Hollywood (Jan - Mar 1943)

The Hollywood rumor factory worked overtime when Joan Crawford wed the comparatively unknown actor, Phillip Terry. Despite his famous wife's influence in the movie industry, Terry will carve out a career through his own efforts. Joan's in Metro's Reunion in France ; Phil's in Bataan Patrol KAY PROCTOR **H Didn't Marry Joan Crawford for Fame9f-Phil Terry ■ Phillip Terry is a young man with notions and the spunk to back them up. One of those notions right now is that he is not going to ride to Hollywood success on the coat-tails of his wife, Joan Crawford. Twice before — once at M-G-M and again at Paramount — he had the courage to ' walk out on lucrative contracts when he did not like the set-up, so there is no reason to believe he will back down on his current stand. Particularly when Joan agrees with him 100 per cent! No sooner had Phil and Joan been married (a marriage which caught all the Know-ItAlls napping!) than gossiping tongues began to wag in the usual Hollywood fashion. "Joan Crawford and new spouse to costar on Broadway," one columnist printed. "Crawford asks studio to co-star mate with her in new picture," wrote another. Back of those items, and a score like them, was the unwritten implication that Terry's film career was due to take a sudden rise because of his wife's influence and power. As would any man, Phil began to burn. "It's not true," he said in indignation. "We have no such plans or intentions." No one bothered to print that. It is true Joan has a great faith in Phil and his future. Any woman — secretary, welder's wife or plain Mrs. Brown down the street — feels that v/ay about her man. It's part of love and marriage. "Naturally I am proud and grateful for Joan's faith in me," Phil said, "but I would never ask or permit her to go out of her way to assert that faith to her studio. It would be unfair to her, put her on the spot. It would put her in a bad light with the executives who know and trust her judgment. She got where she is by her own efforts, and I intend to do the same. "It would endanger my career, actually, because it would be jamming me down the public's throat, and the public is quick to resent (and rightly so) any such tactics. Studios have found that out in the past when they have tried to force 'finds', 'discoveries' and 'importations' into public favor before the public was ready to accept them. "Finally, it would be unfair to the studio. It should be allowed to make its decisions without pressure. If you buy something under pressure, you may tolerate it but you never have any enthusiasm or real interest in your purchase. It's like buying a new hat: if you make your own choice, you like it; if a high pressure salesman talks you into it, the chances are you will decide it stinks by the time you get it home! "Call it a hunch, intuition or what you will, but I know some day I will make •my mark in Hollywood. Meantime I am content to wait for that day, and to work to be ready for it. There is precious little satisfaction in success handed you on a platter; to enjoy it you must earn it by vour own efforts." Phil started working toward his goal back in 1930 when he first decided on a picture career. He felt a sound theatrical training was an essential background to film success, and because the American stage at the time was in the doldrums (those were the depression years) he went to England for that training. "I also had noticed that Hollywood had developed a great affection for English actors," he observed succinctly. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and upon" graduation, joined a repertory company and toured the provinces. An unexpected illness of his father caused Phil to return to California in 1935 and he set about the business of getting a job in the movies. A dreary, disheartening task it proved, too; for a solid year he could not get his nose inside an agent's office, much less a studio. Everywhere he heard the same refrain until it began to sound like a dirge: "Not a chance, and for heaven's sake, get rid of that English accent!" It must have eiven Phil considerable enjoyment seme time later when a certain agent rushed up to him after the preview of Parson of Panamint in which he played the title role. "You were great, my boy!" the agent gushed. "Wonderful! Come around and see me tomorrow. Together, we can do great things!" "You don't remember me, do you?" Phil answered. [Continued on page 64] 27