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Above: Asked a leading question by Dr. Peale, the frank Bette Davis did not hesitate to answer, gave hinn a startling insight into the life of an actress
Below: Martha Scott, Fredric March and Dr. Peale talk with Mrs. William H. Spence, widow of the minister whose life March portrays in the picture
Looks at Hollywood Morals
human, heai'ty, forthright pastor of New York's Marble Collegiate Church, Hollywood was none of these. It was, he said, as if he long had heard legends of a land, then visited it himself to find it utterly different from anything he had expected. The lotus land of rumor proved, on inspection, to be a country of conscientious, hard workers.
Hollywood and the movies for years have patiently borne with blue-nosed investigators from one religious organization or another who have peered at its people and its product with a "holier than thou" attitude and then pompously issued pronouncements that lashed at its morals or manners.
It was, therefore, something of a pleasant shock to have one of America's best known and most widely respected clergymen turn public defender of filmdom's reputation. It was even more of a novelty to have a
leading churchman not only defend Hollywood but lay a large and lofty bouquet at its feet.
After mingling with hundreds of Hollywood celebrities for two months, diligently reporting for duty on a movie set six days a week, meeting the stars at their parties, watching them as they romanced and relaxed. Dr. Peale prepared a list of "Hollywood Discoveries" that should interest every film fan who has ever dreamed of the capital as a gay, abandoned, modern version of a frontier dance hall.
"I have made ten discoveries about Hollywood that I believe are contrary to the average layman's impression of the place," said Dr. Peale.
"1. A minister can feel very much at home in Hollywood.
"2. It is the hardest working place I ever saw.
"3. I found its people not blase and sophisticated, but wholesome,
friendly, home-loving folks.
"4. The handful of actors who have bad reputations, the few irresponsibles, do not represent Hollywood and are frowned upon by the motionpicture community.
"5. It is more than a money-making industry, for its leaders and personnel find a satisfaction in getting over a message of Americanism and the better things.
"6. It is a vast, efficient place of business, where a great commodity is being produced for the pleasure of 80,000,000 American movie-goers and not a scene of revelry.
"7. To watch the making of a movie is one of the most interesting and fascinating experiences • any man can have and one marvels at the ingenuity and resourcefulness, the infinite patience and skill required. One's respect for the people who make movies increases every day.
"8. Holly (Continued on page 84)
BECEIVIBER, 1941
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