Hollywood (1942)

love? with trepidation in her heart, Hedy let romance take its course. Soon the handholding stage developed into love. Everyone was expecting Hedy to marry again. And this time, it looked like the real thing. John Howard was a handsome and likable young man and Hedy was a heartbroken young lady who deserved better treatment from Mr. Cupid. But once more love took an unexpected detour. The nuptials never came off. And Hedy's much broken heart was again left to mend itself. For a few months, Hedy went through a period of romantic convalescence. She was hardly ever seen in public. As far as love was concerned, she was "at liberty." But then again, as beautiful a woman as Hedy can't help attracting men to her. The dashing, young heartthrob, George Montgomery, whose name was romantically linked with that of Ginger Rogers, suddenly switched his attention to her. Ardently and persistently, he gave Hedy the rush act. He completely swept her off her feet. Every indication clearly pointed to an early marriage. And when Hedy was seen sporting a brand new solitaire, along with that beaming, happy look, everyone was convinced that she was going tp be luckier in her third attempt at matrimony. Hedy made plans to be married in Las Vegas. Even the press was notified and invited to attend. But. as usual, there were a couple of cynics around who doubted the wedding would come off. And. slrange'y enough, these pessimists were right. At the last moment, the wedding plans fell through. At first, the nuptials were merely postponed. Then there was talk of a split-up. Finally, an announcement was made saying that the engagement had definitely been broken. Once again, Hedy remains in romantic solitude. But by this time she is getting accustomed to her plight. She is sure that she has been jinxed — that romance is almost out of the question for her. There's a lot of sympathy for Hedy around Hollywood. Everyone knows the stress and strain on her nerves — the wear and tear on her emotions. They know she is unhappy. And they can not understand why the most beautiful woman in films has been cursed in her love life. Five times love beckoned to Hedy. And five times it turned out to be a wrong number. Now people are beginning to wonder just what it is that's wrong. Is it Hedy? Is it the men she selected? Is it that she's simply too beautiful? Or is there really a jinx hovering over her? ■ Gig Young starved and went sleepless just for a chance to act. In his very first role a sensational thing happened. The preview audience rated his performance above the leads. Skyrocketed to stardom overnight, he's in Warners' Air Force He Howled 'Em Over II v MIR1KL REED ■ It was April Fool's Day in 1937. An obliging motorist dropped the tall, curly-haired, handsome young hitchhiker in Culver City. He wandered around, saw the outside of three movie studios and assumed the town was Hollywood. This engaging young man, who calls himself lazy, worked so hard and did with so little sleep and food that he actually collapsed from malnutrition. For five years Gig Young, born Byron Barr and later called Bryant Flemming, worked to make the "Hollywood grade," and now he's made it — but not in Hollywood. He worked in Washington, D. C, Culver City, Beverly Hills, Pasadena and Burbank, but never in Hollywood! When you see him in a featured role in The Gay Sisters, you will know why Warner Brothers are very Gig Youngconscious these days. He'll be starred in his next picture and the public can be thanked for that fact and for his strange — but catchy — name. In The Gay Sisters, Gig Young plays Gig Young, and that's not double talk. With the studio-picked name of Bryant Flemming he got his first big part in that film. But when the picture was "sneak" previewed. 90 per cent of the comment cards said nothing about George Brent, Barbai a Stanwyck, Geraldine Fitzgerald or Nancy Coleman; instead the hard-boiled customers went into verbal tailspins aboui "the chap who plays Gig Young," It was the biggest avalanche of commeni cards on a screen newcomer the Warnei studio ever had. The Public spoke and the Public must be heeded, so Byron BarrBryant Flemming became Gig Young, the first time a player has ever been given the name of a screen role after playing the part. (Anne Shirley got hers before she started Anne of Green Gables.) It's okay with Gig. Any name — or roleis fine that can get him out of the rut he was in! The only difficulty is that while he was working on the picture, our hero bought a dog and named the Schnauzer pup "Gig' in honor of his first good part. Now when Mrs. Barr-Fleming-Young calls "Dinner's ready, Gig," man and beast come running' Yes. Gig runs for food, is happiest when he eats thick steaks, baked potatoes with gobs of butter and two desserts. But he never gains an ounce — perhaps that is because he was on such lean rations for five years! When Gig [Continued on page 59 ] 23