Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1950)

p Pins or studs. Set of three about $2.00 plus tax. At fine stores everywhere, or write Coro Inc., New York 1. These Gentlemen Prefer ( Continued from page 65) lunch with Dan, I got to thinking more about the kind of women Hollywood men go for — the brainy versus the beautiful, the useful, the ornamental, young chicks, old hens, the chic, the shocking, the good cooks, the girls who are ladies in the drawing room and/or careless in the boudoir. To go back to Dapper Don Juan Dailey. What he did not mention in his list of desirable “do’s” for ladies, was a healthy respect for a girl who will not be pushed around. When wife Liz first left Dan a year or so ago, he thought all he had to say was “Sorry, I’ll be home on time from now on,” and presto, all would be forgiven. IT WASN’T so, not by several sessions of eating humble pie. And finally Dan almost had to crawl on his hands and knees right up to Lake Arrowhead, where Liz was hiding out, for the reconciliation. They’ve parted again, of course, and only time will tell whether this time the break is for keeps. “Let’s go to Romanoff’s,” said the girl in the car with Kirk Douglas. “Just a minute,” said Kirk to the girl — Gloria de Haven — “You let me decide that.” Kirk does not like women who make plans, especially plans for Mr. Douglas, especially about where and what he shall eat. The phobia stems ’way back to his early struggling days when Kirk’s budget said “No” to restaurants on the crepe suzette circuit. And to this day, when Kirk earns $100,000 a picture, the girl on his right is wrong if she leaves any scraps of food on her plate. The more economical she is, the more fascinating Kirk will find her. “I don’t like career women,” Kirk told me very emphatically recently. “Running a home is enough for any woman. The girl that I marry can smoke or drink. But I must be the most important thing in her life.” That is why I believe — as of going to press — that Kirk might marry Irene Wrightsman. The blond charming actor is the most important thing in her life. Irene is loaded with dollars. Her pop has around sixty million of ’em to his name. But she is amazingly economical. She has been known to cook a dinner for Kirk, then clean up the kitchen. She and Kirk spend hours of an evening playing Canasta for a tenth of a cent a point. Whoever wins sixty cents a night, is deliriously happy! Audie Murphy prefers girls who let him do the choosing. It seems likely that if Wanda Hendrix had left the leg work to Audie, she would still be signing herself “Mrs. Murphy.” In fact, the only time Audie really appreciated Wanda was when she walked out on him and went to her family in Florida. The best advice that could have been given her then would have been, “Stay there, no matter how many calls you get from Audie.” Audie, piqued and quite indignant, called Wanda. Next thing, she joined him in Texas. Next item, they were reconciled. Next, they were divorced. Later, Audie stated, “We are both happier unmarried. I don’t like to be mothered or looked after. I don’t want too much attention from any girl.” That’s a good tip for the next Mrs. Murphy: Be indifferent and you’ll not only get your guy — you’ll hold him. Cary Grant is a gentleman who prefers blondes who can keep a quiet tongue in their cheeks. Cary has married three of ’em — blonde Virginia Cherrill, dittoes Barbara Hutton and Betsy Drake. A couple of other beautiful blonde babes fell by the romantic wayside — Betty Hensel and Phyllis Brooks. Phyllis almost made it until she informed reporters that Cary had asked her to marry him. He probably had, too. But when Phyllis jumped the announcement gun on Cary, he jumped clear. Miss Drake did not take any indiscreet chances. When she first heard the news that Clark Gable had unexpectedly eloped with Sylvia, all she said was, “Good for him — he really put one over on the press.” She didn’t even hint that the following Sunday was to be her wedding day with Mr. Grant. Actually it had to be postponed to the Sunday after because it rained, and best man Howard Hughes is too good a flier to take chances in bad weather. Clark Gable goes for girls who know the score. He likes ’em sophisticated and social; age or coloring makes no difference. In his time Clark has gone for females as far apart in looks and background as Metro stenographer Elaine White and socialite grandmother Dolly O’Brien. His first two wives were his age seniors. Carole Lombard was younger, but she always knew the answers. So does his present wife. Sylvia seems to prattle about inconsequential subjects, but she is always amusing, always to the point, and I’ve never heard her say an unkind word about anyone. Clark likes easy-going women because he himself is a little obstinate. When he didn’t care too much for Sylvia’s long-time maid, she let her go without more than a regretful backward glance. Sylvia will go fishing and hunting with Clark — because he likes girls to be at home in the wide open spaces. IT’S natural that Montgomery Clift should like girls who dress down, rather than up. A sleek, strapless chick would look in i congruous paired with Monty and his blue jeans and slightly unwashed look. The only woman I’ve ever seen with j Monty — apart from a publicity date with Elizabeth Taylor — is Mira Rosovskaya Letts, j Mira has a high voice, she’s not particularly pretty and she’s older than Monty. But she has a great deal of charm. Monty has always insisted there is no romance with Mira, that she is his drama coach only. He might surprise us all and fly off with some gay, social, bright-eyed young thing. But I doubt it. Mira is the type he likes. Richard Widmark confides, “I like girls with long hair — more sexy.” Then he adds. “I like a girl to be a good cook, loyal, dependable. I don’t like phony ladies, I like real ladies.” The screen’s murder man sums up his dream epitome of the female species with, “Give me a girl who is always nice and wholesome looking.” Dick’s wife — he’s known her since he was nineteen years old — is wholesome enough for her husband to eat. Jimmy Stewart had just arrived in England during the war. He expected complete anonymity. After all he was no longer a movie star, but a pilot for Uncle Sam. The day he arrived, he was told, “The press is coming for an interview.” Jimmy • promptly took off on a training flight. When he returned he was told, “They’ll be back tomorrow — this is orders.” “So right slap in the middle of the mass interview when we were talking about war, a girl reporter asks me, ‘What do you like most about women?’ ” Jimmy complained later. He still finds the question almost impossible to answer. But he finally admits. “I like gay, talkative women.” Peter Lawford’s prime requisite seems to be, Let ’em be famous with an international reputation. I still think he would like to marry Sharman Douglas. And why not? She’s charming. Well, girls, there you have it — straight from the male’s mouth. Now it’s up to you — fit your personality to the man you admire. It’s a cinch — or is it? The End 88