Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1931)

Three names dimmed. Read why these oncefamous stars are not so popular today Again, she was told to smoke a cigarette before the camera. Betty refused. Or rather, Betty's mother refused. Mother invariably took the rap for Betty and quarreled with the executives about working hours, money, type of roles and all the other things movie mamas interest themselves in. At last the girl's contract was allowed to lapse. When it was understood that the option would not be renewed, Mrs. Bronson ate a goodly portion of humble pie. Why, if necessary, Betty would smoke a black cigar. But this vigorous change of heart came too late. Betty was through. She went to M-G-M for "The Bellamy Trial" and might have done something else there had she not suddenly gone to England. It appears that a young man named Joe Pendergrast was being graduated from Oxford and Betty wanted to see the deed done. Upon her return, she was cast in the famous Al Jolson picture, "The Singing Fool." Jolson didn't take to her. Now, for Betty's side. Betty said that the reason she would not wear the pajamas and smoke the cigarette upon the screen was because she was not the type, her fans would disapprove and such gestures would cause her professional death. She explained the European trip by saying she was stagnating in Hollywood and had to get away. She also claimed that she had not the slightest notion why Jolson didn't like her, for she had tried to be nice and do whatever was necessary. Never was she temperamental. The case of Betty Bronson rests for a moment. NOW, for Madge Bellamy. Here is the complaint of the producer. It was said that she, too, was temperamental, that she put on the grand robes of stardom, attempted to dictate to her bosses and refused to work with a certain director assigned to her. This last was the immediate cause of the breaking of her contract. Madge, herself, tells another story. She was not temperamental. It is true that she never really liked her pictures. For all her baby-doll face, she has a good head, and she felt that her program pictures were not bringing out the talent she had to offer. She was promised, by the highest executive, the role of Diane in "7th Heaven." During a trip to Europe, she was photographed upon the battlefields of France to prepare herself. She returned to find Janet Gaynor playing it. This hurt Madge. She felt it was unfair. But she went on and did what she was / Olive Borden is another star that took a toboggan ride. Temperament was the excuse given — but again that old devil box-office was the reason assigned to do. She did " Mother Knows Best" and one other. Then she was called into the executive office one day and told the name of her next director. "Oh, but I can't work with him," she said. "He was assistant director on my set once and he took a dislike to me. There is something that must pass between star and director — a mutual understanding that is necessary for the success of a film. I simply cannot work with him, for I know we'd make a failure — his hating me as he does." YOU can't tell us who shall direct you," said the producer. "And if you don't like it, you can quit." "All right," said Madge. "I quit." Perhaps they were only trying to bring her to task and make her take a cut in salary, since she had been with the studio for a number of years and the figure was high. But Madge had wanted to retire, had wanted to have time to do a little studying and thinking. She promised to consider the matter over night. After having talked it over with her mother, she came to the studio the next day, only to leave. That was two years ago. When thenewspaperscameout [ PLEASE TURN to PAGE 110 ] 71