Modern Screen (Dec 1948 - Oct 1949)

^ J.CU1, j-^sea her illness as ju pressure and a general . condition. He kept her tucked axx Jed for more than a week. Coming out of the hospital, Rita spent most of July just resting and getting well. So far, she had acted in a predictable manner. Nothing sensational. Nothing for the headlines. On July 23 she was in Cannes, registered at the fashionable Eden Roc, apartment Number 34. On that date Orson Welles arrived at Eden Roc and registered in apartment Number 29. The word went out, the newspaper columnists moved in and there immediately began the story of Rita Hayworth's adventures on the French Riviera. The August 1 issue of France Dimanche, Parisian weekly, carried a picture of Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles dining together. "Orson Welles says, 'I shall never remarry Rita Hayworth'," whooped the headline. "Orson Welles, the youthful genius, and Rita Hayworth spent a night at Cannes . . . but strictly honorable," the story went on to say. "Gilda (Miss Hayworth was called by the name of the character she had made known throughout the world by her portrayal on the screen) did not appreciate the pleasantry. She is still very much in love with her ex-husband. . . . "The night of his arrival, Orson Welles invited Gilda to dine with him at Chez Francis at La Garoupe. " 'He truly treated me as if I'd never been his wife,' sighed Miss Hayworth." France Dimanche neglected to say to whom "Gilda" sighed. "After dinner they had a drink at La Jungle, a cabaret in Cannes. On leaving around four o'clock in the morning, Orson, who was feeling very gay, embraced Gilda a la Francaise." (Meaning, of course that he kissed her noisily on both cheeks.) "At five o'clock in the morning," you could almost hear the France Dimanche MODERN SCREEN "I've got news, Pop! I was held over for another twenty-six weeks' engagement." ire found toiler) on a bench .Now, it is necessary to point out that the French papers have a typical Gallic approach to romance items and sometimes go to far greater lengths then their American cousins in reporting affairs of the heart. It is well to remember that everyone in France, from diplomats to the least shopgirl, wanted the glamorous American star to behave in a manner befitting French ideas of movie star behavior It's possible that Rita and Orson spent an exceedingly gay evening together — and it is also possible that the evening was no more exciting than an excursion to the local bistro of Cranberry Corners, Idaho. Whatever the case, the newspaper stories were unfortunate. They established Rita as a type, m'sieu, that the Continent had not seen since pre-war days — gay, beautiful, dashing, careless of reputation, typical of those mad Hollywood beauties portrayed in American films. echoes at home . . . The story created such an uproar that echoes were heard in New York. Paris reporters for American newspapers were asked where they had been wasting their time when Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles announced their plans to marry again. It isn't difficult to understand why the newspaper boys began to watch Rita with the worried expression of men with a bomb in their midst. The pressure was on. From this point forward, Rita would be big news. Orson Welles went back to Rome on the day. after his "reunion" with Rita. And Rita retired to the quiet of her apartment. It is possible that she should have talked to the press; her seclusion only added fuel to the fire of rumors. Rita's self-imposed retirement was brief. It was in the fashionable club Paradis a short time later that it was decided Rita had completely recuperated and was once more in "great form." This deduction was obvious when, in stocking feet, Miss Hayworth demonstrated a wicked samba. The eager partner was Alberto Dodero, Venezuelan millionaire. Although often referred to as "the pompous SefLor Dodero," he didn't hesitate to discard his white dinner jacket, the better to match the antics of his spirited partner. Even Mohammed Rega, the Shah of Iran, during 48 hours of liberty allotted him by protocol, spent his precious time pursuing the most sought-after woman in France. Shah or not, he was the recipient of a Hayworth brush-off. It seems he did manage to say hello to her, and was under the impression that she was to dine with him at Eden Roc on his last night in town. But Rita didn't show. After a two-hour wait, he finally gave up and consoled himself by having two of the prettiest of the pretty Viseux sisters join him for the evening. It is now time to introduce Ali Khan, a character in the pageant of Rita's holiday. He takes a bit of introducing. Ali Khan, be it said, is son of the Right Honorable Aga Sultan Sir Mohammed Shah (better known as the Aga Khan) . The Right Honorable is probably the richest man in the world. Every year his people, the Ismail Mohammedans, pay their beloved leader an amount of gold equal to his weight. On the fiftieth anniversary of his reign, they made it diamonds — and that year he tipped the scale at a neat 272 pounds! Prince Ali Khan, with that sort of inhe all in for all That's MODERN SCREEN'S bright new show, Red Benson's Movie Matinee. It's an audience participation show like no other with a laugh a minute and prizes galore. You'll enjoy this funfilled half-hour. Folks in New York City think it's Mutual's top daytime quiz! TUNE IN You'll hear Red Benson's Movie Matinee every day, Monday thru Saturday, if you tune in your Mutual Station at 3:00-3:30 P.M., E.S.T., Monday thru Friday; 11:00-11:30 A.M., Saturdays. (Saturdays for WOR, New York, 1:30-2:00 P.M.) modern screen "Americas Leading Movie Magazine"