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Star-dust in Hollywood
say : ' I want you to overlook my film in Hollywood. ' I confess that I had little desire to displace myself, for, after all, at eighty-three one likes one's tranquillity. But Monsieur Fairbank, so charming and delightful, says : ' We must have you, monsieur. Take a week to think it over.' And he names to me a sum so large that it takes away my breath. So I come. But why they want me I cannot tell. I do nothing. I say this is not right, that is not right, but they answer : ' Yes, monsieur, but you see . . .' And then follow explanations. . . . Explanations. But explanations do not make things look correct for all that. Doubtless from their point of view they are right, but then why do they bring me over here in order that they may make explanations to me? They come very expensive, these explanations. I would do my work if I could, but I can't even make the ladies wear the right kind of shoes. And, after all, it was not for the money alone that I chose to displace myself so far at my age ; it was for the pleasure of seeing something really well done. 'Why spend all that money for nothing ? ' I ask myself. And the same time I confess to you that in lending my name to this thing I feel somehow dishonest . . . if you understand me. Yes, a little dishonest."
There is an element of psychological puzzle in the continual efforts and lavish expenditure of Hollywood, efforts and expenditure out of all proportion to the financial profits that could possibly accrue from them. What makes them spend £60 a week on authors who produce no stories or whose stories, once produced, are forthwith degraded to the penny novelette level of the communally commonplace subject? What makes them hire expensive technical directors and then ignore their advice ? What makes them rush to the other ends of the earth, ignorant of local labour conditions ?
The answer is related to a curious state of mind that also makes the Americans crowd to lectures and fills the libraries of Hollywood with authors whose pages are never even cut.
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