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A PERSONAL APPEARANCE 227
created by studio writers for the special talents of his stars. As a result, most of the parts I was offered had been tailored especially for me.
One of these was in the very successful musical Sing, Baby, Sing, which was based on an episode in John Barrymore's life — his romance with Elaine Barry, who was his last wife. I was engaged to play the Barrymore character. After the picture was released I was called a number of times by other studios to play "Barrymore" parts— which shows the inconsistency of Hollywood. Jack was still alive at that time, and they could just as easily have had the original instead of an impersonation.
Meanwhile Zanuck was so intrigued with the dramatic possibilities of Barrymore's past that he decided to make another picture based on his rise and fall in the theater. The title given the final script was The Great Profile, and once more I was called to play the Barrymore role. But my agent and I were very dubious about this one. I insisted that if I played the part, I would have to be protected from all possible damage suits. I finally got a clause in my contract to that effect.
But before we could even start shooting, Barrymore learned about the picture and threatened to bring suit. "Nobody," he declared, "is going to make a picture based on my life, unless I play the leading role."
Zanuck decided that he didn't want to involve Twentieth Century-Fox in damage suits and injunctions, so he hired Barrymore. But I also had a contract to play the part. As a result I collected my salary and played golf all during the shooting of the picture. That was the easiest money I ever earned in Hollywood.
In another Zanuck picture, called Cafe Metropole, I wore what I consider my most publicized wardrobe. It consisted of four suits, all of which were tailored for me by Hawes and Curtis in London. I had purchased these suits in the summer of 1936, when Verree and I finally went on our delayed honeymoon. When we reached London, I ordered the four suits and had preliminary fittings. But since we were leaving England before the suits could