Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1940)

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MACFADDEN PUBLICATIONS, INC. 205 E. 42nd St., New York City ttak at ttome AT 5t & 10< STORES to supporting roles. She's been playing character parts from the very start, and playing them in preference to leads. Her career started in Chicago in the stock company of the old Chicago Opera House, in the days when Bessie Barriscale and Howard Hickman were the matinee idols of the Mid-West. She had come around to the stage door, fresh out of Dana Hall, the finishing school in Boston, and her eagerness and quickly demonstrated ability won her a berth for a two years' apprenticeship in the famous old repertory company. She was, at the time, one of the first society girls to desert debutante party dresses for the secondhand costumes of a stock company actress. Born in Palmyra, Missouri, the daughter of W. R. Woodward, a railroad tycoon of the 80's, Jane Darwell had spent her girlhood in St. Louis, Chicago and Louisville, where her father was president of the Louisville Southern Railroad, be fore completing her education at the exclusive Dana Hall in Boston. Patti Woodward was her christened name which she changed to that of a favorite fictional character for her stage career, and among her other forbears in a long line of American ancestors, was Andrew Jackson. After two years with the Chicago company, Jane Darwell went to Europe to study dramatics in Paris and London and add to her experience with minor roles in productions in both capitals. The death of her father cut short her European stay and in 1915, returning to America to live with her brother, W. C. Woodward, in Los Angeles, Miss Darwell first entered pictures in a small part in "Brewster's Millions." She has been on the Coast ever since, except for two seasons on the Broadway stage, and a summer with the Keith Albee stock company at Providence. Alternating with her picture work, she played several years with the Henry Duffy Players in Los Angeles and San Francisco. A long career, and, as the casting directors would reckon it, a successful one, Jane Darwell's, yet it has been only in the past few years that her assignments have measured up to her experience and her talent, with substantial roles in such pictures as "Jesse James," "The Rains Came" and "Gone with the Wind," in which she has the memorable bit as Mrs. Merriweather. And after twenty-five years of trouping, Jane Darwell is still looking forward to years more of acting. With the critical acclaim she has received for her magnificent job in "Grapes of Wrath," the character actress is hoping for a whole new lease on her professional life. Here's hoping she has it. She deserves her share of the sweets of success. For, like Ma Joad, she has "kept a-comin'." We Have a Wonderful Time Together" Theater, the next night, none drew as many appreciative glances from the first night crowd as the dainty Olivia and her rangy escort. As the house lights went on for the intermission of the screen's longest saga, Olivia was startled to hear Jim say: "Hello, shoes!" She turned and saw him looking down at his shiny black evening pumps. "Just getting acquainted with them," explained Jim with a grin. "Bought 'em this afternoon." The lanky young man looked at his feet again. "Hello, shoes!" he repeated. "I'm just breaking the ice, we'll get on a more personal basis later." Jim Stewart kept Olivia laughing the whole five days they were together in New York, laughing and delighted. There was a bit of behavior that particularly delighted her. Whenever she made a remark that bordered on the bromidical, such as: "Travel broadens one, doesn't it?" Jim would suddenly look at her with feigned wide-eyed admiration and say: "You know, that's good. . . You've got something there. 'Travel broadens one.' Say, do you mind if I use that?" It became a game between them, that phrase. Jim might make some trite comment about the weather and Olivia, parroting his manner would cry, "That's good! You've got something there. Do you mind if I use that?" They were together constantly for those five days of the week before Christmas. New York was wearing its holiday ribbons in its hair and Olivia and Jim were like two college youngsters snatching at precious vacation. Olivia had planned to stay only two days but each morning when she announced she was taking that afternoon's plane back to the Coast, Jim had a tempting new adventure planned. It was the evening they went to see "The Man Who Came to Dinner," that Jim and Olivia decided to make a night of it and tour the supper clubs. They went to Jack White's "Club 18" where blase New Yorkers congregate. Typical of the effect Jim Stewart has on his surroundings, the revelers in the little night club at two o'clock in the morning