Modern Screen (Jan-Nov 1956)

Here are those long awaited baby portraits! Jane Powell's Lindsay Averil objected to the camera, but Ann Blyth's Maureen just ignored it. | si be before Donald finishes The Buster Keaton Story. However, he certainly lavishes gifts on the lady of his heart. In the last few months Donald has given Gloria a new car, a pearl and diamond bracelet, a white mink stole and a new refrigerator! I CAN'T BELIEVE PEGGY LEE really means it when she says that, excepting a few dates in Las Vegas she's contracted to fulfill, she's going to retire to be just Mrs. Dewey Martin. "You wouldn't let her do that, would you?" I asked Dewey over the telephone at the home he bought from Peggy when they were married. "Sure," he laughed. "Why not, if she wants to?" "But just this year she won the Audience Award as the best supporting actress of '55 in Pete Kelly's Blues." I reminded the happy bridegroom. He said he'd put Peggy on and let her speak for herself. "I've worked hard for a long time," she said, "I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying doing nothing. Right now, Dewey is repainting the housfe. He says he has to deleminimze it from all those pale pinks and whites." "You're just a bride, gal," I protested. "You'll have to prove to me that you're serious about giving up your recordings, your composing, night-club and acting jobs permanently." Peggy just laughed and said, "You may be surprised." ANN BLYTH is really too thin but she's planning to put on at least five pounds before starting work with Donald O'Connor in The Buster JCeafon Story. By the way, did you ever see anything cuter than the picture of Ann and her baby daughter in this department this month? Ann told me that she and Dr. Jim McNulty are flabbergasted over the comedy antics of their infant. "We're such serious people — and she's so zany!" Ann laughed. DODO AND JUNE: For a girl who didn't like parties and would hardly accept invitations this time last year, Doris Day has certainly become a social butterfly. She and Marty Melcher were at the bon voyage party the Henry Rogers hosted for June Allyson and Dick Powell (headed for Europe). Doris, a vision in white, seemed to be on the dance floor constantly. She and June are close pals and Doris told me she would miss her a lot while she's away. The summer dresses the girls wore were so pretty. June wore a black and white organza without her usual peter-pan collar. Gracie Allen looked like a doll (as always) in a pale pink gown designed by Orry Kelly with beautiful hand embroidery on the bodice and skirt. Everyone was taking a second look at Anna Kashfi, the East Indian beauty who came here after making The Mountain with Spencer Tracy in Europe and was immediately grabbed up under contract to MGM. Currently, she's on loanout to UI for the lead with Rock Hudson in Battle Hymn — which should give you an idea of how popular she is. Anna came with producer Ross Hunter, and while she frequently wears American clothes, for this occasion she looked lovely in a beige chiffon sari, the garb of her countrywomen. Among others who had a very good time at this party were Frances and Edgar Bergen, Charlie Feldman with youthful starlet Pat Livingston, the Mervyn Le Roys and the Johnny Greenes. IF ELIZABETH TAYLOR isn't a nervous wreck every time a leading man of hers steps into a car, she has good cause to be. Montgomery Clift had dined at the home of Liz and Mike Wilding on a Sunday in 20 1