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The truth about stars' breakdowns
Three-fourths of Hollywood's nervous cases are legitimate. The other fourth is faked — and they're exposed here
Such a beauty as Lana Turner was bound to suffer grilling after-effects
Completely genuine was Joan Fontaine's recent illness — and the cause justified it
HOLLYWOOD has nerves that jingle, jangle, jingle. Tired nerves, frayed nerves and, alas, convenient nerves that break down at opportune moments. In no community its size are there so many socalled nervous breakdowns that range all the way from poutings and hysteria to actual physical exhaustion. jThey occur in the very young as well as sturdy adults and the increasing number of "cases" in Hollywood has [raised a lusty "How come?" among the movie-goers.
The truth is that three-fourths of the breakdowns are legitimate. It's the one-fourth that makes the juicy reporting. Take that prominent actress, for instance, slightly on the wane, who faked an illness in order to avoid a scheduled Bond tour. Suspicion was allayed for the simple reason the actress had heretofore been fairly co-operative. The fact the star was no longer under specific contract to any studio prevented a studio medical examination, so the matter drifted. But a few suspicious souls began recounting the war activities of the star
n the past and discovered her help lad been limited entirely at her own
onvenience to soldiers who were •nerely in the vicinity. She had appeared at none of the coastal canteens, nor had she joined any organi
TEBRUARY, 1943
zations or classes. Still the reports of her illness drifted about until an actress making a Bond tour through Western cities spotted the star comfortably ensconced by the side of her boy friend who was encamped nearby. And there she had been all the time.
But very rare are such cases in the face of the overwhelming selflessness of some Hollywood personalities.
Greer Garson, for instance, ended up in an Eastern hospital suffering from exhaustion and the recurrence of an old illness after weeks of -strenuous Bond-selling. Ronald Colman came nearer a complete collapse than anyone in Hollywood dreamed. An actor's most precious possession — his voice — was sacrificed by Charles Laughton to stimulate sales. For weeks after his return to Hollywood Laughton suffered extreme laryngitis.
But on the bad side of the ledger goes this little anecdote. A very prominent actress recently demanded more money. The studio agreed — if the star would make concessions they felt necessary to her position. The star refused. The studio, bored with the unpleasant publicity, suddenly closed up like a clam. The next move came from the actress. She was in a hospital with the usual "nervous breakdown." She'd be there some time, her
No one in Hollywod dreamed of what ailed Ronald Colman
Oddest case in all film town is that of the youngest Lane, Priscilla
press agent announced, and columnists ate it up.
The studio quietly investigated and discovered the ruse. They didn't budge. Three days later the star was off visiting her boy friend at a nearby camp and the incident was closed. No one, believe us, can recover from break (Continued on page 83)
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