Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1951)

STUFF $64 Question: No wonder young actors get bewildered in Hollywood. Take Marshall Thompson, for example. Every time he appeared on the screen he gave an excellent performance. The fans loved him. But after “Command Decision,” his ' studio let him go. When the picture was previewed, however, he was so sensational they rushed his name back on a contract and doubled his salary. Now, just when Marshall and Barbara (she’s Dick Long’s sister) are expecting their first baby, the studio dropped him again i — because his salary is too high! Speaking of Dick Long, who was the first actor to be drafted (see page 93), his performance is so outstanding in “Air Cadet,” the Government is using him to exploit the picture and encourage enlistments. Panic in the Pantry : The Gary Coopers wanted it to be a very special party — and it was! To begin with, tongues wagged again when Gary suddenly flew to New York (he had to exploit “You’re in the Navy Now”) but he returned in time to play the charming host. Glamour girls beamed, twinkled and froze under the special cellophane tent. As usual in Hollywood, there were extra women, so Steve Cochran was invited to come stag. That rugged individualist, however, showed up with Ginger Rogers! Well, movie stars love intrigue too, and no one was disappointed, because Jane Wyman was there with Greg Bautzer. While necks craned and eyes popped, the handsome attorney made a bee-line for Ginger and turned on the charm. Fortunately, Clark Hardwicke (whom she used to date) joined Jane. And Stevie boy, oblivious to the chaos he had caused, was having a grand time chatting at the bar with a lovely lady. Here’s hoping they never page Elsa Maxwell! Mother Knows Best: Apropos of the Cooper party, when they invited Barbara Stanwyck, they figured her first date since divorcing Robert Taylor should be an exciting one. So Gary phoned Farley Granger’s house. “This is Gary Cooper,” he said, “may I ask who this is?” Farley’s mother, who is always alerted to Judy Garland dissolved — into gales of laughter when Jerry Lewis rehearsed love scene for NBC’s “The Big Show” Hollywood party line BY EDITH GWYNN One of the outstanding soirees of the month was the dinner dance given by Doris Duke, who seems to prefer life in Filmtown to high jinks in Honolulu, where she has a fabulous Hawaiian palace. Errol Flynn brought bride Pat Wymore, who floated around in a voluminous gown of black tulle. Gene Tierney with Oleg Cassini, Mrs. Doug Fairbanks (in peach and black satin, topped by a diamond tiara yet!), Ginger Rogers with Steve Cochran, Marion Davies in dark blue chiffon dripping with pearls and diamonds, Ann Miller with Bill O’Connor, the Red Skeltons, the Charlie Chaplins were just a few of the hundred or more that “the Duke” entertained. She received in a gown of lilac net (a few million yards of it), its bodice tightly draped; the only trimming being bands of almost-purple velvet ribbon appliqued between the ribs and hips. Caught Jane Wyman hurrying to a date in her new blue and white cheeked summer-weight wool suit. Youthful as all get out, it had navy trim on the collar and pockets. Came from Athena, Janie said. Her bonnet was from Rex — a small navy Melusine with narrow hand of rhinestones to match the band around the edge of her face veil. Judy Garland and her about-to-be ex, Vincente Minnelli together hosted a party to celebrate their daughter Liza’s fifth birthday. The more than fifty children that Judy and Vince entertained before Liza cut the cake, hugging her little copy of a “grown-up” evening gown (gift of Momma) and her majorette uniform (gift of Poppa), couldn’t have guessed or understood the irony of the situation that reunited the Minnellis for that day. Betty Grahle, who almost never night-clubs, for sure splurged on that beautiful black lace gown (what there was of it! Wow!) she wore to Ciro’s the night she and Harry James celebrated his birthday there. Betty looked just plain fancy gorgeous ! Another Betty looked right cute, too, about two minutes after she got hack from that location trip to Florida making “The Greatest Show on Earth.” We mean Photoplay’s Gold Medal Award Winner Betty Hutton, who had just enough time to have a night’s sleep, a shower and to fling herself into some clothes before tearing off to the ball game with Pete Rugolo. Betty wriggled into Wrigley Field in a slick navy blue sports outfit, topped by a little off-the-face navy hat. At one of the better soirees, somebody, remarking that short and long skirts in evening clothes shared the spotlight just about evenly, asked Van Johnson if he was happy because it looks like soon the short ones will really predominate. “Oh, heck!” said Van, “I don’t mind the long skirts. I have such a good memory.” The ensemble that Ruth Roman took along to Hawaii on her delayed honeymoon with Morty Hall proves what we told you a coupla months ago: The vogue for velvet is a cinch to continue through summer and perhaps longer. Ruth’s smart money-saver is a combination of short boxy black velvet ( dull velvet) jacket combined with a charming street-length dress of black and white printed pure silk crepe in a tiny geometric pattern. Its collar (a large feminine shawllike one) can be worn outside the jacket; but countless other prints or solid pastels for either day or night-time wear go with this little coat — making it at once the perfect topper for lunching or a warm weather evening coat. Reminds us of Paulette Goddard’s divinely smart summer cocktail or evening dress, another of those interchangeables that can mean much more than one costume. Except for Paulette’s “million-dollar diamond choker” that she wore with it the night we dined together, the outfit is rather on the demure side — yet furnishes many a suggestion for more sophisticated “combining.” The dress has a perfectly plain, high-necked black light-weight jersey top, a wide black leather belt. The very full calf-length skirt is of white organdy. The neckline of the blouse and its short sleeves are outlined with white organdy. That’s a lovely dress in itself but the mere addition of a bright bolero, cardigan or coat-type topper of any kind — or even a skirt of green or red over the white organdy — would transform the original costume into almost as many as you choose. Jane Wyman 13