Photoplay (Jan - Jun 1943)

lov e IT was Christmas Day at the Hollywood Canteen and hundreds of lonely, homesick soldiers milled about, hungrily absorbing the warmth and cheer of the place. Among the tables a handsome bus boy carried his trays of coffee and sandwiches while over in a far corner a beautiful woman sat autographing the books she had brought as gifts for the boys. The long line grew in size as the woman bent over her work. "Mayn't I help you?" the bus boy asked of the lady. "There seems to be considerable traffic here." Hedy Lamarr lifted her head and smiled at John Loder. "Please," she said and the Englishman opened and passed the books while Hedy signed. For several days Bette Davis had frantically telephoned at least fifty stars trying to find one not joyously tied up with family plans on Christmas who might appear at the Canteen. In all Hollywood she found only two — Hedy and John — the two loneliest people in town. The most beautiful woman and one of the most charming men had no place to go, no ties to claim them on that Christmas Day. "Do you come here often?" John asked at the finish of their stint. "And will you have dinner with me before we both come again?" And so began the romance that close friends feel may be the end of a 30 long search for happiness for both of them. They came into each others' lives at a psychological moment. John had been married twice and twice the marriage had ended in divorce. Disappointment, disillusionment and bitterness had haunted him. On her side, Hedy's heart had been badly bruised. No one could deny that the actress had been greatly attracted to George Montgomery, the manly but unsophisticated Montana kid who knew nothing of the social graces to which Hedy was accustomed in her continental swains. Despite their difference in background, Hedy loved George and would have married him, friends claim, if a bitter quarrel hadn't separated them. Far, far from being the "ball of fire" movie-goers picture her, Hedy is a simple person, seemingly unmotivated by purpose or plan. To this fundamental side of her George, whose interests revolved largely around ranch life, appealed. He dominated her physically and she flourished under the novelty, for it was indeed a novelty to this beautiful woman. For example, at the home of a friend one night Hedy sat at George's feet listening to the fun and chatter about her, while he punctuated the conversation by frequently kissing the top of her head. Presently George suggested they leave. "I don't want to go. I'm having fun," Hedy protested. Without a word George lifted her in his arms and walked out. It amused Hedy. Yet even during this hectic romance, she turned for real compan First you won't believe it. But read this about Hedy and John Loder and be convinced BV JANET BENTLEY ionship to one man alone in Hollywood— her former beau John Howard. John, a quiet, easy-to-know lad, expressed those qualities that Hedy herself possessed. There was no show about Howard. The quiet comfortableness of the man appealed to Hedy. When he left Hollywood for the Navy she missed him terribly. IT was then, during her New York Bond tour, that Hedy resolved to do something about herself and her loneliness. Perhaps new smart clothes would help, inasmuch as her Hollywood dirndls and peasant-type clothes were not calculated for formal dates. (Continued on page 78) COLOR PORTRAIT SERIES * 7 Cati/ C/tant: Now appearing in * RKO's "Mr. Lucky". . * =jDeanna ^Dutbi,,. Now ap pearing in Universale "The Amazing Mrs. Holliday" pagi e=4-nne <=^/f/r/ty; Now appearing in RKO's "Bombardier" /'"."■ * jM-eAif jLantatt: Now appear ing in M-G-M's "White * Cargo". /m„, .. LJinaet J<C.cqetA: Now appearing in Paramount's "Lady In The Dark" ... pa;ll .-,-. * Jiidij C /at I a n U: Now appearing in M-G-M's "Presenting Lily Mars" ,,„„, £ cd-lan J^uAd: (Last civilian * portrait) in Paramount's "China" pagi * /v//y j-H-utlcn: Now appear ing in Paramount's "Happy * Go Lucky" page Ifi photoplay combined with movie mifrou