Screenland Plus TV-Land (Nov 1952 - Oct 1953)

of everyday. Take us for instance; when I've been up since 5:30 to be on the set at 7:00, and a lot of things have gone wrong, Freddie knows all about it, and he understands how I feel at the end of that long, exhausting day. If I come limping through the door, drained of all energy, and perhaps slightly disgruntled, he's neither surprised nor inclined to take it as a personal injury. He doesn't expect me to come leaping and bounding in with war whoops like a hockey playing schoolgirl. He knows how I feel, and his understanding and consideration make me feel better. Just like a pick-me-up. "On the other hand, I know all that he has to contend with at the office, and when some nasty problem has to be ironed out, I understand how he feels at the end of the day. So I try to lift his spirits instead of adding to his troubles and aggravations. "I realize that the wife and husband whose daily lives are worlds apart have to grope a bit in the dark for complete understanding, and they're deprived of our favorite indoor sport — shop talk. But, on the other hand, they have the ad vantage of not seeing too much of each other. It seems to me a question of adapting oneself to one's own particular marital set-up, and making the most of its advantages. "Whatever the circumstances, charm never fails in winning a man or holding a husband." Roz glanced at her watch, and then burst out laughing. "I talk about being a good listener, and here I've gone on talking for nearly two hours. "You were being considerate," I said. "You knew that I wanted you to express some opinions, and you couldn't have made it easier for me!" I might have added, "Nor more delightful!" Few women can be positive and still retain their charm. But in expressing her brilliant mind, Roz bubbles and sparkles so that her sugar-coated pills of wisdom seem to have been dipped in champagne. And whatever charm may be, she has it in large quantities. The producers of her new Broadway musical hit, "Wonderful Town," can attest to that, for Roz is causing stampedes at the boxoffice and will probably be busy on the New York stage for months to come, end WHY I MARRIED CARA [CONTINUED FROM PACE 41] I never kissed her — nor did I ask to. I spent quite a bit of time with her but, to me, she was just a sweet young girl. Then I met Cara. There had been a gag about her being French when we were first introduced. The joke continued for a week. I would sit and look at her silently and wonder if she were real, this exquisite woman. And her laughing eyes seemed a challenge. I had to keep my impulses in check. I could scarcely resist her. There was that first night when we really became acquainted. We had been to the theatre and had stopped at my sister Dee Dee's apartment. We began to talk and soon it was two a.m. We talked right on through the night — all about myself, herself, my father, her father, my career, her career, what I wanted out of life, what she wanted out of life. We talked until four o'clock the next afternoon. I was completely fascinated. She is that rare combination of beauty and brains. She has such charm and such a wonderful speaking voice. It wasn't only her beauty that attracted me. She acted and spoke like a woman — not a silly girl. As she talked, I saw in her everything a man seeks in a woman he wants to share his life with. She's a great mimic. She knows the theatre and acting, for she has been in it since she was a child. She is well read. It is unbelievable how much she helps me. She coached me for four days, for a test my studio; RKO, wanted me to make, and when I made it, everyone asked, "Did your Aunt Ethel coach you?" Cara is under contract to MGM and plays the feminine lead in Red Skelton's next picture. She's the greatest thing that could happen to a man. She has a strong mind, and when you're young, some one strong makes you twice as strong. I hadn't even touched her hand that first night we talked. But as I sat there listening to her, talking to her and confiding in her — suddenly, I wanted more than anything to hold her— and kiss her. I went to her, and bending down, I kissed her sweetly — not roughly — on the mouth. I thought, she is the first girl I feel like being very sweet and kind with— almost protective. I drew her over to the divan to sit beside me. I placed her hand in mine — and it was like a flame of fire shooting from the tips of my toes to my head. It is unexplainable. It was like listening to music, sweet, gentle music, with sudden overtones of stirring, fiery music. I tried not to show my feelings, nor how I marveled at my emotions, but I knew then that I must marry Cara. In reflection, I discovered I now knew how girls in love, who had heretofore seemed a little silly to me, actually felt. I realized for the first time that I must have seemed rude and a great bore. Of course, there was another man. The way was not clear. Cara told me that he was returning from New York and she would see him for a week until she was sure of her feelings. I bought an eightday candle. Each day, I'd say, "You must burn eight days," and I placed it in the window. When its flame was exposed to a draft of wind from the opening and closing of a door, it still burned. On the sixth night, Cara came to me and we drove to Las Vegas where we were married. My mother was shocked but welcomed us back. Her mother was quite upset, and so were some of the press, who took a "How long will it last" attitude. The fact that she is about four years older made them a little unkind. Or they thought I was too young. But they didn't know our hearts. My mother, my Aunt Ethel and my Uncle Lionel wished us every happiness. That first week, we moved Cara into my bachelor apartment. It took twentyfive trips in our Jaguar to move her David and Mrs. Wayne leaving theatre latest film for 20th, "Tonight We Sing.' after attending a sneak preview of his They're now vacationing in Michigan. an