Modern Screen (Dec 1938 - Nov 1939 (assorted issues))

MODERN SCREEN GINGER GOES IT ALONE (Continued from page 29) Not that she hasn't worked at it before. And with happy results. But the new set-up is different. Now, when she's acting, she isn't tightened up, thinking of big song-and-dance numbers ahead. She can relax, let herself go. "I hope the difference shows on the screen," she said fervently. It's beginning to show off the screen. She used to be chronically tired, so tired that her friends expected to hear of her complete collapse, so tired that her mother finally drove her to demand a six-weeks' rest between pictures. That demand led to a rumor that Ginger Rogers was becoming "difficult." Because she didn't publicly explain. She wouldn't admit, even to herself, that she was physically and emotionally exhausted. But she was. Now she isn't. It's the only big change in Ginger and it's a heartening one to see. She isn't nervous and tense, now that she's on her own. She has new zest for life and laughter and she's prettier than ever. The columnists who see her as an "orphan of the storm" should rush for the nearest oculist. Their eyes must need examining. Her contract came up for renewal last year. At that time, her studio knew that when Fred's contract expired, after two more pictures, he might not renew. They faced the question then: Did Rogers have possibilities without Astaire? The answer was an emphatic Yes. They signed her up not for one more year, but for several, with a guarantee of steady salary increases. When a studio loses its enthusiasm about a star, there are ways of telling. That star no longer gets the choice scripts or the best directors. Others are handed the plums. And look at Ginger. "Bachelor Mother" is one of the best comedy scripts and the picture was directed by Garson Kanin, who is on his way to becoming another Capra. And for a leading man, the studio went off the lot to get one of Hollywood's most attractive bachelors, David Niven. "Fifth Avenue Girl" is being directed by Gregory La Cava, who specializes in movie masterpieces. Ginger decidedly isn't being given the run-around by her studio. NOW if people would only stop shaking their heads about my going it alone," Ginger said, whimsically, "everybody could be happy. Tell me, why do some people have such short memories? This isn't the first picture I've made without Fred. There was 'Stage Door,' and 'Vivacious Lady,' and 'Having Wonderful Time.' They didn't close any theatres. Two of them were actually hits, and all of them made money. There ought to be a little hope for me, even if I have hung up my dancing shoes for a while." I suggested that, perhaps sub-consciously, people were venting their chagrin that she wouldn't give out about her romantic inclinations. They wanted to know if she still was in love with Lew Ayres, from whom she has been parted since 1936, but never divorced. Or was there someone else? "What's life worth if a girl can't have one secret?" she asked, smiling. Then, more seriously, she added, "I'm not trying to excite curiosity. I can't tell my future plans, for the best possible reason. I don't know them myself. I'm superstitious about making plans. I believe in letting the future take care of itself. I've operated on that philosophy all my life. It's too late to change now. I'm not afraid of disappointments, but I don't believe in sticking my neck out. "When I first went on the stage as a Charleston dancer, being a Charleston dancer satisfied my ambitions. I didn't make any plans to branch out, become something more than that. When somebody gave me a chance to do a song-anddance act, I tried to be good at it. But I didn't get Broadway ambitions. I didn't think I'd ever be good enough for the big-time. When I unexpectedly had the chance to be in a Broadway musical, I worked hard to make the most of it. But I didn't let myself get visions of starring on Broadway. "When Hollywood gave me an opportunity, I tried to carry out instructions. I tried to do well whatever they called on me to do. But I didn't wax ambitious to show them I could do bigger, better things. I never dreamed of the chance to dance with Fred Astaire. When the chance dropped out of the sky, I tried to follow through. When they gave me the chance to be his acting partner, as well as his dancing partner, I tried to merit their confidence. "I didn't plan beyond our co-starring pictures. But the studio thought we IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE IN LOVE ! HOW FOOLISH TO MISS YOUR CHANCE THROUGH DRY, LIFELESS %IMIDDLE-AGE"$KIN! there's just nothing like a lovely "schoolgirl complexion' to help a girl win and hold the man she loves ! BUT WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP MY SKIN FROM GETTING SO DRY, LIFELESS AND OLD-LOOKING ? MAYBE YOU'RE USING THE WRONG SOAP ! WHY DON'T YOU TRY PALMOLIVE ? THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS USE ! OLIVE OIL , PALMOLIVE'S SECRET ! YOU SEE , PALMOLIVE IS MADE WITH OLIVE OIL, A MATCHLESS BEAUTY AID PROVIDED BY NATURE HERSELF TO KEEP SKIN SOFT, SMOOTH , YOUNG ! THAT'S WHY IT'S SO GOOD FOR DRY, LIFELESS SKIN ! AND BECAUSE PALMOLIVE IS MADE WITH OLIVE AND PALM OILS, ITS LATHER IS REALLY DIFFERENT ! IT CLEANSES SO GENTLY, YET REMOVES DIRT AND COSMETICS SO THOROUGHLY ... LEAVES COMPLEXIONS RADIANT ! WELL, l'M G0IN6 TO USE PALMOLIVE AND GET A "SCHOOLGIRL complexion" LIKE YOURS ! MADE WITH OLIVE OIL! j THAT'S WHY PALMOLIVE IS SO / GOOD FOR KEEPING SKIN,-dl SOFT, SMOOTH , YOUNG I 80