Hollywood Motion Picture Review (1944)

The Real Lauren Bacall She sincerely hopes her fans will soon stop referring to her as “Bacall of the Wild,” “The Look” and “The Whistle Girl” . . . They may coin some new titles after see¬ ing her second film with Humphrey Bogart, a Warner Bros, release ti¬ tled “The Big Sleep” . . . Physical¬ ly speaking, Miss Bacall (or Mrs. Bogart, if you prefer, as she does) will be 22 years old come next Sept. 16; she’s 5 feet 7 inches tall, is slim, exceptionally long-legged and weighs 119 pounds in a bath¬ ing suit and sandals. Her hair is long and tawny blonde by natural inclination. Her eyes, set wide apart in a heart-shaped face, are greenish or gray, according to her clothes and her mood of the mo¬ ment . . . Yes, she’s moody and admits it . . . She also has a dev¬ astating sense of humor and likes to play practical jokes. But, she draws the line on stuff like the hotfoot . . . Occasionally, if she doesn’t like what is being said, she still gives out with what Mr. Bo¬ gart calls “that down-under look!” . . . Her real name is, or rather was, Betty Joan Perske and she was born in the Bronx, N. Y. . . . She attended Julia Richman High and was an exceptionally bright student, graduating when she was 15 . . . She earned her first dol¬ lar as a model but didn’t like the business, particularly, so she quit to become an usher at $8 per week . . . Her first speaking part in a play on Broadway was in a shortrunner called “Franklin Street,” salary $15 every seven days . . . “The Big Sleep,” incidentally, is Lauren’s second film . . . “Confiden¬ tial Agent,” her third, was pre¬ released. DAVE’S Delicious Beef -burgers 1722 No. Vine St. — Hollywood & Vine HO 9907 Hollywood. Calif. NADINE LURIE JIMMY DURANTE can’t seem to get his swimming pool in work¬ ing condition so he simply moved all of his garden furniture into it and converted it into a patio. BETTE DAVIS has gifted direc¬ tor IRVING RAPPER with a gold tipped wallet containing a gold plaque on which Bette has in¬ scribed her gratitude for Rapper’s fine directorial work on her pic¬ tures. CYD CHARISSE is not only playing her first lead in M-G-M’s “The Unfinished Dance,” but she wears in a scene in the film, the most expensive fur coat in the country today. It’s $25,000 platina mink and special police have been on duty to guard her while she wears it. BRUCE BENNETT who did such a good job in “Mildred Pierce” gets his chance at stardom in “Night Unto Night.” Bennett is otherwise known as Herman Brix, champion Olympic Shotput. RON¬ ALD REAGAN goes before the camera for the first time in four years in the same picture as Bennett. Comedienne IRENE RYAN, a member of the old vaudeville team Tim and Irene is set for a stint on the JACK CARSON show. JOHN RINGLING NORTH and LOWELL THOMAS are still try¬ ing to peddle their book “Life of the Ringling Brothers” to all the studios. After 30 years on motion pic¬ tures Chester Conklin’s right back where he started — playing a key¬ stone Cop in silent films. CONK¬ LIN dons his old helmet and mustache to belabor RED SKEL¬ TON in “Merton of the MOV¬ IES.” Cartoon director Tex Avery has come up with some terrific titles for his cartoons. Latest is “A Flea Grows in Brooklyn,” starring Phil Flea. Also like this one, “The Mouse on 92nd Street.” EDNA PIDGEON, Walter’s daughter, is recovering from a back injury received when she slipped on a rug . . . PIDGEON has just been assigned to one of the finest dramatic roles of his career in “If Winter Comes.” Producer-director IRVING AL¬ LEN finally got back to Mono¬ gram after shooting 60,000 feet of film atop Switzerland’s Matterhor for “High Conquest.” To the gal who asked for the name of that wonderful photog¬ rapher. It’s Cliff Waters on La Cienega. i Knorn -THIS GERI GOODMAN Don’t be too surprised if AVA GARDNER and the miracle man, HOWARD HUGHES say “I do,” as soon as the southern belle’s di¬ vorce from ARTIE SHAW is final . . . BOB HUTTON is back with CLEATUS CALDWELL and this time he sez it’s for keeps . . . Glad to hear LEO LA FAVE is feeling much better after suffering from complete exhaustion . . . Producer WILLIAM B. DAVID bought a 4 cedar beach craft for his own pri¬ vate use. (and I can’t even get a car) . . . The gal with the honey voice, GLORIA ELWOOD has had the LAPIN BROS, create hair shade for her, called GOLDEN HONEY . . . BILL HENRY’S son MIKE will have a small part in F. HUGH HERBERT’S “For Keeps,” at the PASADENA PLAYHOUSE. Henry has the starring role . . . Welcome home DANNA MARKOE . . . LOU BROCK and DON BARRY are backing a profes¬ sional baseball team of VETS in Sacramento, Calif. . . . MARTY HOLLAND and ROBERT CLARKE romancing at CIRO’S Toast overheard at TOM BRENEMAN’s by two produc¬ ers; “HERE’S TO OUR WIVES AND SWEETHEARTS, MAY THEY NEVER MEET” . . . PLAYERS PRODUCTION, re¬ cently formed to present a series of stage plays, announce that they will conduct an eight week season at the EL PATIO Theatre in Hollywood. Prominent in the man¬ agement of the group are Mrs. Bhor Dahlberg, Dick Irving, Mort Werner and Herbert Rudly. The eight week season will be divided into two week intervals in which four well known stage plays will be presented. “20th Century” the first of the series will star KEE¬ NAN WYNN and TAMARA GEVA with LIONEL STANDER, and will be directed by Herbert Rudley. An all star supporting cast will round out what should prove to be a most interesting opening show. “20th Century” will be followed by, “Blind Alley,” “Stage Door” and “Petrified For¬ est.” Each of the four plays will star well known movie players, and among those contemplated are JUDY GARLAND and TYRONE POWER. Murphy to Place Liniment on Sale George Murphy’s home liniment for aching muscles has proved so popular with Hollywood stars that he’s going to put it on the com¬ mercial market. For years, George has kept a bottle of the compound in his dressing room, to soothe the aches and pains of any fellow actor. The formula was originated by the star’s father, Mike Murphy, famed track coach. Recently, he used the liniment to cure an aching arm for Frances Gifford on the set of “The Arnelo Affair.” Frances asked George to make up a bot¬ tle for her and asked why he hadn’t commercialized the stuff. Taking her suggestion, Murphy is now trying to sell the liniment to a national concern. “At least it’ll save me the trouble of mix¬ ing the stuff for my friends!” he commented. Takes Defensive Because Lawrence Tierney’s portrayal of Dillinger and other hard-boiled characters on the screen prompted would-be toughs to continually challenge him to fight off-screen, the star is playing a hero role for the first time in “San Quentin.” He thinks the change will stop the heckling. Miss Mussel! Ciled for “Sister Kenny” Rosalind Russell, already the possessor of one citation of merit from the Elizabeth Kenny Insti¬ tute in Minneapolis, will receive a second honor. After seeing Rosa¬ lind in RKO Radio’s “Sister Ken¬ ny,” the famed Australian nurse asked the Institute to prepare a second plaque acknowledging the star’s extraordinary personal ef¬ forts in bringing the drama to the screen. 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