were singing Christmas carols with the lanky, former Princeton cheer leader directing the cocktail choir. From the "Club 18," they went on to another night club and then they followed the night owls to Harlem. And it was in Harlem that one of their most amusing experiences occurred. About half an hour after they entered the Negro night club, the round-faced little master of ceremonies halted the (Continued from page 64) floor show and, as a spotlight began to wander around the dimly-lit tables, started a speech of introduction. "Ladies and Gentlemen," he began. "We are indeed fortunate to have with us tonight a young couple who have distinguished themselves in the entertainment world by their outstanding artistry. I am sure you will all recognize them." Jim and Olivia began to wear that self-conscious look. "And now," droned the master of ceremonies. "It gives me great pleasure to present the two best-known figures from the entertainment field this club has been honored by having for a long, long time." The spotlight, darted across the room to a table at the far side, as a pale little figure in a pink dress rose, clutching at the hand of her table mate. "Miss Sadie Gluckheimer, of the Bronx," shouted the master of ceremonies in conclusion, "who has just completed a sensational tour with the Ice Frolics of 1939, and her equally well-known partner, Mr. Joe Mannerheim, of Brooklyn, former world's champion barrel jumper!" Jim and Olivia collapsed in hysterical guffaws. There was another time when a celebrity hunter's failure at recognition provided an ironical twist. Outside the entrance to a smart luncheon spot, the usual band of autograph hounds lined the curb when Jim, with Olivia on his arm, started toward a taxi cab. The pair were surrounded in an instant by a clamoring group of teen age boys and girls. Among them was a slightly older man who shouldered his way up to Jim and shoved a folded card at the actor. Jim, as he had done with the younger fans' books, passed the card to Olivia to sign too. But brusquely the man snatched his souvenir from the girl. "Never mind yours," he mumbled to the puzzled Olivia. "I just want the names of movie stars." Then he turned and moved away. An amused smile lit Olivia's eyes as Jim, embarrassed and incensed, began to rant at the stupidity of the man. "Did you notice what it was you signed for him?" asked Olivia as they got into the cab and she cut short Jim's explanation of why her quiet charm was not recognized off screen. Jim shook his head. "It was a souvenir program of 'Gone with the Wind!' " said the Melanie of the famous cast. Well, there it was, we thought as the telephone jingled a signal that our call to Hollywood was completed. Two attractive youngsters had met, and for five gay days in Manhattan had been inseparable. And now, their vivid, bright vacation over, were they still as much in love as they had appeared in New York? We'd soon know. "Hello?" came Jim's drawl across the continent. "Hello, there," we greeted. "We're just going to press with Photoplay and the hottest story of the month is your romance with Olivia de Havilland. What's the status, Jim?" "Well, there isn't any exact status." The young man at the other end of the wire was reaching for just the right answer. "Are you still seeing a lot of each other?" "Yes. Yes, indeed!" There was a note of eager pleasure on this. "Often?" "Quite often!" "How serious is it, Jim?" "Oh, I wouldn't say it was serious," he parried. "But we have a wonderful time together." "Have you proposed, Jim?" we queried and kicked ourselves for a busybody. There was a moment's silence and then: "No, no. I haven't proposed." "Well, tell us about it. ' What are you doing, where are you going together?" "We've been out dancing frequently, and to lunch several times since we got back to Hollywood. And I've taken her flying. She's keen on flying. Right now, though, she's out of town. Went to Washington for the President's Birthday Ball." "You working?" we suggested, won-* dering why, if all that Hollywood gossip had reported was true, Jim had not followed his favorite actress East. "Yes, I start Monday on a new picture with Margaret Sullavan." "And Olivia is due back soon?" "I hope so. It can't be too soon!" Ah! There we were getting something. But our next question, as to when he expected to see her again was met with another pause that hinted we were pushing the cross-examination a little too far. "Well, thanks, Jim, for putting us up to date. And Jim. ..." "Yes?" "Look. We're going to press Saturday morning. If you should get engaged before then, will you give us a call?" There was an amused chuckle at the other end of the wire and then: "Let me know your deadlines next month," laughed Jim Stewart as he said good-by. Now, what do you think he meant by that? 90 PHOTOPLAY