Photoplay (Jan - Jun 1943)

The Truth about Stars' Breakdowns (Continued from page 65) downs more quickly than a temperamental actress. And no one can suffer and endure in silence more selflessly than a sincere actor or actress. Love plays its part in the game of Hollywood breakdowns. During the rather hectic courtship of Judy Garland and Dave Rose, little Garland slowly went down the grade from robust health to actual frailty. Marriage and approval by all concerned has begun to lift her spirits a bit and bring back her health. But she still has days on the set when it's almost sheer will power that pulls her through. THE war, with its ensuing unhappiness, plays its part in the "breakdown" problem that constantly confronts Hollywood. Those who are genuinely patriotic and unselfish seldom give way; those who want to be near their men, or fail to procure vacations in the midst of productions for their personal reasons, are the "down in bed with nerves" group. Or maybe it's the old wisdomtooth gag that is used as an excuse for anything from a genuinely sore tooth to a genuinely sore blonde. Let me tell you of one of the bravest of stars — the ones who carry on and won't give in to failing health or screaming nerves. Her name is Brenda Marshall, one of Warner Brothers' most beautiful brunettes. Brenda and Bill Holden, desperately in love, had been married only a short year when Bill went to war. Brenda accepted it as thousands of other wives, but through a series of nerve-racking incidents she twice missed Bill when he passed through town, leaving her desolate and heartbroken. Then came Bill's transfer to Hollywood to make Government shorts. Brenda brightened up and seemed her gay self. Then out of the blue Bill was sent away. Brenda, alone in the house with her small child and no servants, began losing weight. She didn't give in or break down, but slowly before the studio's eyes she grew thinner and thinner. When she hit the ninety-eight-pound mark the studio grew fearfully alarmed. The still gallery politely dismissed Brenda with some kindly excuse; the truth was she no longer photographed. Her beauty had momentarily faded. Had she given in to a nervous collapse perhaps she'd have been in better health today. Or perhaps the studio would have offered sympathy. It's hard to tell. Studios, with release dates and schedules to meet and their anxiety to cash in on a good thing, contribute to more nervous breakdowns than all other causes. Healthy, normal youngsters as vital as Mickey Rooney suffer the whiplash of overwork. We remember a day several years ago when we entered an M-G-M sound stage to interview Mickey. We anticipated the fun and laughter that usually accompanied a Rooney interview. We found, instead, a boy actually working with an imminent breakdown. "I can't stand it," he said, "I've got to have a rest." Mickey had gone from one picture to another with lightninglike speed. His eyes had lost their impish sparkle. They stared at us dully and heavily. There was ever so slight a suggestion of a quiver of the lower lip — and this in Mickey Rooney, remember. Alarmed, we spoke to several studio people about it. "He'll get over it," they FEBRUARY, 1943 NEW... a CREAM DEODORANT which safely STOPS under-arm PERSPIRATION 1. Does not rot dresses. Does not itritate skin. 2. No waiting to dry. Atrid can be used right after shaving. 3. Instantly checks perspitation 1 to 3 days. Removes odor from perspitation, keeps armpits dry. 4. Arrid is a pure, white, greaseless, stainless vanishing cteam. 5. Arrid has been awatded the Approval Seal of The American Institute of Laundeting for being harmless to fabtic. 39* a jar (Also in lOt' and 59jf jars) At any store which sells toilet goods ARRID THE LARGEST SELLING DEODORANT 83