Modern Screen (Jan-Dec 1960)

IS YOUR ...THEN TRY 'ROUND-THE-CLOCK EYE-BEAUTY f-J^ ^ ®„ »«pr S>aAh&f<!4~ WASH-OFF PERMANENT DARKEN ER MASCARA for LASHES AND BROWS ? . (for the hairs to which applied) in different movies opposite other handsome and competent actors that she should compare them in her mind with Stewart. Most of them were wiser in their industry relations. They didn't fight with their directors, didn't tell off the set workers, display temperament. Though she wouldn't confess it even to herself, she was getting a little tired of the temper tantrums. Did a really strong man have to have such tantrums, she wondered — and tried to banish the thought from her mind, as though it were a sign of disloyalty. And then came Stewart Granger's great inspiration. Wouldn't it be wonderful, now that they had three children to look after, to buy a big ranch in Arizona where the children would have a normal life? Eventually they could retire to this ranch. She was appalled. Why, they were so young. How could Jimmy talk of retirement? And anyway, what did they know of ranch life? Such a life was for one's old age — fifteen or twenty years from then, they might be ready for retirement. Jimmy had laughed at her fears. "Retirement?" he howled. "I meant years from now. Not now. Have you any idea of the hard work involved on a ranch? I'll be knocking myself out like mad. Anyway, a ranch is expensive. It'll take us years, darling, to pay for the darned thing or to make it begin to pay for itself. Meanwhile, it'll be a wonderful place for the children." Yes, the children. Maybe it would be good for them. She had become accustomed to letting Jimmy make the decisions. Even though she had misgivings she went along with the idea and invested her money in the ranch. They converted an old adobe house into a beautiful ranch home, and furnished it beautifully. As usual, Jimmy was in charge of the whole thing; Jean looking on like a child. She went there when she could and tried to convince herself that she loved it, but she was miserable there. She felt as though she were stuck in the middle of nowhere; she couldn't stand either the 110° heat outside, or the dullness inside. Life on the ranch was strenuous for Jimmy, but there just wasn't enough for Jean to do. There were many times when she found the monotony almost too much to take. She and Jimmy would get up around seven; then she and Tracy would go riding on the truck and she'd take the child horseback riding before the heat became unbearable. Jean tried to get interested in watching the branding and other activities on the ranch, but they soon palled on her. Added to the problem of adjusting to the ranch was the fact that there were so many times when she and Jimmy were parted by their work. At such times he would leave the baby reluctantly. It was those reluctant partings with Tracy that made her feel that somehow she must make her marriage last. When had it happened, that feeling that it was all over. . . ? Was it that certain evening at the ranch, a few months ago, when something happened to finally make her face the fact that she no longer was in love with Jimmy? The thrill was gone The children were asleep, and Jimmy, long legs stretched out on an immense leather hassock, his ruggedly chiseled features and greying hair highlighted by the fire on the hearth, sighed contentedly and reached out for her hand. She let him put his strong hand over her slim one, but the thrill she had once felt when his hands touched hers was no longer there. She stirred restlessly, remembering how she used to tingle at every touch of his. His face was as handsome as ever, the magnificent body was still youthful and vital. And there was so much more serenity in him than there had been in the old days. She had thought she would welcome the serenity. Instead, she chafed at it. It made her too conscious of the years between them. In the nine and a half years they had been married, she had changed from a naive young girl to a restless, desirable woman, and Jimmy had changed to a mellow but middle-aged man. Now everybody called her a fascinating woman, and many men had been fascinated by her. That wouldn't have mattered if Jimmy had been close by at all times to reassure her with his love, his physical presence. There had been too many times when he was away, times when she ached for a man's arms around her, but stifled that ache. And finally, aching so much for love and not having her husband there to assuage the ache had left a void in her heart. Make Believe Their marriage had been make-believe for a long time now. How could she go on pretending? If she did, she might end by hating Jimmy — Jimmy, who, after all, was not at fault. He had been very decent letting her travel thousands of miles away from him with Tracy. Tracy . . . Tracy . . . the little daughter named for one of their best friends, Spencer Tracy. How she had put off the thought that she might some day be forced to tell her, "No darling, Daddy does not live here with us." That night on the ranch she thought about it . . . thought about her restlessness. She couldn't sleep. And finally she said to herself, "Some day I must decide whether or not to leave Jimmy. We're no longer right for each other. But I'll decide tomorrow." And now, sitting in her suite in the Dorchester, it seemed that the tomorrow she had been staving off these past months, had finally come. She and Tracy would soon be leaving London. Jimmy was in Hollywood, awaiting her return with their little girl. Then he would take off for India, for a picture. When he returned she'd be off somewhere. Jean put her hand to her head. It could only drag on like that forever. If she didn't tell him now, they'd fall into the same endless pattern . . . the separations, the pretending, the frustrations. This was the time to resolve it, before they came face to face again. When she faced Jimmy, her courage fled. She reached for the phone and put through a call to Beverly Hills. She must tell him before Tracy came home with Nanny. "Darling," she said when she heard his voice. And then she thought, "How we cling to old phrases even after they're dead." "Jimmy," she said slowly, "Don't think this is a sudden decision with me. It's not. I've been thinking — for such a long time. . . ." He had seemed shocked. Then he'd asked about Tracy. Yes, he'd be able to see her any time it was possible. She wouldn't deprive the child. Then she sat by the phone and waited for Tracy to come back. . . . END Jean stars in three new films — United Artists' Elmer Gantry, and Universal-International's Spartacus and The Grass Is Greener. 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