Modern Screen (Jan-Dec 1960)

PERSONAL OPINIONS Now her divorce from Stewart Granger is ■ehind her and their years of unhappiness are o longer denied, look for Jean Simmons b become the bride of director Richard Brooks, 'hey may not wait the full year required by Arizona law although neither admits consmplating a quickie marriage in a state ermitting immediate remarriage after a ivorce. . . . Too bad. girls. One more eligible Hollywood achelor is out of circulation since Gene Kelly married his pretty dance assistant Jeannie Coyne in a surprise ceremony at 2:00 in the morning in Tonopah, Nevada. Gene had waited until his fourteen-year-old daughter Kerry was visiting from her school in Switzerland so she could be present at his wedding. Jeannie and Gene (euphonious, aren't they?) have been dating quietly for some time. Their close friends suspected they were in love — but even so, the marriage came as a bit of a surprise. . . . How time passes — much too swiftly. Tommy Rettig the first little boy star of Lassie, now has a 7-pound, 13-ounce little boy of his own. Tommy and Darlene have named their first Thomas Eugene — and Tommy says, "Yes, as soon as he's old enough we're going to get him a dog!" ene Kelly (center) with his two favorite girls— his recent bride, Jeannie oyne (left), and his fourteen-year-old daughter Kerry, home from abroad. >ebbie Says She'll Marry Harry When Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie isher were in Hollywood they saw none of eir friends. They attended no social events id Eddie told pals his sole reason for being Hollywood was to see his two children, rrrie Frances and Todd. When he visited them, Debbie Reynolds, e mother of these two beautiful children, ade it a point to be absent. She had no wish meet Eddie for whom she still holds some tterness although she never admits it, nor >9S she show it by word or deed. Those who claim to know say that Debbie .11 be mistress of the beautiful home that 3rry Karl, shoe manufacturer, has recently decorated for her. She dates no one else id she says he is very good to her parents id children. He gifts her with beautiful furs and jewelry :d she says no one has ever been as good to .r as Karl. That, if anything, can win a oman's heart. She said they'll marry as on as his divorce is final. She said it— they'll marry just as as Harry Karl's divorce is final. Lucky Nat's ever-lovin' husband R. J. gifted her with a birthday surprise. Birthday Party via Long Distance If I had been there myself I couldn't have had a more vivid impression of Natalie Wood's twenty-second birthday fiesta than I received long distance from New York from Nat herself. "The most wonderful surprise was Bob's having my mother (Mrs. Marie Gurdin) plane in from Hollywood the afternoon of the party — and then he hid her until time to spring her at the party! Then Natalie lapsed back into referring to her doting Bob Wagner as the usual "R.J." as she happily rattled on. "R.J. took over the wine cellar at Pierre's — just like they do for parties in Paris and all those kegs and bottles around sure puts everyone in a convivial mood ■ — to understate it," Natalie laughed. "If mother and the party weren't enough — old R.J. also broke out with a big diamond set in the middle of a heart for my birthday gift — am I lucky or not?" Natalie continued to run up her 'phone bill as she went on with the details of the celebration. "Remember Frank (Sinatra) gave me my twenty-first birthday party last year at Romanoff's. He couldn't be in New York — but I can tell you he's just as thoughtful and original 3,000 miles away as he is on tap. "He had twenty-two bouquets of flowers made up — and one was delivered every hour during the evening. Also, he hired 22 musicians who marched in playing and singing. There's Nothing Like a Dame. How about that?" If you're asking me — it couldn't have happened to a more excited or appreciative girl, Natalie. Even if you have hit the big-time stardom in your New York picture Splendor In The Grass you still sound like the slightly slangy and down-to-earth girl you were when you left town. 1