Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1952)

How Hollywood Has Changed Them ( Continued from page 41) story was taken into the front office, and the bosses decided to take a chance on Tony and star him in “The Prince Who Was a Thief.” After that, he was on his way. Lately he’s changed his tune. He demanded and got a stiff increase in salary as well as better billing on his pictures from the same studio. Tony had the brass over a barrel; they knew his drawing power at the box office. In the old days, Tony was so anxious to please that he practically lived at the studio. Being somewhat naive, he was the butt of many practical jokes. He, in his turn, got a big kick out of phoning people and mimicking Cary Grant. He even fooled me once. In the early days, I invited him and Janet Leigh to a party at my house. Tony was wearing his first tailor-made suit. He kept saying, “Feel the material, Hedda. Look at the hand stitching.” I told him the suit was lovely, but he was wearing the wrong kind of tie. “Oh, gee whiz,” he said. “What kind should I have?” I glanced about the room, went over to Clifton Webb, took off his tie, and put it around Tony’s neck. You would have thought he’d won the Santa Anita Handicap and I had decorated him with a horseshoe of orchids from the way he beamed. But every time I’ve seen him lately, he’s looked like a picture on a magazine cover. Maybe Janet has had something to do with the change. She’s a level-headed, hard-working girl. I think Tony really fell in love with her after their marriage. During their courtship days, he had a take-it-or-leave-it attitude toward Janet. As her husband, he followed her all the way to Colorado and stayed with her while she was making a picture. The two kids started their married life simply, living in a small flat and doing most of their own housework. Now they’ve moved into an ultra-sophisticated apartment decorated by that master, Mitch Leisen. Professionally, they’re hot kids and know it. Ava Gardner has changed outwardly more than any star I’ve known. When she came here fresh from North Carolina and was put under contract at Metro, a studio representative showed her around the lot and introduced her to Mickey Rooney, then a kingpin with Leo the Lion. As they left the soundstage, the studio man said, “Now that you’ve met Mickey Rooney I hope you’re satisfied.” Ava was so mortified she burst into tears. She never seriously wanted to become an actress; and recently she said to me, “Acting is not the be-all and end-all of my life.” More than anything, Ava’s wanted a happy home and children. But fate seems to have other plans. With each picture she improves; and in “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” she’s terrific. When she married Mickey Rooney, Ava was still a naive young girl. But she was beautiful, and the Mick enjoyed showing her off. Ava got a thorough initiation into Hollywood with that human dynamo. She acquired poise and dropped her southern accent. But she was still known ‘ chiefly as Mrs. Mickey Rooney — and was content with the title. But eventually she tired of the hectic life, divorced Mickey and married Artie Shaw. With Artie, she began to acquire a veneer of culture. He knew books and good music. He was also, the world knows, a free soul; and I think he indoctrinated her with something of the same spirit. The quiet little southern girl turned into a sophisticated woman, restless, reckless, and heedless of public opinion. Her torrid romance with Frank Sinatra made international headlines. In fact, when the bullfighter Mario Cabre moved in on the scene, the press of two continents practically turned the affair into a comic opera. It was hard to believe that the girl making all those headlines was once a farm girl who picked bugs off tobacco plants. Ava is firmly established now as an actress; but if she had to make a choice between home and career, she wouldn’t hesitate to pick just “Mrs.” without the trimmings. But Hollywood has taught her one invaluable lesson. She won't allow anyone to push her around. I know, because when I criticize her, as I often do, she doesn’t burst into tears as she did when the Metro man made the snide remark about meeting Mickey Rooney. She stands up and fights. I had a tip that Ava would play opposite Gregory Peck in “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”— but nobody would confirm it. I heard later that Twentieth had kept the casting a deep, dark secret until Susan Hayward had finished her part of the film and left the lot. There were fears that she’d blow a gasket when she learned Ava had the plum acting role in the picture. Susan is a fine actress; and she’s fully conscious of it. So she’s not without temperament. After "David and Bathsheba” with Gregory Peck cleaned up at the box office, she went to RKO to do “The Lusty Men” with Bob Mitchum. I asked Bob how he got along with Susan. He said, “I had to be a gentleman because I was afraid if I got out of line, she’d go back and tell Gregory Peck.” Years ago, a friend of mine lived in the same apartment house with Susan. On Christmas day they met in a hallway. Both were unknown and far away from home. So the guy introduced himself and suggested they celebrate the day together, since they were both alone. They did. But no romance blossomed. Susan married Jess Barker, and worked her way slowly to stardom. Jess gave her a set of lovely twin boys; but he just didn’t seem to click as an actor. Our producers were interested in her, not him. I’ve often wondered if that hasn’t been a thorn in Susan’s flesh. I’ve also wondered if Susan remembers a lonely young girl who shared a Christmas with a lonely young man years ago in a town noted for its heartbreaks. Hollywood is certainly not without its fabulous successes. One day A1 Levy, a smart agent, said to me, “I think the screen is ready for a new feminine singer; and I’ve found her.” I asked who she was. “A kid named Doris Day. She’s with Les Brown’s orchestra at the Palladium. I’d like to bring her around to meet you.” I told him to go ahead. When Doris walked into my office, I thought A1 was nertz. She was a cute, wholesome-looking girl; but there was nothing about her to suggest to me that she’d become Miss Movie Box Office. At that time, Doris was living in a trailer without a quarter to her name. But Warners soon had her under contract. Since there were no feminine singers on the studio lot, Doris was put into one musical after another, and through the help of A1 Levy and the guidance of Director Mike Curtiz, she learned to act and became a star. There was a bit of unpleasantness when A1 Levy and his partner, Marty Melcher, dissolved their agency. Doris stuck with Marty and later married him. Though obviously pleased with her success, she’s been too busy working to go Hollywood. She’s one of the exceptions who remained normal. Sometimes she even RELIEVES HEADACHE NEURALGIA NEURITIS PAIN Here's Why. Anacin® is like a doctor's prescription. That is, Anacin contains not one but a combination of medically proved active ingredients. Anacin isspecially compounded to give FAST, LONG LASTING relief. Don't wait. Buy Anacin today. OOR IS DAY P.0. Box 1576 FREE PHOTO Large Size of Your Favorite MOVIE ST All Direct from ‘THE HOIVIE OF THE STARS"! ! With this star photo, you will also receive FREE CATALOG listing ALL the stars! 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