Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1963)

the beginning for him — or possibly the end. The situation called for a Chamberlain speciality, control under pressure. And once again. Dick Chamberlain was where he seemed always to land — in the spotlight and yet all alone. In this respect things changed hardly at all for Dick when Director Boris Sagal saw rushes of the first “Kildare” show, bustled up to the front office and told anxious MGM execs, “Stop Worrying!” Ulcers healed magically all over t he lot. But for Dick it was different. He was on the spot. What his pal. Bob Towne, calls “Dick’s disciplined ambition" has yet to let him step off to relax and enjoy his good luck. From the start Dick’s poker-mask has made it all look ridiculously easy. It never was. “The first year,” says a director who guided him often, “Dick Chamberlain got by mainly on his nerve and his good looks.” Raymond Massey adds benevolently, “Dick lias grown an awful lot in this job.” But there’ve been growing pains, too. Most are connected with Dick’s period of adjustment to life as a public figure. Psychologically, he wasn't cut out for that. His setside ease Secure on Stage 11 Dick is comfortable, as he always has been in a tight little group who know him, work with him. have learned to like and understand him. “In fact.” says his makeup man. Jack Dusick. “sometimes you almost forget Dick's around. Problems? Never. I just pat on some ‘pancake’ and Dick seldom looks in the mirror.” The other day. Bill Sargent, an actor friend of Dick’s with a small part, lound himself without a light in his dressing room. Chambo noticed Bill struggling to dress in the dark, politely asked an electrician for a fixture then installed it himself. rather than make even a minor fuss. That’s typical of his setside ease. He’s a pleasure to work with. Yet, barely a year ago. after Dick was interviewed on TV before a live audience of women, he stepped off the stage, clutched his stomach, and mumbled to Chuck Painter. “I think I’m going to be sick!” Last summer in New York he cautiously timed his arrivals at Broadway shows so that he could walk to his seat in the dark, and leave before the lights went up. “Dick’s improved. Now he’s more self confident in a crowd.” believes Painter, who is usually at his side. “But he doesn’t like to be ruffled-— no surprises. Dick wants to be all set.” Last year when Lilie Messinger sold NBC on Arthur Freed s TV spectacular, “Hollywood Melody,” she suggested Dick and got a yes. She called Dick late at night and told him the news. “Oh, my gosh!" he protested. “I don't think I’m ready.” PHOTOGRAPHERS’ CREDITS Pg 32 (Connie Stevens): Hayden-Vista, (Kim Novak) Frank Bez; pg 34: Orlando-Globe; pgs 36-37: Sketches by Jon Whitcomb; pg 41 : Leaf-Prange; pgs 42-43: Jack Stager-Globe; pgs 44-45: Don OrnitzGlobe; pg 51: Bill Kobrin; pg 53: Trindl-Topix; pg 55: Hayden-Vista; pg 57: Rayment Kirby; pgs 5859: Lee Kraft; pgs 60-61 : Rayment Kirby; pg 62: Art Palmer; pg 68: Annan Photo Features. Dick was ready enough to score a vocal hit in his live TV debut, singing “Manhattan” with Shirley Jones — as smooth as if he’d been doing that sort of thing all his life. But only his voice coach, Dick and a few people close to him know how he worked and worried every day until the show went on the air. One bunch was his “Kildare” crew, who sent him a gag wire to break the tension right before his number: “MY DADDY IS LETTING ME STAY UP LATE TONIGHT TO HEAR YOU SING. CAROLINE.” Someone else, even closer, knew about the lonely fights Dick Chamberlain stages with himself to come through cool, calm and perfect in a challenge like that. “I knew Dick would be up to it. He's up to anything,” says Clara Ray. “But my heart ached to be there backing him up.” Instead Clara was in Houston on a singing engagement. All she could do was send another wire: “GIVE ’EM BOTH BARRELS. SWEETIE.” That’s precisely what Dick Chamberlain has been doing, of course, every since he started stalking an acting career in his solitary, bird dog way. The method’s hard to beat; nothing succeeds like success. Yet. some who know him well think it’s time Dick scattered his shots in other directions. “Dick looks like a kid but he’s pushing thirty,” one points out. “School ought to be out for him now. He needs fun. a fling, some wild oats. It’s right here for him and he rates relaxation. He works hard enough on ‘Kildare.’ ” “I can’t criticize Dick for pushing his break with self-improvement,” says another. “More power to him. But if he doesn't watch out. he’ll pass over some of the real things in life that make a man grow, too.” But yet another disagrees vigorously. "Dick is having all the fun and living he needs but in his own way. Few people understand him. Basically Dick is an artist, also he’s intelligent. His tastes are sophisticated. They’re tied to art and culture as they have been ever since he began to grow up. Dick simply doesn't enjoy the aimless socializing, party, nightclub and playboy swinging that attract most empty headed Hollywood bachelors who suddenly make it. It takes all kinds.” Dick Chamberlain explains himself like this: “Right now it’s important to me to satisfy myself as an actor, a singer and an all around performer. I still take these lessons because I realized long ago that I'd never get what I wanted unless I did. After you go around for months without getting a job you tell yourself. ‘Wait a minute, something’s wrong!’ What was wrong with me was that I wasn’t worth anything to anyone, so nobody wanted me. I've been extremely lucky. My break at MGM came after a long fallow period. I’m grateful. But I wasn’t sure I wanted to do a TV series when I started. I know now I don’t want to do one forever, even if that were possible. The question with me is: After ‘Dr. Kildare.’ then what? “I think I’ll end up on the stage,” Dick continues. “I’ve found I love it and I think my future’s there more than TV or even movies. So I’m preparing, that’s all. Sure, I like fun and people as well as the next guy. It’s a constant frustration with me not to be able to join in more. Only right now I simply don’t have the time.” THERE’S IN C.B. TALC Going places this summer? You’ll go further if you sprinkle refreshing Cashmere Bouquet inside your sandals. 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