Modern Screen (Jan - Nov 1940)

GOOD NEWS (Continued from page 49) SPORTING BLOOD A few years ago, newsmen and photographers felt that Kay Francis was unduly snooty and often resented her attitude toward them and their work. But it's different these days. Kay's one of the best sports in the colony and there's no skeptic who'd dare say otherwise. Why, just the other day we caught her tacitly admitting that Elsie Borden, and not she, was the star of "Little Men." Walking from her car to the set, Kay stepped through a doorway over which hung a sign reading, "Through this portal passes the most beautiful cow in the world" — and she just chuckled! Once inside, she heard the mother of Richard Nichols, her four-year-old co-actor, order Richard to smile sweetly because he was about to meet Kay Francis. "Kay Francis," piped the youngster. "Who's she?" And Kay chuckled again. PUBLIC NOT INVITED California is the land of perennial sunshine, but when Hollywood film folk want a sun bath, they'd rather hie themselves to the corner of 42nd Street and Broadway than remain in their own backyards. After spending thousands of dollars constructing sun decks, patios, and reasonable facsimiles thereof, Myrna Loy, Paulette Goddard and Dorothy Lamour have discovered that the hills surrounding their homes offer excellent observation points to snoopers who enjoy watching famous figures drinking in their quota of Vitamin D. Investigation of a bevy of cars parked along the crest of the mountains disclosed the fact that dozens of people, equipped with either reasonably good eyesight or a decent pair of binoculars, have been having a high time peering at unsuspecting sun-seeking citizens. Now, if you read of the colony's wholesale return to the comparatively secluded night clubs and tennis courts, you'll know what's behind it! FASHION NOTE Rosalind Russell was having a load of trouble trying to remember a speech for a close-up the other day. Every time she went into a take, her lines escaped her — and her temper went right after them. As she stumbled for the fifth time, the director began to cough nervously and wonder if he oughtn't suggest that Miss Russell lie down and rest a bit. But, suddenly, Roz had a thought. "Hold everything," she ordered. "I'm going to do a Cary Grant!" Diving for her copy of the script, she ripped out the page containing the tricky speech, propped it up out of camera range and, just like a congressman, read her lines without a tripup! "Cary scribbles notes on his cuffs," she explained, "but I don't have any. Another day like this one, though, and I'll have my dresses trimmed with washable blackboards! " CUBAN JUMPING BEAN Desi Arnaz, the West Indian rhumba-riot who switched from Betty Grable to Lucille Ball when he switched from New York to Hollywood, has decided to make another important change. After twenty-three years of Cuban citizenship under the name of Desidero Alberto Arnaz y De Acha, Desi wants to become a citizen of these United States. He's already applied for his first papers, but this step toward Americanization isn't impressing his fellow-RKO'er, Ginger Rogers. Ginger still refers to him as the "Cuban George Raft." CARBON COPY CAROLE A few weeks after "They Knew What They Wanted" finished shooting, Director Garson Kanin discovered he needed Bill Gargan for some retakes. One of them was a continuation of a scene wherein Bill, having been soundly kissed by Carole Lombard, faces the camera with her mouth clearly outlined on his. Bill came down to the studio and immediately reported to the make-up man who was to apply an impression of Carole's lips. The job should have taken just a few minutes but an hour later it still wasn't completed. The make-up man, having tapped S SO GOOD . . . FOR SO LONG because it's filled with flavor through and through That fine, tastier flavor of Beech-Nut Gum will last you a mighty long time. Why? The finest flavors are mixed through and through to bring you a more tempting flavor in each piece of Beech-Nut Gum. NOVEMBER, 1940 77