Screenland (May-Oct 1931)

66 SCREENL AND C LARA' Boy Friend Rex Bell tells how he won and holds the regard of the It Girl By Helen Burns Rex doesn't want Clara to feel too sure of him. He believes a boy should keep his girl friend guessing.' As to a bit of discipline now and then — Rex just leaves Clara alone for a while. And so far Miss Bow and Mr. Bell have never had a quarrel! Rex Bell admits he's crazy about Clara but won't let her walk on him! REX BELL, for many months the dark horse in the race for Clara Bow's affections, has announced himself the winner and is not loath to reveal the methods by which he attained his success. The information should be valuable. The taming of the It Girl would be a feather in the cap of any Don Juan. Other men have come and gone during the year Rex has courted Clara — Rex watched them come with well-feigned indifference — and watched them go with ill-concealed content. "Harry Richman? I know all about him," says Rex. "Clara told me. She didn't really fall for that guy. "That Texas doctor? Yes, I know Daisy De Voe says she is crazy about him, but she's wrong. I'm not worrying." Rex means that. He's settled, to his own satisfaction, the problem of handling Clara. Rex is very good at settling his own problems. I remember an interview I had with him two years ago. That was before he had met Clara. He was talking about his work in pictures then, but he said that every situation could be handled successfully if you gave it sufficient time and thought. Rex did just that in gaining the ascendency over Clara's numerous beaus. In the first place, he reasoned that Clara was used to being pursued. Other men rushed her madly, tried to date her up weeks ahead, and made pledges of undying devotion. Rex did none of these things. He says that for many months he never asked for a date. When he left her, Clara would usually ask, "When will I see you again ?" and Rex would answer, "Oh, I don't know, call me up soon." And she usually did. Rex and Clara have never had a quarrel, and that is saying a good deal in the tempestuous Bow's career. It isn't just a hap-instance either. Rex spent plenty of time and thought in fto-nring out the most efficient Rex says: "I never liked her pictures and I didn't figure I'd like her, but I did!" way to calm the temper of his red-headed girl friend. Rex doesn't believe in treating 'em rough. The old cave man stuff is out, he says. The modern young woman has progressed to a point where she resents too much domination on the part of a man. If he lays down the law too forcibly, she walks out. Therefore, Rex believes in being firm, but not too firm. He also believes in being lover-like, but in keeping the girl friend guessing. Rex doesn't want Clara to feel too sure of him. Anyone as vital and adventuresome as the It Girl is apt to lose interest in a cinch bet. Rex is at all times calm and judicious in his dealings with Clara. Much as he is interested in her, he doesn't take her too seriously. He has found it necessary to pass over many small flare-ups, for the It Girl is hasty in both word and action at times. Rex just laughs at her. If the situation is important enough to warrant a bit of discipline on the part of the boy friend, Rex falls back on the time-honored weapon of indifference. He just leaves her alone for a while. It has been said that when a woman does not react to the indifference of a male, he might just as well give up. Rex evidently believes that, and he's never even been on the verge of giving up. "I don't say anything to Clara, I just leave her for a while," says Rex. Then she immediately becomes contrite. She gets sorry. Rex says that he has never known Clara to out-and-out apologize for anything in her life, but she'll usually tell someone else that she didn't mean to make him mad, and then Rex will make the proper overtures and everything will be oke again! "Clara and I got along from the very beginning," says Rex. "I never liked her pictures and I didn't figure I'd like her, but I did." Evidently he liked her very well indeed. Rex says that during the year he has been going with Clara he has missed seeing her only four days during the time she has been in Hollywood. He says he never lets the tales he hears or reads about Clara while she is away affect him. He cares more for her than to let the gossip mongers come between them. Rex savs he knows that Clara goes out with other men, but he doesn't object. He couldn't expect anyone as attractive and popular as (Continued on page 105)