We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
IT TAKES GUTS
(Continued from page 45)
"I won't do it," she said. "Maybe I'm not an actress, but neither am I a blankety piece of cheesecake — " )
So far it's a draw, but the studios don t sit so pretty as they used to sit before the De Havilland case. Now all time out for suspension comes off the contract.
Take Humphrey Bogart (with Baby Bacall's permission). Bogey was such a sensation in "High Sierra" that Warners signed him to a new 7 -year deal without options. Eager to cash in on a winner, they stuck out the other hand— with a lemon in it.
"Uh-uh," drawled Bogey. "Go ahead, suspend me. I can live on my boat for nothing—"
And there he stayed till they added something new to his contract— a clause giving him approval over stories.
But I think Bob Cummings' fight was the most exciting. His was the first Hollywood contract broken by an actor. His brother Oscar's a lawyer, and they did it between them. "Let's test democracy," they said. "Let's see if the little guy can beat a corporation."
Bob hadn't done much at Universal. Joe Pasternak was all for him, but others were against him. In fact, I've heard that the row over Bob was one of Pasternak's many reasons for quitting the studio. Be that as it may, all the good Cummings pictures were done off the lot — "King's Row," "Princess O'Rourke," "Devil and Miss Jones." After that he went home to what looked like a prodigal's welcome.
"We've got a great picture for you, kid. This story was originally bought for Cary Grant and Roz Russell. They can't do it, so it's yours. With a sensational cast: Teresa Wright, Coburn, Francis Lederer. And Leo McCarey to direct — "
"You're killing me," said Bob.
"Here's the script. Take it home, read it and be happy — "
Reading it made him the reverse of happy. He picked up the phone. "You were kidding me about this script?"
"Why? Don't you like it?"
"It's the worst junk I ever read. Now I know why Russell and Grant couldn't do it—"
"You're not trying to back out . . .?" "Tell me just one thing. Is McCarey really directing?" "Sure he is — "
"Okay then, I'll stick with it. Because hell make it another picture — "
A few days before starting, Bob came on the lot looking for McCarey. Oh, didn't they tell you? We couldn't get McCarey. Nor Coburn, nor Wright, nor Lederer. Besides, the budget had to be slashed. And the shooting schedule cut in half. "But we start Monday. There's no change in the starting date — "
"Maybe you start Monday. Not me — "
"But you promised — "
"Sure. You promised a lot of things too — "
There was a second angle to the situation. A trained pilot, Bob had joined the AntiSubmarine Command of the Civil Air Patrol. The enemy was sinking our coastwise shipping. More than anything else, the Army needed flight instructors. A group of civilian pilots banded together without pay, and formed a squadron to convoy downcoast shipping. Bob was assigned to be a squadron commander and instructor.
Universal suspended him. Normally, a suspension lasts till the studio finds a replacement for the role. But they kept on suspending Cummings every four weeks
Be Lovely to Love
You'll never worry about staying sweet and dainty if you use Fresh
the cream deodorant that stops perspiration worries completely* It's gentle, stays creamy and smooth. Doesn't dry out.,, usable right to the bottom of the jar. 50^. ..25/.. .10^
85