Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1951)

BY SIDNEY SKOLSKY Jot this down for future reference: “A Place in the Sun” and ‘‘A Streetcar Named Desire” are the entries to beat in the Oscar derby reminded me more of Don Ameche than he did Rudolph Valentino . . . June Haver is underrated as a box-office attraction . . . I’m darned tired of those bedroom scenes in movies which show an electric light from across the street blinking on and off . . . While attending a premiere, Tony Curtis remarked to Janet Leigh: “I wonder if those people in the stands realize that the main reason we came was to see them.” True words, for a change, from an actor . . . A bra company is advertising a “three-way bra” and Tom Jenk asks me if that will make Jane Russell obsolete . . . Ethel Barrymore never sent me, on stage or screen, but Judith Anderson can do things to me. Sidney Skolskv . I must admit that Tony Dexter What a build-up Howard Hughes could give Marilyn Monroe, who has the build for it . . . No matter how empty a theatre is, a tall person always takes the seat in front of me . . . Have you noticed how polite theatre managers and ushers are becoming? ... I think Jerry Lewis would he even funnier if he mugged less ... I can’t imagine Shelley Winters and Farley Granger really married . . . Mickey Rooney’s personality appears to be hindering his career. He’s a great talent . . . Maurice Chevalier is the only actor I can recall wearing a straw hat in the movies. Mitzi Gay nor and Janet Gay nor have never met ... I wish they’d let Ann Blyth sing more in pictures, and also give George Sanders a singing role in a film . . . Whenever I see actresses wearing a lot of jewelry, I think it is from the prop department or for a publicity story ... If I had to name them, I’d say that “Vivacious Lady” and “Twentieth Century” are the comedy and farce movies I’ve enjoyed most. My favorite gangster film is “The Public Enemy” and my choice of a musical is “Forty-Second Street.” All right, so you have different favorites. You’re entitled . . . Mike Curtiz, watching a girl during a dance audition, remarked, “She has the makings of another Gene Kelly” . . . The latest women’s fad in Hollywood is wearing men’s shirts. It’s the first time I haven’t objected to being with stuffed shirts. Glenn Ford is actually a better golfer since playing the role of Ben Hogan ... It sure would be a money picture: Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra teamed in a film . . . Why do the movies make newspapermen villains? The heels in "Follow the Sun,” “Valentino” and “Aee in the Hole,” to mention a few, are Fourth Estaters . . . Whenever I see Alfred Hitchcock I think he is dreaming up a new locale for a chase sequence . . . Francis, the mule star, is also feeling the pinch of soaring food prices. The hay purchased for his daily diet has gone up over sixty cents a bale, and that’s money . . . Tom Lang knows an actor who’s disappointed in love — he finds himself admiring others . . . Virginia Mayo has as good a figure as anyone in pictures. Ford I go along with Thelma Ritter, who hates more than anything else, “having nonactors tell me about my job. They don't do that to plumbers and typesetters” . . . Patricia Neal, who is about the tallest actress in pictures, and Debbie Reynolds, who is about the shortest, never have any trouble getting dates. So I guess a female any size is appealing . . . Wholesome is the word to describe Doris Day, although she has been married three times . . Girls who live on the wrong side of the tracks always meet a wealthy man — in the movies, that is . . . June Allvson is the only actress I know who can wrinkle her nose and not annoy me. Jean Simmons is almost as beautiful as Liz Taylor, but without all the publicity ... I think Hollywood is very nice to people considering what people have done to Hollywood . . . Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride disprove the theory that audiences go to the movies to see only handsome heroes and heroines ... I have yet to meet a person coming from a drive-in theatre who can tell me what the picture was about . . . According to trailers, the greatest movie ever made is always the next attraction. It makes you feel like a dope for having come to see the film playing . . . Most of “The Cave” was filmed on location at Carlsbad Caverns and the studio sent the special effects department to improve the set. Even when nature gives her greatest performance, Hollywood wants it better. That’s Hollywood for you. Simmons INSIDE prefers leading roles. By refusing to snarl and sneer in a Ray Milland picture, David further provoked his studio’s waning interest. Chuckle of the Month: ’Way back when Cal was callow, we interviewed Marlene Dietrich. In those days she had quite a crush on— herself ! Instead of looking at us, she faced herself in the mirror when she answered our questions. Well, today she has wonderful humor, she’s the most glamorous gal in town. Recently we met Marlene again— this time face to face. At a luncheon in the same room where she was first introduced to Hollywood reporters twenty-one years ago, La Dietrich offered a prize to the one who guessed her lucky number. Why not forty-six (her age) Cal thought? Certainly those forty-six years have been lucky for her. Suddenly she was standing before us! In her hand she held an autographed black and pink garter that she wears in “Chuck-a-Luck,” her first Technicolor picture. “I don’t know who thought this one up,” she grinned, “but it’s nice meeting you.” Cal accepted his prize. “We’ve always wanted to meet you too,” we said with a sigh. Paging Papa: It was just a week before Jimmy Stewart’s beautiful twin daughters were born. We were talking between scenes on “The Greatest Show on Earth” and in true tradition, he wasn’t a very happy “clown.” “I’m so afraid Gloria will have to go to the hospital while I’m working,” despaired Jim. “It takes two hours to remove this makeup. Can’t you just see me sitting there with all the expectant fathers in this get-up!” Fortunately, the twins cooperated and Jimmy made a respectable appearance in the fathers’ waiting room. Because Gloria Stewart is RH negative (the babies were delivered by Caesarean section) she required a transfusion. Mrs. Ray Milland, who has the same type blood, never left her house without leaving word where she could be reached when they needed her. Hollywood Is a Place Where: Elizabeth Taylor adores pickled herring while Humphrey Bogart goes for French pas Betty Grable — on suspension for refusing to do another picture because she felt she was ivorking too hard — relaxes at races