Hollywood (Jan - Mar 1943)

Popping Questions at Bob Cummings Bob Cummings knows all the answers when it conies to the monthly HOLLYWOOD quiz. He's in Princess O'Rourke Quizzed by HELEN HOVER Q. Which of your personal accomplishments was the most difficult for you to acquire? A. The ability to meet people. I've been told that I'm a good mixer, but a few years ago I was so shy I couldn't talk to people whom I didn't know well. I died inside of me when I went to night clubs or premieres because I felt so selfconscious. This was hindering me terribly. It was when I was working in Wells Fargo with Joel McCrea that I changed. Joel was the star, I was a minor player, but he was very friendly and helpful. He sensed that my inferioritycomplex was strapping me down and tried to get me to loosen up. He told me. •'Some day you'll be a big actor. It will come suddenly. Relax. Don't feel that you're worse than others." That, and succeeding pep talks did the trick in making me lose my stiffness and shyness. Q. What do you do to keep up a "front" as a star? A. I don't believe in doing anything phony. I'm not the type to get away with "front." First of all. I play a natural, breezy type of guy on the screen, and anything pretentious off-screen would be incongruous. Q. What was the greatest impression you ever made on your wife? A. It happened shortly after we were married. I could fly a plane but she didn't know it. One afternoon we passed a small air field and I told her I was going to fly one of the crates. She thought I was kidding, but when I got into the plane her eyes almost popped out of her head. For extra good measure I did a few turns in the air and when I landed she looked at me as though I were a hero. Q. How has Hollywood changed you? A. I used to be pushed around, but I've learned to fight since coming to Hollywood. In this business, where competition is so keen, a fellow has to make a concentrated effort to look out for himself. Q. How has marriage changed you? A. Not at all. I'm the same guy, but ^ Bob readily admits he's a dummy at cards. Claims it stifles conversation anyway with more responsibilities. It's changed my wife, however. She became a flyer and very air-minded because I'm an aviation nut. Q. Are you gullible? A. I'm afraid so. When people promise me something I believe them. No matter how many times a person's promises fail, I fall for the line another time. Q. How do you judge people? A. By the company they keep. Personal appearances are often misleading, but I've found that birds of a feather do flock together. If someone runs around with a phony crowd, he's bound to be a phony too. Q. What was the nicest compliment paid you? A. A friend of mine, after seeing Kings Row, told me, "Bob, I hardly knew you in that part. It just wasn't you." That was a real compliment, although a backhanded one, because I didn't want to play myself in the picture. Parris Mitchell isn't at all like me. Q. And the most unflattering comment you heard about yourself? A. I was at a football game and heard a lady behind me say to her companion, "Pssst — there's that actor I told you that even if I were married to him I wouldn't go to see his pictures." Q. What was the most amusing experience that occurred on the set of Princess O'Rourke? A. Olivia deHavilland does a scene wrapped in bandages. We framed it with Director Norman Krasna to have her wrapped up so that she couldn't move — then Krasna suddenly called lunch. Q. What film scenes do you like least to do? A. Love scenes. They're not the glamorous things you'd imagine them to be. There are too many people staring He's been lucky in love though. He and Vivian share one of the happiest marriages in Hollywood. Reason? Bob say it's their many common interests at you, and too many technical details to think of, like not mussing the girl's hair, not getting smeared with lipstick and so forth. Q. What Hollywood luxury could you do without? A. My swimming pool. I never have a chance to use it. Q. What causes dissension in your household? A. The radio. My wife likes it soft, I like it to blare. Q. What is your greatest expense as a star? 26