Screenland (Feb-Oct 1949)

"In addition to bis diffidence, Fred has a rare and wonderful sense of humor," says Claire. Fred's merriment during rehearsals for "Borderline" sent her into gales of laughter. AS AN actress, I am honor bound to admit that one of the favorite conversational topics among actors and actresses is the behavior, both personal and professional, of other actors and actresses. We talk about each other for the same reason that hardware merchants hold conventions, or Boy Scouts collect at camporees: we are members of Fred MacMurray also co-stars in "Father Was A Fullback" with Maureen O'Hara. a fraternity which fascinates us. However, I realized — the first day Fred MacMurray and I worked together on "Borderline" — that he was one of the few Hollywood citizens about whom I had heard practically nothing. In an ocean of talk. Mr. MacMurray seemed to live high and dry on an island of silence. What. I pondered, could be the reason for this? After a week on the same set, I began to understand. There is little talk about Mr. MacMurray because he makes little talk about himself. Here is one example: (There are oilier $ to follow.) The "Borderline" company was made up of people of a few words. A few million, that is. Bill Seiter, the director, is articulate enough to paint a word picture of a Japanese sunset and make it real in the midst of a flash flood. My husband, Milton Bren, our picture's producer, also has produced such fantasies as "Topper" and "Merrily We Live." which are indicative of his technique with flights of fancy. Add to this group, an exceptionally clever and resourceful crew of technicians, and you understand why our set was gay with talk, talk, talk. Everyone was enthusiastic over the script of "Borderline" and everyone wanted to turn it into one of the most entertaining comedy-dramas of the season. When we had a conference, everyone interrupted everyone else in a frenzy of creation. In the din, some excellent ideas were lost, so we made a rule: everyone who interrupted a speaker at any time had to drop a dime in a piggy bank which we borrowed frorf Republic's prop department. At the end of the picture, the only person who had never been forced to pay a fine because of over-garrulity, was Fred MacMurray! However, several of his soft-spoken, non-interruptive suggestions had been promptly adopted. Here is another example of his caution with words: some time ago he was approached by a newspaper columnist to give an interview about Irene Dunne, an actress with whom Fred has worked in several pictures. Fred, a fan of Irene's, said he would be glad to give the interview. About two thousand words? Fred blinked, but nodded. He wanted a week in which to organize his material, he said. At the end of the week. Fred met the interviewer. Drawing a deep breath, he delivered his story: "Irene is beautiful. And she worries." End of story. I find this delightful because it can be turned into an excellent capsule comment on Fred himself. He is handsome. And he worries. He is handsome, not because of classic features or a sculptured profile, but because the essential goodness, kindness, and integrity of the man's spirit shine from his eyes and face. I know this is a large order, but before I have finished "telling on" Fred. I believe you will agree. He worries because he has ideals so high that he despairs of living up to them. And he is plagued by a perfect monster of modesty. He said to me one day, "Honestly, I can't figure out how I happen to be in show business. I don't belong in it at all. My career just happened. I shook my head in front of an orchestra a (Please titm to page 57} Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood and Fred in the gay comedy, "Father Was A Fullback."