Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1958)

EXPOSED . . . Continued from page 40 he worked with him on a TV show in Hollywood. Is this true? Truth • (From Suzanne Pleschette, who dates Dean, played a romantic role opposite him in “Compulsion” and appears in Warners’ “Marjorie Morningstar”) . Yes, I’ve heard that Alex Segal and Dean had a big fight out on the West Coast when Alex directed Dean in a TV dramatic show. They didn’t speak to each other by the end of rehearsals. Yet who do you think convinced the producer of “Compulsion” that Dean should play one of the leading roles? The director — Alex Segal! Dean’s stubbornness, in this instance, gained the director’s respect. Dean took the role, too, after thinking he could never really play it — and I think Alex’ faith had a lot to do with that. Alex respected Dean’s strong belief in what he was doing, although he may have disagreed with it. Anyhow, Alex isn’t the easiest person to get along with. But during the rehearsals of “Compulsion” Dean and Alex worked like a team. Alex talked to Dean before the first rehearsal, told him they should work with each other, not against each other; and that was it. You know, this reminds me of Jimmy Dean and the trouble he had with George Stevens, his director on “Giant.” Stevens threatened to throw Jimmy out of the cast a number of times because of their differences. Yet, in the end, Jimmy gained everyone’s respect. Dean could be called stubborn, sure, because he won’t back down on something he believes in. But he certainly could never be called mean. That’s untrue, and unfair! I’ve dated Dean, and I’ve watched him when he’s tired or depressed, as we sat in a restaurant having dinner. Fans who recognize him would come and ask for autographs, but he was never condescending or bored as I’ve seen lots of young actors behave. After the show on matinee days there’d be mobs of teenagers waiting for Dean’s autograph. He never refused one or tried to duck out a side entrance. Lots of times he’ll write short comments beside his signature, and you know that he’s someone who cares about people, not someone who’s mean or gruff. Dean is kind. He goes out of his way to help people. But don’t misunderstand me. Dean’s kindness isn’t the Boy Scout type. It’s something that doesn’t show itself in deeds; it shows in his understanding of people. KlllllOr • People say that Dean is full of bitterness. Have you noticed that? 80 Truth: (From Suzanne Pleschette) I think you could say that Dean was bitter. At least, Bobby Driscoll, who was also a child actor, says that Dean was that way when he was a kid. Dean hated sitting home to learn lines for his films, when he’d much rather be playing ball or going on hikes with his brother. Bobby says Dean snapped at people then. But I can tell you he’s not like that now. I’ve never heard him snap at anybody. I think, too, that he’s acquired a sort of personal philosophy, an outlook on life that has given him the peace of mind to conquer whatever it was that bothered him. Call it maturity, call it wisdom, or what you will — Dean, today, has more of it, I think, than anyone you could mention. J^UMMlOr • Dean is supposed to be a “difficult” date, in the sense that he’s moody, and so brilliant that girls feel ill at ease with him. How about that? Truth: (From Suzanne Pleschette) Well, Dean is intellectual. He likes to think. So any girl who goes out with him has to be on her toes. He doesn’t like a girl to sit back and say nothing. He wants you to think along with him, and express your own opinions. But Dean’s a wonderful guy to go out with because he’s so interested in everything around him. He’s more curious than a pup who goes sniffing everywhere. Just walk with Dean along Broadway, and he’ll notice everything in all the novelty shop windows, the people who pass by; and he’s full of comments about them. Dean isn’t so much the brain boy that he doesn’t enjoy simple fun. He’s a real nature boy. I imagine that’s why he doesn’t care for New York. He loves California. He likes fresh air and the desert atmosphere. We’d go driving in Dean’s beautiful Renault to get away from the city. He loves to drive along the river, and we’d stop at a diner to eat some seafood (with Worcestershire sauce! He’s nuts about Worcestershire sauce, puts it on everything). I’ll always remember those drives as some of the pleasantest dates I’ve ever had — and I think any girl would. KuMIOI* • Dean is said to be uncooperative with people who are strangers to him. In particular, he’s a “tough interview” to press people, who get nowhere with him. What do you know about that? Truth: (From Bob Ullman, a personal friend of Dean’s) When I hear people say Dean is surly