Screenland (May-Oct 1931)

for jane 1931 57 Her Best Friend Won't Tell Her! Evelyn Brent won't know that her chum wrote this story for us until she reads it here! Evelyn is the hardest girl in Hollywood to interview; that's why we went to her best friend for this frank, penetrating personality impression IT WAS noon. The usual and the not so usual theatrical and motion picture groups crowded the Algonquin lobby. A hubbub of voices and clouds of cigarette smoke completed the familiar scene. Glancing around, I espied two well known faces surrounded by a gay, grapevine fortress of friends. They were John and Josephine Robertson, just returned from Spain and England where John had directed "Spanish Jade." Conversation tumbled merrily from personalities to picture making on Spanish soil to personalities. Very much present amongst the latter was one whom the Robertsons vivaciously referred to as Betty. "Who is this Betty?" There were limits to curiosity. "Betty?" John's eyes widened. "Betty Brent?"' "Betty played the lead in John's picture," Jo rescued. "Never heard of her," with the rude indifference of one who has trouble enough keeping abreast of the home-bodies. "You will," John prophesied, and Jo nodded agreement. "She's just signed to appear opposite Douglas Fairbanks in his next picture. There she is now." The elevator door had opened and two girls, attired in unpretentious tennis clothes, holding uncovered rackets, stepped into the lobby. "Betty," Jo called. The darker of the two girls stopped. Her rather pointed chin — a stubborn chin, I categoried it — raised arrogantly. The eyes were cool, indifferent, searching, yet I vividly recall that despite her apparent arrogance she seemed slightly confused both at the greeting and being halted in the crowded lobby. Signaling out the Robertsons, the set expression of her face relaxed and she hastened over, her eyes softening and smiling. "This is Betty Brent." Jo turned to me. Miss Brent nodded and glanced at me cursorily. A few more words with the Robertsons, her acceptance of their week-end invitation to visit them in Great Neck, and she joined her companion by the desk. "She's a grand girl," Jo beamed. I had my doubts. I considered her casualness axd abruptness entirely uncalled for. I could neither understand their superlatives nor their enthusiasm and immediately forgot Betty Brent in the rush of events of the next six months. She has been characterized as "high hat." But she isn't. Evelyn Brent is one of the most strongly individualistic stars in pictures. You'll like this honest appraisal of her by her best friend. At the end of that period, I came West and became affiliated with the Fox Studios. Strolling on a stage one day, I espied a girl in oriental garb doing an emotional scene before the camera. "Isn't that Evelyn Brent?" I asked the assistant director. "Yeah." I watched with more interest. There was nice restraint and sincerity in her work. "Okay," called the director. She walked to her chair, her face setting in the same aloof mould that had irritated me that first meeting. "Flelen." Her voice clipped the word. "Cigarette, please." The maid struck a match. Miss Brent inhaled the smoke in thorough relish. Her eyes encountered mine, the same cool, indifferent brown eyes that I remembered. A puzzled expression flitted into them. I remained where I was. She smiled, a warm, infectious smile. She smiles rarely. When she does, it is neither rusty nor affected. It induced me to go over. "Hello !" She extended her hand. I liked the way she shook hands — firmly. "I met you with the Robertsons," she time-lapsed. "What are you doing out here?" "What are you still doing here?" I retaliated. "I heard you were going to do just the one picture with Fairbanks and return to London." "My plans have changed. I didn't do that picture and I'm still here." I asked no more questions. Her tone was not a "mind your own business" one, but it discouraged queries. She is a difficult subject to interview for this reason, but an interviewer skilled in cloaking questions in conversational anecdotes can stimulate response from Betty Brent and get an excellent (Continued on page 121)