Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1962)

SIDNEY SKOLSKY Continued from page 68 needed money, that studio was not in jeopardy of becoming non-existent. And although Jolson is now sainted for the changeover from silents to talkies, if Jolson had failed, another performer would have accomplished it within the next few years. The talkies were inevitable. I was careful to state that no actress or actor ever had the terrifying responsibility of Liz Taylor. Because some horses did. It wasn’t a secret, a few years ago, that the fate of the M-G-M Studio was riding on the chariot race in “Ben Hur.” Millions of movie goers thrilled to the race, rooted for the white horses, who won — and so did M-G-M. That’s history now. It is shameful when the destiny of a great studio depends on the success of one horse race! Or one movie! It is now happening to 20th Century-Fox with “Cleopatra.” There must be, as Saroyan once wrote, “no foundation all the way down the line” when giant studios — institutions in the industry and the world — are so mismanaged they have to “go for broke” with the shooting of one picture. I write this with tbe hope that the money-men and the power-men in the East (New York), who make the decisions and set the policy, will again allow moviemakers to run the studios and call the shots. Everybody’s second business is show business. The butcher, the baker, the candlestick-maker believes he can make a better movie than the one he saw last night. Or produce a better television show. Or write a better play. The banker, the lawyer, the stockholder, always liked to relax after business hours by declaring what’s wrong with movies, television, the stage, Tuesday Weld, Soupy Sales, Katharine Cornell and Kookla. But now, instead of throw-away talk, they’re giving orders to Hollywood. It’s not right. Knowing how to make money is not the requisite for knowing how to make movies. Keep the second business second. Honest, there’s no business like show business. It hasn’t a rigid set of rules. It hasn’t a simple right way and wrong way. Its business process is as unpredictable as its creative process. Often they are interlocked. Take a hint, will ya, fellows? Despite all the pessimistic talk about “Cleopatra” and the odds against it, I think it’ll be a hit, a good movie. I’m stuck with a thing called hope — and reason. My reasons for thinking “Cleopatra” will be a good movie are writer-director Joseph A child... one of tens of thousands who need your help. Please give to the MARCH FOR MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY Mankiewicz (Oscars for writing and directing “Letter to Three Wives” and “All About Eve”) and such fine actors as Richard Burton, Rex Harrison and, of course, Elizabeth Taylor, the only name star who to date can draw them into the theaters by herself. Other box-office champions (Marlon Brando, Doris Day, Rock Hudson, Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, etc.) need at least a good movie. And some of them also require a co-star. In “Butterfield 8,” it was Liz Taylor all the way. Also, I believe Joe Mankiewicz is a fine writer and will have his characters — Cleo, Julius Caesar, Marc Antony, etc. — talking like human beings. This in itself will be a novelty. In all gigantic spectaculars shown on wall-to-wall screens, from “Ben-Hur” to “El Cid,” the actors speak a special language, wooden and unreal, invented and used only in this type epic. Of course I realize that “Cleopatra” hasn’t the chariot race of “Ben-Hur.” I know all about “Spartacus” and those other epics: “It would have been sensational if it had a chariot race.” But “Cleopatra” has Elizabeth Taylor. And sex — a powerful combination. Don’t sell sex short! It hasn’t gone out of style yet. I’ll bet if Cleopatra could know, she’d like to have lived as Liz Taylor does — with all that care, attention and luxury — merely pretending to be Cleo. I have to say this for Zsa Zsa Gabor and Maria Schell: They do look prettiest when they are smiling or laughing. However, I don’t believe they’re always enjoying the emotion for which a smile or laughter