Screenland (Nov 1940-Apr 1941)

GIRLS ! LOOK AT YOUR CHAPPED HANDS Everybody's singing! Paulette Goddard, Larry Cotton and Edward Jones, of Horace Heidfs band, make up this songbird trio in "Pot o' Gold," James Roosevelt s first film. uow!" His hands went out in a comical gesture. I said, "Well, I'm not sure.' I never wanted to tell her in so many words, 'I'll see that vou're tree.' It would make me feel like an elephant stepping on flowers. But I managed so that the date would be open. "Then . . . No, let me tell you first something about the boy. I took a liking to him even before Deanna. He has charm outside and inside. But most of all, I liked his backbone. There is seldom a boy, with looks and personality like his, so devoted to his work. We thought. Koster and I, to make an actor of him. We said. Will vou do a test?' He said, If you like. But he didn't push it. He wasn't sold on it He would do it because we asked him, but he liked his own work better. Well, by the time we were ready to make this test, the romance had begun, so we dropped it. Why? For two reasons. Our idea had been he should play with her in 'First Love.' We would have been severely criticized—and rightfully— for capitalizing on their feelings. But entirely apart from this, we felt they were entitled to keep their first love to themselves. "Anvway, as much of it as they could. After "'Three Smart Girls Grow Up,' the newspapers began to break it. And two days after the first stories appeared, there came to my office a long distance call from Boston. I wasn't in. This man, whose name I didn't know, called three times. It was very important, he said. So I called him back. He said: 'We have here an office where they break up romances.' You do what?' 'We break up romances. You re Deanna Durbin's producer. You don't want her to get married. For a certain sum of monev we'll break it up.' I laughed. I couldn't help it. It was nasty, but it was also funnv. I said. 'Thank you very much, I'm not interested.' and I hung up. "I told this story to Deanna. I noticed how happv she was with my answer to that man. There was something in her face, don't ask me what, some kind of light — and that was the moment when I became convinced— when I knew this thing was serious and would end with marriage. "I was happv about it. Contrary to all rumors that the studio is disappointed, we're all happy about it. Deanna' s talents are sold to us", not her private emotions. About those she's her own boss. \\ e never voiced an opinion. We weren't asked. But we were in silent agreement with her. First, vou don't interfere with a girl like Deanna who knows her own mind. Second, no matter what all the cynics might say, she's still more important to me as a human being than as a property. If the boy wasn't as nice as he is, I might have looked for some way to make her understand. Yet even to say so much is foolish. Because Deanna, with her right instincts, wouldn't like another kind of boy. Her choice is a wise choice and a good one. 1 think she's lucky. I think he's lucky too. I don't know which is luckier and, anyway, who cares? . "After the papers broke it, 1 teased her a little. Not much. Only so much as is permitted an uncle. She knew I liked Vaughn. I gave him his first job^ as assistant director on 'The Underpup.' W hen I talked about him, a little smile came on her lips. That's all. They never made a show of their feelings. Every day, if they could manage it, they had lunch together but not on the lot. They got in his car and went out to eat at some drive-. n. "I remember one Sunday afternoon we had to work on 'The Underpup'— to lay out plans for Monday. It was the kind of day when tne youngsters all go to the beach. I came to the studio at one and passed a small car. It was the boy's car. Inside was Deanna Durbin. reading the funnies. She could have waited for him at the beach or, anyway, some place that would be more comfortable than the inside of a little car. She could have come on the set. but that would be pushing herselt where she thought she didn't belong. So till 4:30 she waited without a squawk. I bet she knew the funnies backward and inside out. I was curious, I admit it, to see what happened. Will she be cross. Will she pout, as girls do, for the fun ot making up again? No. She folds up the funnies, she smiles, he gets m the car, they kiss and they're off. I must say I admired Deanna's patience and manner. SCREENLAND My Notice the irritation and tiny cracks and cots you never knew were there. SEE WHY MEDICATED NOXZEMA IS SO WONDERFUL FOR CHAPPED HANDS • Chapped hands are really CUT hands— a combination of skin irritation, like chafing, coupled with tiny cracks, particularly in the knuckles. That's why thousands of people today are switching to Noxzema Cream for real relief. Because Noxzema contains medication to soothe and help promote quicker healing of red, irritated, chapped hands— help restore them to their normal soft, white, smooth loveliness. Nurses in hospitals were the first to discover how wonderful Noxzema is for chapped hands. Surveys indicate that scores of physicians and dentists who must wash hands frequently yet must keep them in good condition, use this medicated cream regularly. Make this simple test Try it yourself, this way! Put Noxzema on one hand before retiring. Feel how the smarting and soreness are soothed away. In the morning, compare your two ^^^g^^^^^ hands. See how Noxzema has helped heal the tiny cuts and cracks. If you don't say your "Noxzema hand" looks softer, smoother, whiter— your money will be refunded! Get Noxzema at your druggist's today while the special trial offer is on! FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY you can get the generous 2 5c jar of Nox'zema for only 19c! Try it today! 95