Modern Screen (Jan-Dec 1960)

Hope a new long term contract at 20th. They were on top of the world. They re-married in church in New York City with the entire family present. Chris was born, Hope was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance as Selena in Peyton Place. The two worked like fanatics for their pet project HELP — an organization set up to clothe, feed and help some 50.000 refugees who have no identities. Don and Hope ear-marked a large proportion of their salaries toward the project. She donated her services on a Playhouse 90 to raise additional funds. He drove an old car. She went without furniture for her house. When she became pregnant with her second baby, she refused to cancel a trip abroad and instead toured eight European Countries on behalf of HELP. She went with Don to Germany, Italy, Switzerland. London, Paris. Rome and Sardinia — and looked upon the hopeless, the old, the sick and dying children. She let no one know that she wasn't completely happy in her marriage — that something was missing. Maybe she didn't want to believe it. The illusion She and Don were looked upon as model citizens. She told the press — "If it was a choice between my career and Dons, there would be no question. Don's career comes first." He told everyone who would listen. £ "Hope is my life. I see her as a mother, a child, a partner and a ward, a frustration -" and a satisfaction, a problem and a satisfaction— and a constant revelation. Each morning when I awake. I feel like ex claiming in wonder. 'Why, it's you.' " He created the illusion — and she lived ' the part. Perhaps if they hadn't been so carried away, they might have seen the : clouds that were gathering and done something about them before it was too late. They didn't refuse to face their problems. They just refused to recognize they existed. There was the problem of Don's career. The pictures in which he was starred j failed miserably at the box-office. He gave f fine performances but he just failed to catch on with the public and the studio . just stopped considering him for major roles. ■ Hope, on the other hand, caught on fast. Don said he was delighted. He was — but his masculine ego was slightly battered. i He wanted out from his contract and - talked about setting up his own produci tion company abroad. He discussed the s possibility of starring Hope in his first picture — if 20th would agree. But 20th had bigger plans for her . . . -C starting with The Best of Everything. r Hope was co-starred opposite Stephen -r Boyd — and almost immediately there were r jmors, disturbing rumors. "How," en: lired reporter Mike Connolly, "can it be the "Best of Everything' for that couple • hen Don Murray is barred from his : wife's set?" Hope and Stephen lunched together con" = -stantly to "work on their scenes" — and "he rumors got louder — and louder. Don uldn't pretend to be unaware of them — ^ but he could fight to stop them. "Ridiculous." he insisted. "These rumors •"^"were started by our 'best false friends' "'"working on the picture with Hope." • To prove they were ridiculous he started ■ showing up on the set and joining Hope and Stephen at lunch. To prove that they -~ were ridiculous, he invited Stephen to his Jj iome to work on the script with Hope. And he cued them with their lines. Boyd also shrugged the whole thing off ■'■sth. "Hope and I are friends. How could there be anything between us when she's a married woman?" Then he added with a twinkle, "But this doesn't mean I wouldn't court her if she were single." When the picture was completed Hope and Don were off on a 'second honeymoon' to Europe, a second honeymoon combining pleasure with publicity for The Best of Everything and Shake Hands with the Devil. They tried hard to convince themselves that everything was still idyllic. Magnetism you can't ignore They were still trying late last winter when they vacationed in Acapulco. They swam together and danced together and pretended it was all very romantic. ''We must come back here again. Hope." Don insisted. "What do you think about our buying a house? The climate would be wonderful for the children. Don't you think that's a great idea?" "Yes, Don. it's a wonderful idea. We must come back again. . . ." But deep in her heart she wondered if she ever would. Later, much later, a friend, who was anything but false, tried to explain what was wrong. "When Hope and Don were in Europe, and later in Mexico their marriage was in serious trouble. But neither would really face that fact: In spite of her denials. Hope had been infatuated with Stephen Boyd. He's a tremendously vital man with an exciting animal magnetism most women find hard to resist. I doubt if she ever thought of divorcing Don then, but Stephen made her terribly aware of the excitement lacking in her marriage. Let's face it. the Murrays have known each other ten years. They had a warm and devoted relationship — but I doubt if they had the kind that sends the blood rushing to the head. Boyd can make a girl's head spin — and Dolores can do the same thing to a guy." Dolores is Dolores Michaels. Don and Hope knew her casually for years. They said hello at the studio, nodded in the commissary. That's all. Up to a year ago she had been married and living in Laguna. Then she and her husband separated and she started dating John Duke. Everyone expected them to wed. Last winter she was cast as Don's leading lady in his picture for 20th — One Foot in Hell. And suddenly, before either of them were really aware of what was happening, she and Don became disturbingly attracted to one another. Hope heard about it. of course. There are always people who must talk about these things. For a while she pretended to ignore it. Then — neither she nor Don pretended any longer. Since leaving his home. Don has dated Dolores openly. Sheilah Graham told her readers to Look for Dolores Michaels to be the next Mrs. Don Murray. Sidney Skolsky told his readers: Now that Don Murray and Dolores Michaels have discovered one another, don't be surprised if Stephen Boyd starts escorting Hope Lange. The picture is painted in bright red colors. But the story isn't quite over. Their friends are hoping that once Don and Hope have their outside flings, get whatever it is they have to get out of their systems. they'll realize the importance of what they had and get back together again. If they do, their eyes will be wide open. If they do. their halos will be gone — and they will no longer be trapped in the world of make-believe. And maybe this time, they'll make it. END Don stars in 20th-Fox's Oxe Foot Ix Hell. ■ Red Buttons and his wife had had quite a siege of it — as soon as one got over the flu. the other would come down with it. At last they both seemed to be on their feet and Red told his Missis he'd like to take her out on the town to celebrate. . . . "I'm starving." Mrs. B. announced happily at the best steak house in town, and Red suggested the Sirloin Special. "Keep up your strength." The great big thick juicy steak arrived and they eagerly plunged right in. But after a few bites. Red's wife discovered to her dismay that her eyes were bigger than her appetite. "I can't finish it. Red." she moaned, "let alone start it. I'm so sorry." "That's all right, sweetie." he comforted her. "don't worry about it." "Oh. but I hate to leave it." she wailed. "$6.50. and I hardly touched it ... I wish I could take it home. Maybe I'd feel more like it later, maybe for a midnight snack. ... I know. I'll ask the waiter to wrap it for my dog. . . . People do say that. Red. don't they? I mean, people who have dogs "RED BUTTONS PUTS ON THE DOG" do sometimes take home left-over meat, don't they?" (It must be pointed out that not only do the Buttons' not have a dog. but Mrs. B. is deathly afraid of dogs.) "Sure, sweetie." Red reassured her. He took her hand and said, "Guess we came out too soon. A few more days of rest and you'll feel like eating again . . . then we'll go out and really celebrate — \^ ell. here's the waiter." The package the waiter handed them looked big enough to feed a horse. "Got a pretty fancy meal here," the waiter grinned. "\our dog's gonna have to go on a diet after this. . . ! "You see. I was wrapping this in the kitchen and I saw all this other meat that other customers didn't finish." he explained cooperatively, "so I just chopped it all up toaether for you!"