is usually the signpost. Hollywood can’t win! No matter which way Hollywood plays it, it can’t win. If Hollywood plays the angle that it’s as normal as any town (like when actresses are photographed in the kitchen as good housewives), Hollywood is said to have lost its glamour. If Natalie Wood leaves Robert Wagner for Warren Beatty, the usual talk is, “Well, what do you expect from those Hollywood marriages?” If Doris Day and Debbie Reynolds are publicized as the typical girl-who-livesnext-door, they are forced to change by this chain reaction: “I don’t go to the movies to see the girl-next-door. If I want to see the girl-next-door. I’ll go next door.” It is believed by the spoken and written words that the public (this includes movie critics and magazine writers) wants the stars to have that old-time show-off glamour of Theda Bara, Gloria Swanson, etc. So Jayne Mansfield buys herself an all pink house with a swimming pool which has two hearts engraved on its bottom — on one heart is scrawled Jayne and on the other is scrawled Mickey. And instead of using it she goes out and falls in the big drink and gets rescued from a scratchy coral reef, crying real tears. And everyone from Hollywood, Cal., to Hollywood, Fla., by way of Bangor, Me., calls Jayne Mansfield a gal who’ll do anything for publicity. As I said, Hollywood can’t win no matter what. But Hollywood manages to survive, regardless of what is said and done. Perhaps more astounding, Hollywood manages to survive in spite of itself. The End Live Longer And Better in NEW MEXICO THE HEALTHIEST SUNNIEST CLIMATE lit All America The fortunate people who live in New Mexico wake up to sunshine 355 days out of each year. They don’t know what it is to be oppressed by humid heat in the summer or by winter’s cold, damp clutch. They know that in New Mexico the rate of cancer and heart disease is only half of what the Nation as a whole faces. They work and play in a climate called America’s healthiest! Deming, New Mexico is in the southwest corner of the state, away from the rigors of winter. A boom has begun here and Deming's present 9,000 population will be 25,000 in the next 2-3 years. And DEMING RANCHETTES is only 5 minutes from downtown. It is rich with fertile soil, pure water and gorgeous mountains. Yet a half-acre Ranchette is only $199 complete, $5 down, $5 a month. Write for FREE color portfolio. No salesman wdl calk "deming RANCHETTES Dept. NH-22B 112 West Pine St., Deming, N. M. Please send your FREE portfolio in full color including maps and story. Name Address City _Zone_ .State. SEND A POSTCARD TODAY FOR Plirf 48 Page Shoe rlCEE BOOKLET K It's tasy to be fitted Direct via Mail I NO RISK TO YOU! MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE Stars of stage, screen, TV and famous fashion models buy perfect fitting Shoecraft Fifth Avenue shoes by mail. Wonderful values priced as-low as $5.95. We can fit all sizes 8 to 13. in widths AAAAA to C. I TOM TOM only $5.95. Black, taffy or bone leather. SHOECRAFT 603 FIFTH AV., NEW YORK 17 WALLET PHOTOS 25 ,or only f f00 M POSTPAID fin fnr only S7.ftn •' NO OTHER CHARGES 60 for only $2.00 w *> other chi DIE CUT TO SIZE 2Vi" x 3'A 25 handsomely embossed, round corner, plate-sunk, panel-edge Wallet Photos 2’/2" x 3 Vi" made from any photo up to 5" x 7"-returned unharmed with your 25 photos for only $1.00 -or 60 photos for $2.00 postpaid. Speed and satisfaction guaranteed. FOTO PLUS, Dept. TS, G.P.0. BOX 10, NEW YORK CITY FAT LEGS Reduce Hips, Thighs, Knees, Calves, Ankles Try new home method by leg authority. Offers tested, proven scientific course, only 15 minutes a day. Contains step-by-step illustrations of easy technique for slenderized, firmer, stronger legs, improved skin color and circulation. Write for FREE book in plain wrapper — also packed with actual before and after photos. FREE MODERN METHODS BOOK Dept. FL-100 296 Broadway, NYC 7 -HfM0BBHOi» Discomfort Contains: • BENZQCAINE for fast pain relief • ALLANTOIN to promote fast healing • VASOCONSTRICTOR to help reduce swelling Buy DeWitt’s ManZan . . ointment or suppositories PILE OINIMEHl! 95