Screenland (Nov 1934-Apr 1935)

74 "Sure, I like this game, but I realize that every screen player is merely a fad, he told me. "At any moment audiences may tire of me and when they do I'll scram ; I'll not try to hang on. I'm hoping to become a director and am studying the methods of everyone I work with. To be able to create a great drama on the screen that will touch the hearts of audiences the world over would be far more satisfying than acting a single part, no matter how great." George has just moved into a beautmil penthouse on the twelfth floor of a swanky apartment hotel. There is a large terrace across the front that commands a view of the city with the Hollywood hills beyond that is his special delight. At the rear is another terrace which he has fixed up as an outdoor gymnasium. "I have four pictures to make before July," he told me," which means I'll spend my time between here and the studio. When I'm working I cut out everything else so I de cided I might as well have a home that pleases me. I entertain very little — an occasional dinner followed by contract and pictures form my social amusements." Said George further, "I get a kick out of being able to do and have the things I want. If I can send my mother to the White Mountains for the summer, if I can step in and buy a radio, a hat, or a pair of shoes that strike my fancy— all this means happiness. "I've always loved clothes. I get that from my mother. Even as a child I had to take care of my few things and was taught orderliness. When I took off a suit it was carefully brushed and hung up and I never left the house without my mother calling, 'Have you wiped off your shoes?' And," SCREENLAND grinned George, "to this day I keep a shoecloth to use just before I leave my room. It's second nature now. "I look like my mother, too. She's Italian. My father was German, and blond. He died four years ago. We were great pals He would have liked seeing me on the screen ; it would have amused him. "Maybe his going is another reason I don't fear death. But I'm in no hurry to face it, for life is full of promises for me right now." But he wouldn't talk of romance, of the report that when and if his marital affairs are straightened out he and the lovely \ irginia Pine may marry. He said, "I'm not planning ahead. What's the use? I'll wait until I catch up with the future to decide what I'll do." And he flashed one of his rare, very rare smiles. Not the Captains of Their Souls Continued from page 57 and eat scads of it. I would gain pounds and pounds. Then I would be forced to go on a strict diet again, and / hate dieting." , . .j Furthermore, I happen to know that doctors have warned Joan to cease rigid diets. Those doctors warned Miss Crawford that her diets, which she has indulged throughout the past several years, have eroded the lining of her stomach until the condition is dangerous. So Joan trods busy avenues, gazing into candy-store windows and turning away only when temptation threatens to overwhelm her stubborn will. She, zvho loves chocolates to the point of distraction, dares not eat them! Obesity and screen careers are no more harmonious than Grace Moore and a howling dog. Randolph Scott's idea of Hell is a place where everything is done on horseback. Randy has no use for horses. Oh, he likes them well enough, in their place. But their place, he declares vengefully, is not under Randolph Scott. . Like them or not, Scott must put up with horses His studio executives have discovered that he makes a fine figure when seated astride a horse. So for two years Randy has had his inner feelings sacrificed to Western pictures. Not long ago a group of cowboy-actors who have worked in most of Scott's pictures decided to give him a surprise party. Not knowing his extreme distaste for horses, they selected a moonlight ride and barbecue as the most novel sort of party. The affair was a surprise all right, but when Randy learned that he was supposed to go moonlight riding, he changed the nature of the affair. He made himself the host at a nice party in his own home — and not a horse was present. Of course, Randy could quit his career, and thus get away from his forced cowboy activities. But that is just the point of this storv — the stars continue to do things that are distasteful to them because they do not want to quit their careers. If Scott resigned from motion pictures, he would have to relinquish a most profitable contract. He chooses to keep the contract— and have horses haunt his daily life. He chooses the lesser evil. Wouldn't we all? Alice White positively detests blonde hair. This abhorrence intensifies when the blonde hair is her own. Yet Alice must retain the blonde mop that frames her face for movie cameras, because this frame is more becoming than dark hair or red hair. And to be becoming, in Hollywood, is to be successful. Alice wants to be successful. There are periods when Miss White's Gloria Stuart (Mrs. Arthur Sheekman), poses in a fall ensemble selected for her trousseau. It's black wool. distaste for her own blonde tresses amounts to a mania ; periods when she hates herself every time she looks into a mirror. Yet look into mirrors she must, because an actress needs make-up, and whoever heard of putting on make-up without mirrors into which to stare? "My first act after I retire from motion pictures will be to let my hair return to its natural color," Alice has declared a thousand times. And "its natural color" is not blonde in Miss White's case ; it is reddish brown. Of course, the distastes of some of the stars are not so severe. People like Robert Montgomery, who have been forced to quit polo or other favorite pastimes because of the danger, have no real complaint; they can find other wavs to amuse themselves. They aren't like Alice White with her hatred for her own blonde hair. Perhaps Charlie Chaplin's plight is more serious than most. Charlie, a comedian, longs to be a tragedian. He'd give half his fortune (he has considerable fortune, too) if the public would accept him in "Hamlet" or some other such heavy dramatic play. But Chaplin is wise enough to know that one such role might forever spoil him as a comedian ; that is, it might so alter the public's appreciation of his comedy talents that this same public would forget to laugh at Chaplin's pictures. I do know one thing : Charlie's last motion picture, if he has his own way (and he likely will) is to be sheer drama. Any comedy touches will be subtle asides. But meanwhile, Chaplin goes ahead making comedies. Just you think of the task in vour daily routine that gripes you most. That's what starring in comedies does to Charlie. Marlene Dietrich was practically chased out of her pants by public opinion— and to keep that statement from appearing too shocking, let me explain that public disapproval of her mannish attire caused Miss Dietrich to forego the comfort that goes with masculine garb, in order to appear more feminine to her admirers. Joan Blondell has seriously given thought to retirement from the screen. Her one great desire is to stay home and be a typical mother; to take care of her own baby, instead of leaving that duty to nurses. But again the answer to the question, "Why doesn't she quit if quitting will make her happier?" is: Miss Blondell receives a bank president's salary; it is not easy to thrust aside so much money. Bing Crosby has often spoken of retiring. But Crosbv recently signed a four-year motion picture contract, because the money offered him w^as too important to refuse, even for a man who detests work as wholeheartedly as does Bing. Now don't get me wrong. I don t for a moment intend to give anybody the idea that all the picture stars are ready to quit tomorrow, nor am I seeking to discourage ambitious young people who yearn for picture careers. Not for a minute. Why, they could pull my teeth, paint my hair green, and make me ride razorback hogs all day long if they'd pay me the salaries some of the screen stars receive. But you must admit that going toothless, having green hair, and riding razorback hogs might become very irksome in time, even for "a million dollars a year." Just so does blonde hair become invidious to many stars who must remain blondes.