rdiind time Filming of By HELEJV WELLER | When the last day of shooting was ended on Kings Row, the stars of the picture, Ann Sheridan, Bob Cummings and Ronald Reagan, decided to' present Director Sam Wood with a gift. That is the custom. They put their heads together to decide on the most suitable one. Ann made a suggestion, they all giggled and then shook hands on it. An hour later, a messenger boy delivered a small jewel box, elaborately wrapped, to director Wood. He opened it, noted the contents and turned around and gravely thanked them. "The perfect gift. Exactly what I needed," he said. It was an aspirin tablet. No picture has been beset with so many headaches as Kings Row. From the first day to the last, difficulties have erupted like pimples on a volcano. Some trouble had been expected, for Warner Brothers knew that Kings Row was no Snow White. If they had filmed the story as it stood, the Hays office and the Legion of Decency would have jumped on them. Yet, the horror and the sensationalism of the story couldn't be entirely whitewashed, or the vigor would be destroyed. The book, which became a best seller, deals with passions and emotions gone berserk, and integral parts of the story are subjects that are fearful and taboo: incest and sadism, insanity and violent love. It takes place during the turn of the century, and it revolves around the love of young Parris Mitchell for the strange and beautiful daughter of Dr. Tower, Cassandra. In the book, the doctor kills his daughter for a reason so shocking it left readers stunned. That had to be retained without losing the cold horror of the act. Cassie had to be killed, and by her father — but why? Finally, four sweating script writers turned up with the answer. In the picture, the doctor observes signs of insanity in his daughter. Rather than have her marry Parris, a medical student, and eventually destroy the boy's career which the doctor fanatically believes promises much to science, he kills his daughter — and himself. Intertwining this is another love story, equally tragic, concerning Randy Monaghan, girl from across the tracks, and Drake McHugh, a rich boy. Randy marries Drake in a magnificent gesture when he has lost his money and after his legs have been amputated — an amputation all the Randy Monaghan (Ann Sheridan) marries Drake McHugh (Ronald Reagan) in a magnificent gesture after he loses his legs in an unnecessary amputation more tragic because it was unnecessary. It was the revenge of a bigoted, madman doctor who used his scalpel to punish the wild and reckless Drake. An omen of the jinx that was to pursue the picture came the first day when work was halted by sudden tragedy. James Stephenson, who was to play Dr. Tower, died the night before. A frantic search was made for another actor who had the same sensitive, cultured, but mystic qualities of Stephenson. Claude Rains was summoned from his Pennsylvania farm and flew to Hollywood. Ann Sheridan as Randy, Robert Cummings as Parris and Ronald Reagan as Drake all considered their roles to be the most important in their careers and were overjoyed at their break. Previous to Kings Row, all three had been mostly decorative in whoopla pictures. Now each had roles of such tremendous power that the picture will no doubt prove to be the turning point in their careers. "I drive carefully to work every morning," grinned Ronald. "I wouldn't miss a day of this!" Ann, particularly, was thrilled. Randy is shrewd and a little common, but her nature has depths that only tragedy brings out. "I've never been anything more than an ornament," said Ann. "It's fun to be an actress at last!" Director Sam Wood was firmly behind her, determined to do for her what he did for Ginger Rogers in Kitty Foyle, the role that won for her the cherished "Oscar." So anxious were Ann, Bob and Ronald to be in Kings Row that although they were each working in another picture at the time, they begged to be in it and said they would double in two pictures at once. Which was done — but with confusing results. Ann, for instance, once became mixed up and reported on the set in the skintight modern evening gown she wears as the actress in The Man Who Came to Dinner, and had to change to the 1903 coverall of Kings Row. Bob, alternating in It Started With Eve at Universal, forgot himself one day and checked in at that lot. And Ronnie, who was simultaneously whooping it up in International Squadron, got his lines mixed and quoted a pungent speech from that epic when he was supposed to be making love to Ann! On top of all that, there was difficulty in getting all three principals together on the set at the same time. Once, when they were all free from their other commitments to work together, technical problems were the voodoo. Ann, Ronald and 28 HOLLYWOOD l !