and uncooperative, it makes me mad! It’s true Dean has the power of shutting himself off from the world. He’ll get so involved with his thoughts or feelings that he won’t hear a conversation or he’ll forget to greet someone. But this is an exceptional virtue, to be able to immerse yourself in your own thoughts and cut yourself off from the distractions of the world. Now here’s something that happened recently that will show you what Dean’s like. One day a guy came to the stage door asking for Dean, and the stage manager gave him the brush-off. He came back the next day, again asking for Dean, and the stage manager stalled him. The third day he arrived early before Dean got to the theater and waited outside the stage door. When Dean arrived at the theater, the boy introduced himself as a student and told Dean he was working on a scene from “Compulsion” for an acting class. He’d chosen to play Dean’s role for an exam and came to him for help in understanding the complex character of Judd Steiner. The guy’s name was Davis. Dean asked Davis up to his dressing room, went over the scene with him, line by line, explaining all the hidden meanings as he understood them, told Davis if he wanted any other help, not to hesitate coming to the theater to see him. And in case he had any trouble getting past the stage manager, Dean gave Davis his personal (and private) telephone number to call. Now you can make up your own mind about Dean being cooperative or not. True, he doesn’t like to be interviewed by all sorts of gum-chewing press people who pry at him about silly things like what clothes would he wear if he went to Hawaii and does he prefer mustard to ketchup. Dean wants to talk about real and important things. RlIlllOl • Dean is often compared to Jimmy Dean in the sense that he is overly shy and sensitive, an unhappy, mixed-up sort of person. What is your impression? Truth • (From Roddy McDowall) I didn’t know Jimmy Dean — neither did Dean — but I think Dean is so much an individual in his own right that it’s very unfair to make comparisons. I can only give you my own impressions. The first time I saw Dean, when he was a child actor, there was something about him that impressed me — a certain urgency, an intensity even though he was so young. Years later, in September, 1956, I met Dean again. He was quiet and reticent, not one to make much of a fuss. Looking back, the thing that strikes me is how much you want to know him when you meet him. There’s something very moving about him; it’s a sadness, an anguish that you know will always burn inside him, some unhappiness he’s cursed with for life. Now that we’ve become friends we like to listen to operas together on our hi-fi sets. And when I watch Dean listening to music, I realize what deep feelings he has. Maybe Dean’s shy. He’s also uncertain and confused. If he appears hypocritical to anyone, it’s only because he’s trying to find himself. He might say yes to one thing, and the next day realize he means something else. Dean would be the first to admit his confusion about himself. As I said before, he’s honest all the way — he’s one of the few people I know who, when he talks to you, always looks at you directly in the eyes. RuHlOr • Dean has been called selfish, too serious about himself, without any humor. How accurate is that? T ■* ■ ■ t I* • • (From Ina Balin, a young actress who’s dated Dean, appeared with him in “Compulsion,” is now featured in Paramount’s “The Black Orchid”) Dean is serious and he’s selfish. He’s selfish about his career because he wants to do the best he can. But I’ve got to admit Dean is the kind of person whose character you can’t pin down with a couple of words. He’s not a black-and-white type of person. For instance, Dean is both old and young. When he takes curtain calls he bobs his head like a frightened little boy. Then, when you see him alone or go walking with him through the streets of New York or Hollywood, you realize how mature he is. Oddly enough you realize his maturity from his unhappiness. Dean is unhappy — and I know this sounds strange — because he’s intensely aware of other people’s unhappinesses. He doesn’t always let you know this, but after a while you realize how much compassion he has for his fellow man. If he knows you’re unhappy about something, he wants you to tell him all about it, he wants to relieve you of your burden. When you tell him about it, he’s so interested and so anxious to help that you feel light-hearted, all the better for confiding in him. Not very long ago he cut his hand onstage during a fast-moving scene in “Compulsion.” It bled seriously. He tightened his fingers into a fist, played the entire scene, came offstage, tried to stop the