Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1948)

p IT’S JUST WHAT YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR . . . this hilariously funny story of Harold Diddlebock, the man who committed the sin of security. Poor Harold was so secure in his little rut that he stopped bothering to think. But when he stopped thinking, he lost his job . . . and his security. And right there is where the fun comes in! Harold, heavy-hearted and despondent, takes his first drink. He “loses” a Wednesday. He buys a bankrupt circus, complete with 37 lions, 14 tigers, 7 bears, jaguars, pumas, horses, dogs, seals, ostriches, snakes, a hippopotamus, a giraffe PLUS a whole army of freaks. And he really thinks up a million-dollar idea! “The Sin of Harold Diddlebock”, novelized by Harry Hershfield, is a Bart House “Film Hit Novel of the Month”. This delightful story with the unexpected ending is from the Preston Sturges production of the same name, starring Harold Lloyd as Harold Diddlebock and Frances Ramsden as Miss Otis. A California Pictures Corporation film released through United Artists. NOW ON SALE AT ALL NEWSSTANDS 25c 'THE SIN OF HAROLD DIDDLEBOCK" READ THE NOVEL • SEE THE PICTURE Now Playing at your Favorite Theatre A NEW KIND OF EXCITING READING ENTERTAINMENT .GREAT BOOKS FROM GREAT SCREENPLAYS BY LEADING NOVELISTS him for the ride. On our second try we had better luck. ‘ I played opposite Bob in his last pre-Navy picture, “Song of Russia.” He played a symphony conductor and did it in his usual style — technically and dramatically first rate. I’ve" never worked with anyone so completely pleasant and helpful, so eager to give the other fellow the breaks. Any girl that’s fortunate enough to play opposite Bob can thank her lucky star. Bob is an inveterate horseman and hunter. He dodges the city lights between pictures to commune with nature, a horse and a gun. Yes, Robert cuts a fine figure on a horse. He currently pays feed bills on a pinto and a beautiful buckskin appropriately dubbed “Buck.” Buck has taken enough blue ribbons to make his master proud of him — which he is. I don’t think Bob would trade him even for Trigger. Just recently Bob went on a three-day ride which, unless you’re a true lover of saddle leather, can lead only to blisters. AS you may have already guessed, Bob Taylor reserves a part of his life for being a “big kid.” This is a happy characteristic and one we might all do well to develop. So many of us are so busy working overtime at being grown-ups we miss an awful lot of good fun. You’ve heard people say, “Gee, how I’d love to be a kid again,” as though it were impossible. It really isn’t. Standard equipment on a Taylor picture is a pair of baseball mitts and a baseball. Between shots you’ll find him playing catch with his stand-in or an extra or an electrician, or maybe the director. If the prop man supplied a bat and a diamond they’d probably never get the picture finished. The Taylor design for living is a natural for a fourteen-year-old boy, to which Barbara’s son, Tony, will attest. The Taylor household consists of Bob, Barbara, Tony and Barbara’s Uncle Buck, who is Bob’s riding, hunting, fishing companion. Evenings are quiet and homey — the readingand-records kind. Right now Bob and Barbara are taking Spanish lessons with an eye to a South American tour with Jack and Mary Benny, their very close friends. Europe and the West Indies are on the prognostic agenda, too. At the moment, Bob’s busy as a bird dog but when time permits you’ll be seeing tintypes of the Taylors being typical tourists. Incidentally, Bob says he’s a terrific cook. If he spends much time in the kitchen I’ll lay three to one the stove will wind up with twin pipes and a supercharger. He’s not afraid of tiny babies either, the way he played with our Timothy the other day. Of course Tim isn’t exactly tiny — (fifteen pounds, twenty-seven inches long!) laughs all the time and has two teeth. Yessir, Bob handled him like a Remington .22. He and Barbara gave Tim a beautiful St. Christopher medal for a joining-the-Quine-family present. Tim’s really such a wonderful baby — and so cute! Well, I’d better get back to Bob! Oddly enough, his first radio appearance following his return from service found me on the other side of the microphone in “Johnny Eager.” He’s the same charming guy, more handsome, if possible. Each year seems to improve him, to add character and strength. I know it’s rushing things, but what a few gray hairs will do to Bob one day! I’ll make you a bet. When the current heart throbs are character men, Robert Taylor will still be what a movie star should look like, only more so. And something else. If luck is with him and the part comes along, there’ll be a gold statue named Oscar to sit alongside Buck’s blue ribbons — and your darned tootin’ I’ll say, “I told you so!” .