Picture-Play Magazine (1933)

Checking Up On Jean That you had heen publicized as a hot-cha girl and you felt it better to continue that way. Is that true?" "Not entirely," she replied. "When I was a young girl 1 was always taught that the most priceless thing I had was my reputation. I still think so, but I realize now that in Hollywood you can't control your reputation as you can elsewhere. Well-meaning publicity agents and friends build u\ stories about you that will create in the public's mind a creature more or less similar to the parts you play on the screen. You never get over the hurt of hearing horrible stories about yourself; you only reconcile yoursell to them as part of the game. "I'm a normal girl with a normal outlook on life. I like to dance, to go to parties, and all the other things the average girl likes. But if you wrote a story saying that I got up at ten o'clock, had an orange, a piece of toast, and cup of coffee for breakfast ; took a sun bath until two, went to call on a married friend, had tea with her, helped her put her baby to bed, then went out to dinner and then to dance, there's neither news nor a story in that kind of existence. So they make up stories." "Would you characterize yourself as a 'home girl'?" I asked her. "I hate that phrase," she protested. "I don't like excesses of any kind, either staying home too much or going out too much. I love swimming, golf, and riding. On the other hand I can't play tennis. And I can't sew a stitch." "You once said," I reminded her, "that fundamentally you're not a sweet person, that Hollywood is no place for sweetness or softness, whatever your natural inclination might be." "I think you misunderstood me slightly," she answered, smiling. "In any work, in order to be successful, you've got to set yourself an objective and work toward it. I plan for what I want, but I couldn't enjoy it if, to get it, I had to walk over other people to reach my goal. I think of myself first, as evenone must to succeed, and try to attain my ends wherever possible. But I'd never consider any end important enough to warrant my doing anything dishonorable or cruel or that would cause me to lose my self-respect." "What about all these romances that are credited to you?" I inquired. "Most of them come under the head of what we were talking about a while ago — making up stories to get newspaper space. It wouldn't be humanly possible for me to do a hundredth part of the things I'm credited with doing. Half the men I'm supposed to be romancing with I don't even know. Those I do know need not be explained — for the simple reason that people here don't believe such a thing as platonic friendship possible. I don't think sex matters a darn where friendship is concerned. If you like a person that's that and whether you're a man or woman is unimportant. I have five or six men friends who could be women for all the romance there is between us. They give me sincerity, honesty, and genuine companionship. "Possibly I manage to retain their regard because I trv not to make impossible demands on them. I never burden them with my troubles. I have never been able to see that that does any good. If something really important arises I talk it over with my family." Despite what Jean says to the contrary, she doesn't think of her She thinks of her friends first and spares herself nothing. I' known a more appreciative girl. There are so many sides to Jean it is hard to reconcile them. The the Richard Arlens had their housewarming Jean arrived very late, sitting at a bridge table when she came in. "You remember me? facetiously, as I rose. "Oh, sit down," said Jean, giving me a push and sitting on my lap as unconcernedly as though I had been a pillow, while she addressed some remarks to others. A few minutes later I encountered her in the kitchen. Outside, Bing Crosby was leading a barber-shop quartet. Jean rolled her eyes ecstatically. "I could listen to him forever," she raved in exactly the same way you or you or you would speak of your favorite. Continued on page 61 41 Jean hates being called a home girl." She doesn't like staying home too much — or going out too much — and she can't sew a stitch. Photo by Grimes mBSBSHBSi i^HBHMnonmi