Eccentricity Pays In Hollywood

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 136, 11 June 1938, Page 7 (Supplement)

Eccentricity Pays In Hollywood

By.. J. Maurice Ruddy

Film Page

DESPITE an the talk nowadays about the great ones of the screen being "just regular people.'" leading quiet lives, and conforming to practically every normal standard, each one seems to have soma form of eccentricity which lifts him above the level of the crowd. .. 3[<iri'i'\vM\ veterans of filmmaking Jave I'MiiK-d to lock tor just such "lnatlnec~o<" in l lii'lt- eternal quest for new screen per-onalitios. 'J'he normal, they will toll not!, is seldom interesting. (flaiim-ir ami excitement come onfv through some deviation from the normal. Recently Frank Lloyd, producerdirector and one of the keenest men in the buMii,>-s. told me that he wouldn't care to direct a star who wasn't eccentric "K<ventrieity/' he toM me, "is just another word for the belief in oneself that every true artist must have. In icting. a> in all other walks of life, vou must believe in yourself and make others believe in you before you can be successful." As an example, he cited Claudette Colbert. He believes she is a far better actress Wause she is eccentric enough to do exactly as she pleases. She lives her own kind of life, keeps her own counsel, and chooses her friend*? because she ]ik< -j them, not lxn-ause they may be the "people to know." Mark-tic Dietrich admits she is calculatinjjly eccentric. When she first came to Hollywood she realised that she had to be different to stand out from the great number* of beautiful women in the film city. Her ''madness" take* the form of mild but colourful defiance of

;, conventions, such as the famous "trousers [ mode" she began. Marlene claims she <an t cook, but she can and does. It might l>e considered an "eecentricitv" to refuse £2000 for half a week* work. Crooner Bing Crosby did that not long ago. The offer was for j>ersonal appearances, but Bing said lie preferred to go on a vacation to Hawaii. Mr. Crosby also intimates he would rather play goff than earn money—and he means it! The unique Mae West attains eccentricity by the contrast of her real life with her "reel" life. There's a touch of genius in the individual who can mix badness on the screen with goodness in private, and yet retain a hold on glamour. Mae neither drinks nor smokes, and is a steady churchgoer. Leslie Howard is so fond of comfort that if he is wearing evening dress on the set he will take off his coat, collar and tie and don his dressing gown between takes, even if he has to begin putting them on again the next moment. Olivia de Havilland dislikes parties, does not go out with anyone in particular, and refuses to talk about romance. Kay Francis, voted one of the- world's best-dressed women, likes to wear comfortable old clothes, or slacks and pullovers, better than anything else. She generally knits sweaters • for herself during off. moments on the set. After every picture Ronald Colman disappears completely from Hollywood public life. He may be staying quietly at home, he may be off on so'me. trip, iii any event, the film colony does not see

him. Bill Powell will use nothing but an old-faehioned razor and shaving mug. Eleanor Powell is for ever pulling up her stockings, although they may seem to be faultlessly arranged. Irene Dunne blends her own perfumes. Joan Bennett likes to dabble about at housework. Joan Crawford can be found, once a month, cleaning out all the drawers and cupboards in the house. Franchot Tone would rather study singing than act in picture*.' Chester Morris is' another cupboard cleaner. He specialises in the top kitchen cupboard, and on a day off from the studio will begin on it enthusiastically. The odd part about it, his wife *ay«s is that they never use that particular cupboard. Fred Astaire has not shaved himself, or powdered his own face, in 15 years. His coloured valet does this for him*. The servant has toured the world with Fred and the latter feels that he 'simply couldn't act unless Walter does his stuff." Another of Fred's little peculiarities is that he will not talk about hie private life. Fay Wray has a penchant for and matching flowers. When her femi" nine friends come to call, she will pick them a bouquet to match their costume. Pat 0 Brien is an auction addict. Every day he reads all the newspapers for notice* of auctions, and carefully marks each one with red pencil. If he ha 9 time, he drops in at these sales and comes triumphantly home with some odditv. Dick Arlen is for ever havin<* hi* racing car rebuilt. He is always tinkering with the engine himself, and now has everything changed in the car except the motor. Jimmy Cegney is fond of sailing Ins OOft yacht, the Martha, but as s ( >on as he gets it out of the calm waters of Los Angeles Harbour he invariably becomes seasick and has to go below'