Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1944)

and setbacks and difficulties starting the Hollywood Canteen, John was her strength. He stood behind her. He fought those battles which needed a man’s voice. He ; still works for the Canteen untiringly. Besides, he goes out on long camp tours. There are some malcontents who knew 1 John when he was with the theater move' ment who insist, nowadays, that he has jgone Hollywood, forgotten art for money, and acquired such a swelled head that you cannot talk to him any more. Don’t you believe them! John has grown up. Many of his detractors have not. IT DOESN’T take long— especially in i ■ Hollywood where everything is acceleI rated — for disagreeable traits to catch up i with men and women. But sometimes it I is surprising how long some masquerade as swell human beings, without ever backing up their fine conversations and gestures. Like a big star who shall, out of kindness to his studio who has a tremendous investment in him, be nameless. He’s a good talker, this star, and people, meeting him, have found it easy and pleasant to believe him all the warm, generous things he pretends to be. The studio publicity department, also, has worked overtime for years creating and sustaining ■the myth that he is a generous trouper, I eager to give the other fellow a chance. ' Yes, he is! Let anyone capture a little glory in a scene and this star will see to it, in his quiet, thoroughgoing way, that ’ the scene is either refilmed or cut out entirely. It is only recently, at the behest of his friends, studio officials and high' pressured members of the Victory Committee, that he has raised a hand in be half of the boys in service. Finally he is visiting a few hospitals where he condescends to talk to the wounded boys and turn on his very convincing he-man charm. But when booked for any camp appearance which promises to be uncomfortable or inconvenient he still balks. Not long ago he quit a trip to a distant post, insisting — when he was less than a third of the way there and still in a cushy safe region — that he could not fly. lOAN CRAWFORD is definitely nice. BeJ cause it is definitely nice to be ambitious for more than success and money. Joan, gathering these things, has given much thought and time to improving her mind, taste, and manners too. She has transformed a hey-hey girl who was identified with Charleston contests to an intelligent, well-read, beautifully gowned lady whose charities and kindnesses are too well known to be repeated. If Joan wasnt humorless she would, without doubt, be one of the most glamorous and exciting women in the land. As she stands she is one of the nicest! Susan Hayward, at this writing, belongs in the un-nice category. But we have a strong hunch Susan won’t stay here when she has grown up. She seems to think a slightly bored and arrogant manner will hide her youth and the insecurity she feels. Instead— to anyone who has enough patience to understand her— these qualities herald her insecurity. In vain members of Susan’s studio press department tell her illuminating stories about other stars whose bad grace cost them dearly. But she never seems to suspect their reason for this. Bonita Granville is as nice a girl as you will find anywhere, combining the oldfashioned virtues which are basic and, therefore, admirable in any era with a resourcefulness and courage and realism which are still new to girls her age. Last year when *’Bun” went out on a personal appearance tour everyone who played on the bill with her moved into her cheering section. She had recently been promoted to stardom, on the heels of her truly brilliant success in “Hitler’s Children. ’ This, added to her youth, might have influenced her to act the glamorous movie star all over the place. She did nothing of the kind. She behaved like what she was, a beginner in the theater. She was eager for any advice seasoned troupers offered, whether it was dropped casually or offered in friendship. Furthermore, although she played many shows a day and went through a nervous tizzy every time she opened in a new city, she refused no request for a personal appearance at a military base and interrupted her act, upon occasion, with plugs for War Bonds. We have no intention of wasting spacepaper is precious and rationed — to announce that Bob Hope belongs at the top of any “nice” list anywhere. Not only because of all the gay valiant things he has done this past year as he entertained troops under fire but because of all the gay valiant things he has been doing all his life — even when no romance or drama or excitement attended them. All of which proves you cannot tell from your fine orchestra chair in a movie theater what any star is like — really! The End y pays $50^'a month. Keep the cost of living down — don't profiteer — don't ask for higher wages America’s HHB! Cigotene EMINENT DOCTORS , PROVED PHILIP MORRIS far less irritating to the nose and throat! WHEN SMOKERS CHANGED TO PHILIP MORRIS, EVERY CASE OF IRRITATION OF NOSE OR THROAT -DUE TO SMOKING-EITHER CLEARED UP COMPLETELY OR DEFINITELY IMPROVED! That is from the findings of distinguished doctors in clinical tests of actual smokers -reported in an authoritative medical iournal. We claim no curative powers for Philip Morris — but that evidence proves them less irritating to the nose and throat. In addition —you will find Philip Morris finer in taste . . . more enjoyable. F IK M 91