Modern Screen (Jan-Nov 1944)

lW s»arc»*e Columbia Order by Mail from Ho Tailored with the precision of an officer's blouse! Beautiful crush-resistant rayon "Strutter". Slacks have slenderizing pleats, concealed side closing. A Hollywood fashion, created by "Sun Rose". Sizes 10 to 20. $10.98/ plus postage. Send no money. We mail C. O. D. If you are not completely satisfied, we will refund your money. BETTY CO-EO of HOLLYWOOD, Dept. 621 6402 Hollywood Boulevard • Hollywood, (28) California to be when he first came out— at MetroGoldwyn-Mayer— Hollywood's top league. Smart? Well, all I can say is that Jimmy Craig actually planned it that way. Thats the kind of guy he is. no art, no nothing . . . But if he's primarily a business man rather than a dream artist— that's no sign James Craig doesn't take acting seriously. He does— only he doesn't art around about it He considers it a job to do, and when he was a kid on his Grandpa's farm, the old man used to tell him: "Son— whatever you figure on doin'— do it good! Whether you re choppin' corn or buildin a house or courtin' a gal— do a good jobthen you'll feel right with yourself! That s the way Jimmy feels about his acting. That's why of all the pictures he's made, he likes "The Human Comedy best. Because he knew he did the best he could in that, and he thinks the picture was worth it. He's got a funny feeling that it helped a lot of people see things straight in these war-muddled times. And I think he's right. . , Even when his picture jobs arent exactly to his taste, Jimmy gives them all he has. Jimmy has had some doubts about playing a Caliph of Bagdad m 'Kismet. He feels a little silly running around with a turban on, phony jewels, sequins (an M-G-M wisecracker told him, You look just like Susan Peters in an Adrian hat! ) , but while he gripes around the lot like a G I on KP, he hasn't missed a minute doing his stuff. In fact, one morning he arrived looking a little peaked, but not saying anything and went into the scene. It was one where he lifted Joy Page up on a high wall, and nobody noticed that when he did it, he almost fainted with pain. Because a bull on his farm had slammed into him the day before and broken four ribs. And anything more painful than four freshly busted ribs when you have to heave-ho is hard to imagine. But then if he's anything, James Craig is all man. That's why he lives the life he does without any Hollywood frills or phony trimmings. That's why he sticks to the ranch every spare minute away from the camera. Jim got his ranch, by the way, because again he just had to have something— namely a horse. He was over on location near Taos, New Mexico, a few years back makmg "Valley of the Sun," when the local caballeros lined up a free-for-all horse race to climax the fiesta. Indians, Mexicans and rancheros lined up a motley bunch of cayuses to dash across the dusty desert and right in the middle was a spotted horse that grabbed Jim's eye and held it. BETTY CO-ED OF HOLLYWOOD, Dept. 621 6402 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood (28), California Please send Slack Suit at $10.98 plus oostoge. Brown □ Navy □ Powder □ Green □ Red □ Ton □ Gold □ (Mark 111 and 2nd choicel Size: 10 12 14 16 18 20 (Drow a circle oround size wonted) (Please print name, elcj Nome ■ Street . ■ the cart before the horse ... Being a Tennessee-Texan, Jimmy knows "hosses" from head to hooves, and the way this particular pony pranced and reared he knew he had real blood m him. Ihe funny part was that a little girl about 12 years old was sitting his saddle, and Jim rushed up to the owner before the race got going and begged to ride the horse himself. He was afraid the girl would get herself killed in all that mob of wild horses, and maybe the horse would too. Already he had the idea. He wanted to own that spotted horse. Before the race even started, he had the deal on the fire too. And sure enough, with the frail little girl who stuck to the saddle all right, Jim's spotted prize bounded out like a jackrabbit and won like a champion. Only after he found himself with a horse on his hands did Jimmy Craig realize that he had no place to keep it! So when he came back to Hollywood he practically had to go into hock for a ranch. It has really been the greatest invest Craig's ranch has kept him thoroughly happy though a movie star. He doesn t go much for movie social life— he can't stand the "gossip," and anyway all his best friends, as he says, are gas station attendants. Night clubs and cafes are okay with him for a gay evening out. But he s too Scotch to enjoy them when they put the bite on him. A while back some old friends from Texas came out to Hollywood and Jimmy got dolled up and took them to the current Hollywood showcase. The drinks were bad, the waiters snooty, and after a couple of tired sandwiches or something equally nourishing, Jrm drew the check. It was $88! He realized he was stuck and paid off, but he punched^ himself in the jaw the minute he got outside for being a sucker. He thought of what all that dough could have done on the ranch. . , . , . , . Because that's where he's sinking his money— right in the ground. He makes enough of it these days, too. And after the War Bond allotment is taken out, Jimmy's dollars and his spare time go into improving the place. When he took it over, there wasn't much besides a California ranch house and a few rickety sheds. The barn had burned down, and about the only livestock around there were some rabbits and field mice. .... Since then Jim has built all new buildings himself with the help of a carpenter. "Punch," his horse, and Punch's mate, "Judy," have a swell stable and so do the cows, dogs, chickens and other farm life that crow, cackle and moo around the place. When the war broke. Jim ditched his golf clubs, greased up his guns and fishing tackle and put them away. He put all his energies, thoughts and money, too, in the ranch, adding thousands of chickens All in all, he figures he's sunk around $18,000 in it, and every spare minute of his time away from a busy picture schedule. Sometimes he wonders if it's worth it when the pip or something cleans out his chickens, or when a night's midwifing with a cow doesn't work out right. But at those times Jimmy Craig, who loves animals and crops and everything about a farm, charges it all off to entertainment and exercise. His big body keeps in shape hustling around his farm chores. He's never had any trouble with extra pounds or any kmd of regimented body care— which is rare when a big fellow who's been an athlete starts to get his age, around 31. And it keeps him feeling like a million dollars, because there's nothing at all the matter with Jimmy Craig's health except a few busted bones here and there and some joints that still feel the effects of his football days. He doesn't baby himself either— eats everything in the world with emphasis on Southern cooking, smokes pipes one after the other and cigarettes when he s nervous. , Maybe because he s always feeling nt as a fiddle, Jim Craig owns a disposition like a lamb, despite the fact that he's built like Jack Dempsey and has some Cherokee Indian blood in him, too. to make him ornery. Like all big guys, he's a particular sucker for kids, and all the time he was making "Lost Angel" with Margaret O'Brien, he spent his extra studio time with that cute little miss, playing games with her on the set and teasing her— because if there's one weakness Jim has, it's stirring up a little fun with everyone he meets. "sughah" and spice ... In "Lost Angel," Jimmy and Margaret play a sort of sentimental man and kiddie love affair in a very pretty little story, and they kept it up on the set between scenes Every morning Jimmy bowed when she arrived and said, "Hows my