Screenland (Nov 1937-Apr 1938)

Loretta Young Continued from page 22 her. It was the severest way. But she reacted as lie suspected she would and eventually understood that pictures are no child's game. Later she had other disappointments to conquer, most difficult one being the marriage that was all romance and then was all wrong. She was temporarily torn from her family and her religion. She wasn't downed, though. Not even when illness threatened her as she was coming into her own. "This self-reliance is what has developed her so markedly, in my estimation. She has a maturity far beyond her years and appearance, and that is what makes her excellent company. "She is fun. I like her because she is. She could be taking herself dreadfully seriously. She could have become so spoiled. A Hollywood leading lady at fourteen, going to elegant premiers and the best movie parties and being acclaimed. Loretta contends her first major social triumph occurred when Mary Pickford, at a Mayfair ball soon after Loretta's debut, solemnly addressed her as Miss Young. She floated for days. But only on the inside ! With all her excuses for 'going into a front,' she never does. She has the courage to be herself. To laugh and be democratic. "Unquestionably her home life accounts for this democratic, streak. Yet, on the other hand, her home life is precisely what Loretta has elected it to be. She wouldn't have what she didn't want. At home she's one of the family; they don't treat her with any privileges because she's the most famous member. She's ever 'Gretch.' beloved and loyal daughter and sister. She enters into everything any one of the family is up to, unreservedly. She doesn't want a" lot of friends, but a few who are as true as her own flesh-and-blood. "She could," declared Myrna reflectively, "be conceited about being the most attractive unmarried actress in all Hollywood. Men can't help falling in. love with her, and that's flattering no end. They can't help it, because she treats them so unaffectedly, with that sympathetic warmth the wise woman acquires. At this moment luncheon arrived from the commissary. Soon I realized that Myrna was drinking my milk rather than the coffee she'd ordered. "Perhaps you did want coffee," I interposed as gallantly as I could. Myrna grinned. "Now you've evidence that I'm concentrating!" She located another glass and divided the pint of milk. Without the slightest fuss. Serene lady 1 "I consider Loretta remarkable," she continued, "because she is not squandering her potentialities. Because she's making them all materialize. She is an opportunist, as every girl ought to be. She is gloriously adventurous, as all magnetic women are. "She is, therefore, quick and sure in her decisions. No shilly-shallying or dawdling. If she can't see a benefit she won't do what's proposed. For instance, she was asked to pose for some color portraits the other day. It would have taken a lot of time. 'No,' she said and stuck to her 'no.' 'I spent a whole afternoon with that photographer once. The pictures he took were not good and none of them were used by the magazines. I'll spend all the time necessary with someone else, but I'm not posing for him again!' She has learned to work intelligently for results. "Loretta hasn't complained of responsibilities as burdens. She never looks for loopholes, but eagerly accepts duties. 1 hey mean that she is creating a reputation, that she is growing stronger as an individual. 'Loretta is the creative girl at her best. She has created a beautiful home. Each of those ten rooms in her Southern Colonial background reflects the personality Loretta is. There is a gentle elegance that gracefully compliments her. There are beautiful antiques, carefully gathered— when I hear of a particularly good showing at some collector's gallery, and fancy I may find something for my house, I arrive to watch Loretta or her mother walking out with the prize piece! "It gives me a lift to note how domestic sne is — Cven if she can't boil an egg, as you say she confessed. I'll have to confer with her about blasting my hard-earned renown as the model wife — an hour-anda-half to concoct poached eggs on toast for my husband ! I never counted on that getting out. Goodness me — well, anyway, Loretta won't even employ a personal maid. She's a working woman and yet she loves to be domestic. She takes care of her clothes, her room. She makes her own bed and she's nutty over neatness. Her bedroom is Directoire and the figurines are delicate Dresden and a speck of dust sends her flying for a dust-rag. However, when I'm invited to Miss Young's I am sure of splendid food and lots of it. Loretta is an epicure — with a gigantic appetite. She's crazy about steaks, thick juicy ones, and French-fried potatoes. She tackles a turkey like nobody's business. She never is bashful about second helpings. "Nothing is too much trouble in her work. It was amazing how she wore those bands on her teeth several years ago. She saw that a slight straightening would be advantageous photographically, and so for a whole year she wore bands like children do every time she wasn't acting. When you're in the spotlight and can do thatwell, you are in Loretta's grade. ' Myrna found another cup and we poured from my coffee pot. She leaned back in her chair, comfortably. . . "Right now Loretta believes a definite flair for wearing glamorous costumes on the screen will further her box-office draw. And I think she is reasoning well. So she has no objection to standing for hours for fittings ! "But even in private life she revels in stunning modes and here is where she Muff and sleeves of ermine tails feature Sonja Henie's suit. does consult her mother for all details — she always wants her mother's final word on chic. She wants to look at everything the best shops have, and not content with three trips a year to New York for a Fifth Avenue clean-up she's now adding Paris to her routine. When she is fond of a film costume she buys it for her personal wardrobe; she wore five especially designed negligees in her last picture and look all five for her own use. She selects her screen clothes with minute care, after extended conferences with exclusive designers. She knows that super-flair is a studied effect. She's reached the point where she's even designing for herself, and has taken to cutting and sewing. Her favorite color is French blue, the color of her eyes. She's dippy over hats and will try on and buy another at the least suggestion she do so. But she's never pleased with her hair. She blames her hair, not her hairdresser whom she's had for nine years and who is a highly-regarded friend. "She hopes to marry again. She believes in marriage as a woman's major experience. Unlike myself, she doesn't want to go on acting— in the end she'll be happy being a home body. But I think this is because she fears 'outside pressure.' She's seen how Hollywood life can intrude on two who are in love. The primitive in her cries for guaranteed safety. "Loretta" thinks of the admirable husband she wants, thinks of him a great deal. Her sincere desire for a successful marriage should make it materialize. She's building toward it to the best of her ability. "I haven't," asserted Myrna, "come to what assuredly is a basic quality in Loretta. I couldn't mention her without emphasizing it. Loretta is religious, Deeply, sincerely so. She is an individualist, a femininist, a canny business woman and not above flirting. But there is something else that's essential to her. This is an answer to an inner soul-cry. She has found the right path for herself. She has a guiding faith. Implicit adherence to the tenets of her church brings her a very real uplift. She is gay, soigne, and all of that— but I myself never think of her without remembering her devotion to the idealistic pattern shewants to follow. If you were to ask Loretta why she has such stamina, why she has never been defeated or disillusioned, _ she would tell you of her faith. That it is a fundamental inspiration to her." Myrna Loy Continued from page 23 When you get acquainted there's no hint of aloofness. "Her marvelous poise fascinates me. 1 ve never seen her embarrassed; hers is one hundred i>er cent aplomb. I've that kind of mind that would wonder why and how. So I investigated! "As a child she rode frequently with her father. Her closeness to him must have had a lasting effect; I should say she has a man's mind about values. Complexes? Not a one— they take up too much time! "Her home life intrigues me. Before she married she wasn't muchly concerned with what a home was like so long as it was comfortable and soothing. She didn't think of furnishings or decorating. None of that touched her. Vaguely she had a dream of a home which w-ould someday be of her own making. When she met Arthur Hornblow this crystallized. At last she has her very own home and she's made two trips to New York to select the right things for it. It's exactly what Minnie would have. A. charming, rambling farmhouse where life is informal. But conveniently on the edge of the city! There's an orchard instead of 66