Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1948)

Notorious Gentleman (Continued from page 41) first Mrs. Grant) and Barbara Hutton, the second, and has also fitted every other girl he has ever had a second date with. Still, asking Cary what are his and Betty’s plans, gets you nowhere. He says, mockingly, “I learned how to duck those questions with Barbara.” What’s more, that is true. When he knew and trusted you, he used to talk quite freely about Virginia and then “Brooksie” — Phyllis Brooks — when he went around with her. But he clammed up completely on the subject of Barbara from the time of his courtship till today. It isn’t that Barbara “changed” him. Actually Cary “changes” very little — but Barbara’s influence — and his wish to protect her — did give him a chance to develop his technique of avoiding the personal — something he has always wanted to do. For instance, the brash, happy-go-lucky character he so often portrays on screen is not the true Archie Leach, who was bom in Bristol, England, even though offscreen he often acts in exactly the same way. He can come breezing up to you, apparently overwhelmed with joy because of your mere presence and you may, perhaps, never see him in any other mood. But if you don’t, you see him rarely. Because his thoughtful, almost melancholy moods are more usual to him than his light-hearted ones. He loves sports and the outdoor life but, nonetheless, he is more a man of the mind than of the body. When he knows you well enough to be the evolved Archie Leach behind the glittering Cary Grant, he says things like, “The fulfillment of one’s ambitions doesn’t always lead to happiness, but when I started out I was eager to explore the idea that success means happiness. I wasn’t sure, you understand, but I was willing to find out. Now I know that the success is not the happiness. The working is. Working in this profession has given me my greatest happiness. Interested in a role, I escape from myself. In the effort to project a character, any performer has to forget himself. In my case, it lets me get away from my shyness, which I know is a form of inferiority complex, and lets me seem very assured. I’m always happiest when I’m working.” This is entirely true, and is the sole reason he makes as many pictures as he does. It stands to reason that any star in his income bracket doesn’t need to make more than one or two pictures a year. And beyond a point, Cary has no genuine interest in money. He has his lavish home; he has a set of perfect and expensive servants, including a very British “gentleman’s gentleman” — and his wardrobe, as absolutely necessary to a male star, holds everything from white tie and tails to numerous lounge suits. Nevertheless, off screen, he favors seersucker suits which he buys ready-made at a moderately priced store. Even on him, with his broad shoulders and his long limbs, they don’t look very good, but he likes their comfort, their immaculate possibilities— and wears them nonchalantly with custom-tailored shirts that cost triple their purchase price. He seldom wears hats off screen, never wears suspenders or garters and avoids socks while wearing the most spectacularly polished moccasins. In effect, this means he is all for comfort. He likes to think he is lazy — but he works every minute. He says almost wistful things like, “Do you know anything Next Month — GOLD MEDAL AWARD ISSUE DIANA LYNN DISCUSSES "Love that's strong as steel is delicate, too. A harsh touch of your hands may tarnish your shining moment. I use Jergens Lotion for my hands. "... Jergens is, 7 to 1, the favorite hand care of the Stars. DIANA LYNN, CO-STARRING IN PARAMOUNT’S “EASY COME, EASY GO” Seductive soft hands are even surer now, when you use Jergens Lotion. Your hands feel even smoother and softer; are protected longer. Due to wartime studies, Jergens is now even finer. Two special skin-softeners, so dependably effective that many doctors use them, are included in this postwar Jergens Lotion. Still 10^ to $1.00 (plus tax). For the Softest , Adorable Hands , use JERGENS LOTION FREE! i See for yourself why ^ Hollywood Stars, ^ 7 to I, use ^ Jergens Lotion ► ► Mail coupon today for gift bottle. (Paste on penny postcard if you wish.) Box 27, Cincinnati 14, Ohio. Please send my gift bottle. Name Address . City _ Stair _ (Please print name, address plainly . . . Sorry, offer good in U.S.A. only) Dept. 41