Silver Screen (Nov 1933–Apr 1934)

FIRST STILL The new cycle in motion pictures, with all our favorites going royal, finds Marlene Dietrich portraying Catherine the Great. She is Princess Sophia Frederica, daughter of Prince Christian August (C. Aubrey Smith) and Princess Johanna (Olive Tell.) Later she marries and becomes Catharine the Great. magazine writer. Because when you make an interview appointment with her she gives you her uninterrupted time and attention and doesn't have hairdressers, costume designers, interior decorators or friends bouncing in every two minutes. Because, when she was told, not long ago, that an elderly gentleman who was visiting Hollywood had expressed as his one desire the wish to meet her, she dashed miles from the studio on a particularly hectic day to grant his wish. And vamped him completely! Gary Cooper because, no matter how immaculately groomed he is in other respects, one stubborn lock of hair always strays from the fold and flops over one eye. Because he has a way of sitting, head bent, elbows on knees, and flashing you a sudden twinkling corner-wise glance, as if he were sharing a very secret joke with you. Because he is so darn tall and lanky and has the sheepish manner of a small boy who has just been caught doing some especially nefarious deed. Because his silences are more companionable than most peoples' chattiest moments. Because, though he's rated as the most attractive guy in Hollywood, and 99% of the town's most gorgeous women have gone for him, he's still a big, goodnatured, unpretentious loogan. Marion Davies because, though she has met most of the great and near great of the day, has been flattered beyond belief by parasitical "friends" and has everything wealth can buy, she still chooses for her most intimate playfellows people who can't possibly advance her socially or materially. Because she stutters like mad when she gets embarrassed or excited. Because she. juggles a mean jig-saw puzzle. Because she gets nervous indigestion every time she looks at a horse, but goes riding with her guests to be a good sport. Because she knows how to laugh. Dick and Jessie Barthelmess because their home life is conducted with sanity and dignity. Because they're so nice and 50 much fun. Norma Talmadge because she has the courage to live her life as she wishes regardless of gossip and criticism. Because she has a grand spirit of play. Because she tells the darnedest stories. Because she once threw me a birthday party from which I'm still recovering. Because she, and sisters Connie and Natalie, constitute one of the most colorful families in film history. Because she and I once discovered suddenly that we've both always had a suppressed desire to drive a car down the Beverly Hills bridle-path and promptly did it. Lubitsch because humor and intelligence are written all over what you can see of his funny little face behind that big black cigar. Because, though he is swarthy, paunchy and devoid of physical beauty, he has great charm for women (me among them) and they welcome his attentions. Because his reputation as a super-sophisticate and directorial genius has not robbed him of human warmth and kindliness. Mary Pickford because she has all the fine, generous, dignified traits attributed to her. Because, when her divorce broke and press sympathy went entirely to her, she sent for her newspaper friends and begged them not to be too hard on Doug. Because, in spite of her great lady reputation, she is a little "mick" at heart with all the wit, gaiety and conviviality of the Irish. Because she used to long to go swimming in the Pickfair pool at midnight and wouldn't because she was afraid Doug would scold her. Because, though she has been Hollywood's social queen for many years, she is simple, sincere and loyal in her friendships, which are legion. Bill Haines because, beneath his rowdy, sometimes unsavory clowning is a sensitive artistic nature. Because he has accepted the waning of his once great screen popularity gamely and has fortified himself with another career. Because, though he makes fun of himself constantly, he is really deeply serious about his new profession of interior decorating. Because, in his less Rabelaisian moments, he is a genial, charming companion, capable of depth of thought and conversation. Because he's such a darn fool. Connie Bennett because I can't help it. Because, although she has stood me up on interview appointments, and made me madder than blazes, her charm and simplicity always get the better of me when we meet. Because, whether she actually is or not, she always manages to convince me that she's sincere, and her frankness and out spokenness are qualities which I admire. Because you have to hand it to the gal for the ruthless directness with which she goes after— and gets— whatever she wants. Lionel Barrymore because his pose of being an old grouch doesn't fool anyone. Because, though he is possessed of a brilliant mind, a fund of knowledge and a variety of talents, there is nothing of the intellectual snob about him. Because he wears his deserved fame and success simply and graciously. Because, though he has a barbed wit and a biting sense of humor, he is tolerant of the ideas and opinions of those less intelligent than he. Because, at the luncheon given to celebrate May Robson's fiftieth anniversary as an actress, when he rose to pay tribute to May he had genuine tears in his eyes. Because he's a darling. Skeets and Pauline Gallagher because they're swell playfellows, but most of all because I'm in love with their three year old son, the Duke. Elissa Landi because she hasn't allowed the glamorous business of being a film star to interfere with her writing and has turned out two novels since she has been in Hollywood. Because, though she doesn'S play the social game, she is a charminsB hostess and on the rare occasions when shifl gives a party does it with grace and disfl tinction. Because she is one of the besfl young minds in Hollywood and has thfl respect of many distinguished intellectuals* Because, in spite of her cool intelligence,! she is a warm, human sympathetic coma panion. Because she loves dogs. Alison Skipworth because having her as.1 a next door neighbor keeps life from even being dull. Because she calls me a hussS for wearing slacks and bawls me out fori leaving my porch light on all night. Be-f cause, though my two yapping dogs and myi noisy friends must drive her nearly mad, she hasn't had me arrested for disturbing the peace (yet). Because she is philosophy ical about her silver Persian's constantly recurring litters of non-Persian kittens and can never bear to part with any of them.l Because she's a vital, interesting person and a swell sport. Because, when she gets home unusually early from the studio, shel always says gloatingly, "I was a bad girl. They sent me home." Wallie Beery because he's a big sprawling lovable goof and keeps puppies in the bath 5 tub. Because he once bought a mothJ eaten coyote from an itinerant gentleman of uncertain profession and made tha mangy beast adore him so, it howled every! time he left it alone. Because I love dogs and dogs love Wallie. I like John Boles and his missus, too, J and the Freddie Marches, and Lila Lee and Colleen Moore and Stanley Smith and soft spoken Jimmy Cagney. I like Polly Moran (the blamed fool) and George Blackwood, and Lil Tashman and Eddie Lowe and Lola Lane and Claudette Colbert and Roscoe Karns and Margaret Lindsay. And a whole flock of people whom I'll remember as soon as I put this in the mail. I hope they'll still speak to me. Some day when I get ready to retire I'm going to write a sequel to this called "The Ones I Don't Like— and Why." And then I'm going back to Iowa to die. 30