Photoplay (Jan - Jun 1943)

JUIUlIf John and Catherine getting cozy in a cozy spot — the den, filled with records and books. "I eat books," he says. "Trying to make up for the education that I didn't have." first year in Hollywood. No one was sorry to see me go. No one inquired when I'd be back. Cagney told me later, "When you first came here, Garfield, you gave people the gifts of simplicity and naivete. Then you took them back." That's right, I did. I took them back. In their place I gave people suspicion and snarls and stuck that chip on my shoulder under their noses. SO I went to New York, did a play, "Heavenly Express," put some of my own money into it, and it was a financial failure. I'm not sorry I did it. I had it in me, and it had to be done. Then I got "hep." I woke up one morning and thought, "What have I been carrying on for?" It was like growing up. What it comes down to is a word called Diplomacy. A word I'd never known. In the world I came from you said what you felt irregardless, and you said it out of the side of your mouth with your fists ready. But this is a different world. Here, you still fight for what you believe but you use the weapons of Peace, not War, that's the difference. When we first came here, we bought an old, rusty light coupe of the vintage of '31; in fact, we arrived here in it. Well, my friends now make fun of my midget automobile, my concession to gas rationing. "The Cramps," they call it. I don't find it cramped. I've been spending my days in the tail of a bomber for my role of a gunner in "Air Force." 54 After the bomber, "The Cramps" is roomy as the land where the antelopes roam. I never wanted to ride in a limousine. But that's another way times are changing. With the boys riding bombers, who would want to ride in limousines today? When we first came here, we lived in a two-room-and-kitchenette apartment and did our own work. Even that hasn't changed too much. We still don't own a house. We rent Helen Mack's place, a nice English house. It contains a bedroom, nursery, study, dining room, two baths and a banana tree in the back yard. Dessert at our house always consists of bananas in some form, either straight, souffle, pie or jello. I am having bookshelves built into the bathrooms. I eat books. Trying to make up for the education I didn't have. My first big splurge after that surprise "click" in "Four Daughters" was to spend fifteen dollars on books. These included Stanislavski's "An Actor Prepares," Sigmund Freud, Irving Stone's biography of Jack London, a history of the motion picture, and a book of Goya prints. My favorite book of all time is Romain Rolland's "Jean Christophe." I'd like to do it on the screen. Because it's my favorite theme, the struggle of the artist with his archenemy, the World. I also enjoy reading the Congressional Record. It is mailed to me by my friend Clifford Odets. When I am in New York, I go up to Odets' house and read it. I know several hunks of Shakespeare by heart. I like to recite it whenever I am alone. Sometimes I like to walk in the rain. That leaves me wide open, 1 know, that walking in the rain routine. All right, so I do it. There is a bookshelf behind my bed, one of those acreage affairs with four posts, where I can head off at right angles if what I'm reading excites me. And I read myself to sleep every night. OH, and look, for "color" — I wear both parts of my pajamas in loving memory of the days when I didn't have either part. I'm afraid of the dark, and have a scar on my left leg. A girl gave it to me. When I was eight. She hit me with a sled. I was picking on her. She was six feet tall. I never owned a tuxedo until I came to Hollywood. I can cook, but I don't. Which brings me back to what led up to all this: We still do most of our own work. We're not fussy about food. We're strictly cafeteria people, and can cook our own. When we have a hired girl, I wash the dishes so she can catch the bus. We haven't many friends. Few and close. We go to the movies pretty often, love it. My favorite actors are Jim Cagney and Spencer Tracy. Sometimes we go bowling. Other nights we stay at home, listen to some music, play with the baby. I'm not a "black-and-white guy." I love classical music but also go for swing, and like jitterbug. I smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, I also smoke pipes. I'm always buying pipes but never pay more than a dollar for one. There is only one picture of me in the house. It is in our bedroom and it is turned around facing the wall. I don't know who did it. Whoever did must have had strong feelings on the subject, and I respect them. All checks are made out by my wife, who is sort of my business manager. She receives a salary. In New York, I like to ride in the subway. I always make myself up for the screen, same as I always did. Can't get used to people's fiddling around with my face. I never put sugar in my coffee. I still have two special hates, Hitler and Tojo. Very special. I recently bought a Capehart, lots of records, lots of books, have my 1942 income tax in the bank. Those are the things I wanted to do. believed in doing. And now that the financial pattern of the world is changing, now that actors get so much and no more or, however it works out, less than ever before, I think picture people are going to do things because they want to do them, believe in doing them, not just for the coin. As this period in which we are living comes closer to its crisis. I begin to realize that it's a whole new era we're entering now. This is my spiritual home, this new standard of living and working. It's the way I always wanted it to be — "No one shall work for money and no one shall work for fame" sort of thing. Catherine is going to have a little sister or brother (I hope) come summer. Within the next six months I expect to be a member of Uncle Sam's forces. Just where I'll fit in. just what I can do, I don't know yet. But I want to do my best. It's a new life, a new world to live it in. But what would it be without freedom? The End photoplay combined with movie mirror