Picture Play Magazine (Sep 1926 - Feb 1927)

88 Uncensored Observations Though there is nothing secretive about Jetta, she is a constant puzzle even to her closest friends. These two pictures show her as she appeared in "Her Man o' War." Goudal's mental domination annoys men. They never attract her, yet her insusceptibility makes her infinitely more desirous to them. She has the power of attracting and repelling, of driving poor men frantic without being aware that she does so. I once tried to find out if Jetta's immunity to masculine charm was affected or real. The preview of "Paris at Midnight" was shown at the exclusive Beverly Hills Theater. After the show, such celebrities as Frances Marion, her husband Fred Thomson, Emil Chautard, E. Mason Hopper, the director of the film, and others stood in the foyer. Jetta glided by, making every one else look like a fried herring. Now for the test! I introduced an intimate friend of mine to her. This young man, let me tell you, causes more flutterings in feminine hearts whenever he appears at the Biltmore, the Ambassador, or the Montmartre, than would a combination of Valentino-Colman-Gilbert. I repeat, he was introduced. Well, did Goudal's eves show any interest, and dilate and glitter with whatever makes eyes dilate and glitter on such occasions? They did not. Just a pleasant greeting in French. What, he had been but two months in Hollywood ? What, we had liked her picture ? A smile. Jetta never encourages compliments. Five minutes later, she was gone. My scheme had failed! Louis XVI. of France would never wait. He had invited some friends of the Court to take tea with him in the royal apartments. He entered one doorway just as his friends were coming in at the other end of the room. Louis shot them an imperial glance and witheringly remarked, "Messieurs, j'ai failli attendre!" — "Gentlemen, I nearly had to wait!" Yet he himself kept courtiers waiting for hours on end. What of that? There were many courtiers— there was but one king. Just after the completion of "Three Faces East," I had a phone call one evening from Goudal's personal maid. Miss Goudal had left this message — Would I, as I lived so near Hollywood Boulevard, step around there to Paulais' and get a cake which had been especially ordered, but which would not be ready until late that night? And would I, as a great favor, fetch it to her hotel the next morning? Miss Goudal would be leaving early. Would I be there at seven "promptly?" Yes, she had said "promptly" — I asked twice. So seven o'clock on the following morning saw me staggering half awake past the swimming pools of the Ambassador. Of course, I surmised, Jetta would be just waking up, taking breakfast in bed. Then, a sight before my eyes caused me nearly to miss my step and fall into one of the pools on top of a young actor of note — for there, coming out onto the Pagola, was none other than Jetta herself, all in white, tennis racket in hand, on her way to do an early-morning ■ i Lenglen ! She saw me and glanced at ^^^jA her wrist watch. It was a few BHHHk minutes after seven. "M onm WM sieur, j'ai failli attendre," she m , remarked, but with a smile. Let m Mi ^ ^e known by one and all that W iflE Jetta Goudal has a keen sense \~ \ of humor ! Up on the sixth floor, in Goudal's suite, I placed * the cake where her maid designated. On . my way out through drawing-room, glanced through open doorway i I once related the following anecdote to Miss Goudal, subtly hoping it would take effect. the I an into Jetta's bedroom. I maintain that one's bedroom reveals one's character better than anything else. This was the picture that flashed before my eyes : Exquisite cleanliness, white lace, and crystal flasks of rare perfume, which must have cost at least fifty dollars an ounce ! Silver on the clean top of the dressing table, shining in the morning sunlight which was streaming in through the open windows. I first met Miss Goudal when she came to HollyContinued on page 106