THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 1957.
Mink, millionaires and Miss Bassey
Shirley
Fatry loa early to think of marriage...”
SHIRLEY HA Fron
HIRLEY BASSEY took hanger and slid it over her
at
by PETER BUCHAN
Just before she shot to
cabaret strom last September the wor asked at a morning cocktail party what she would ilke to drink.
two and not married thoy mess. know what it is all about, They have Krown wary They usually have a family to keep an eye on them as well."
It's confusing
af
Miss Basse sfid ont
re- the mink, stroked it verently, and hung it luck on her dressing-room wall.
knee-length dressing-gown. "Ril it's tom early to
"Sco," she said. "Mink. lovely mink."
The girl who used to cart £8 u weck wrapping parcels in a Cardiff factory and now
Think of marriage, twenty-come."
Miss Bassey said: Port,
Her escort expressed mild Miss Bastey confessed, surprise. It was the only drink she knew,
Now, nine muntha Inter, she is um established star in Copen- hagen, Paris, Hollywood, New York, and Las Vegas.
She has been in Britain for Now the hus enly four weeks. started touring the world again Atrat in Stockhoun, on round Europe then back to Las Vegas, New York, Chicago, Miami,
1 said I thought she had jet said she was twenty. But
"1 am.
I am also
gets £30,000 a year (19 # Twenty-one. I'm twenty in singer spun round to show Britain becuase that is how off the stole and inched old I am. I'm luxuriously into its deep collar.
a
"I don't think it's bad for a girl to buy herself mink when she is Ewenty, do you?
twenty-one
in America because that is how old I have to be to get work there."
Isn't that confusing? "Yes. But it means I'll be twenty-one for two years I won't feel instead of one. "And no help from mild so quickly. lionaires or anyone like that, All my own work."
I asked how millionaires came into it.
Miss Bassey crept lower into the mink. "There was a lot of talk about me and a millionaire in Americu.“
And wasn't there Any millionaire?
2
"Oh, yes. There was millionire all right. In Hollywood. But millionaires aren't easy to catch these days. Not when they are thirty-two, anyway. And this one is thirty-two.
"I've fixed twenty-five as the CRC to ge married. I think that is the best age. If I'm not mariled by the time I am thirty I give up hope.
"Hey. I'm talking like an old spinster already. Anybody would think I'm worried about getting married,
Dramatic rise
no1
L
Has the prospect of all this made her feel
different nny the girl who wrapped from parcels?
A gimmick
"Of course I'm different, 1 wouldn't be singing in those places I hadn't "chönged.
But I think Inside I'm the same.
"It's just that my heritago" her father is a West Indian, her mother from Yorkshire
coming out. All ihose fom-toms and things."
Shirley Bassey is undoubtedly al her best ringing blues numbers and, more recently, calypsba.
Her first calypso recording of the Banana Boat Song-- put her into the top 10 in the record best-selling Ilsts a few weeks ago first girl to get there. for four months,
Her latest record-if I Had u Needle trul Thread (Philips P.B. 073. 78 г.p.m.) is not
"And that waiting-until-I'm- twenty-ave stuff doesn't really likely to repeat that success. She un. I'd uut married tomorrow has tried a Kimmick swoop If I got a good offer,
at upwards
the end of carl "But I'm wary ton. I want phrase which doesn't come off. someone who will marry me lot Not for my money or my
I have no doubt though that when the next British girl gets icfected melight.'
to the top of the disc hit parude her nume will Shirley Bassey.
"You have to realise that
Mike Barey has found. thể when a milionaire is thirty-, timelight with dramathe sudden-
be
The LOGAN GOURLAY personality
JANET LEIGH-Happy and Successful
page
Mr. CURTIS GETS HIS COMPLEXES ADJUSTED
Show Business
MONY CURTIS tootled a himself Anthony Adverse atter
Twas on
it down with loving care, and said: "I bought it about five months ago and I'm teaching myself with a Tane a Day For The Flute Manual. I find it very soothing."
1 asked Mr Curtis, who has Lean one of the many Hollywood psychiatric patients, if flute- playing had been recommended
as part of the treatment.
"No. It's
Just that
always wanted to play
Ho pointed out that paychiatry had Dino helped in his marriage.
present, nodded an earnot affir-
kis wife Janet Leigh, who was
mution.
For 32-year-old Mr Curils it Is his first marriage, and he has sut it will be the only one (which a Hollywood wit has
Ba desperate at described
tempt to be original").
sound of flautist Curtis playing
#tone a day.
His favourite:
Bark's Worka,
EX-HUSBAND
-no ill-will MICHA
ICHAEL WILDING, back in London from Hollywood, had a few words to any about that other Mike, now married 10 Cazabeth Taylor (who used to or Mrs Wilding).
"I don't hate him ar any thing like that. On the contrary He's immensely. like han certainly an unusual character." And Mr Wilding is certainly, an unusual 'ex-husband,
THE BOSSES
and actors
AURENCE OLIVIER has done it. So has John Clements, Donald Wolft is al- ways doing it..
And now Jack Hawkins is For 29-year-old Miss Leigh it is her third marriage, but de- planning to venture into actor- initely the last.
He has found a Her Asst up anugement, pened when she was only 14 new piny, comedy-drama, which (I didn't know what it was all he will present next season. It's about") and her second when us yet untitled and unicast-
except for Mr Hawkins, "I started going to the she was 18.
He told me: "I was so Im- psychiatris, because I was
of short Fressed when I read it I decided pretty mixed up, I've duration. But her marriage to in risk some money putting it
musical instrument,
Tricy were
الامنا
bcon
*Jagt made a Blm called Curtis has lasted six years, and on." ine Sweel Smell of now (with the aid of psychiatry) ilowkins is just back from Succces. But i want they rejoice in the 1e of Cuylon, where he has
The Bridge Over the very sweet for me at the Hollywood's Happiest Couple. lming
And they are among the most River Kwai with Alce Guinness beginning.
successful, of course..
and Willam Holden,
Before the play he has an- Mr Curtis, who gave his name other film assignment. He wil
"It carne too quickly. And it was tough for me to get properly adjusted. It wasn't that I had any big complexes or anything, "But I certainly needed help anal advice, I was prolly Eresponsible I didn't face up to fact," “Do you now?"
tu that hair-siyle and who was play (not for the first time) a once called the Baron of Beef- seotland Yard man in "Gideon's cake, is now flexing the muscles Day," directed by Hollywood's of an acting talent. He earns John Ford. About 250,000 dollars a fim Miss Leigh is not far behind.
They are in London for a new dim. The Vikings, in which they
"I'm O.K. I took the full will appear together and end up three-year treatment. It helped in each other's arms-which is me tremendously. It was also right and proper, a kind of college course for me.
"Started me reading the right books, and so on.
You see, I arver had much education."
Hewiclas who staunchly re- cum one of our top ilm stars, will, I reckon, carn about
£80,000 from both Alma,
Which is enough to back two or three West End plays. A TIARA
With their daughter, Kelly, but no title aged 11 months, the Curtines are
THERE were several titled installed In one of the Dorches
Juries of the Cafe de Paris ter's new penthouse multes.
Fant work when Trlulah Bank- A saite that, of course, is head opened in cabarot, heavy with the sweet emeli of
there woo only success, And domestic felelty. are on display. It was on the
T is also Alled with the ready Léza of-Sabrina.
But Benny
Me Curtis started life in the
York Bronx as New Schwartz and wanted at the be gining of his Bim career to call
eno
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LIMELIGHT
*
Miss Mercouri
defines a kiss
And, as usual, the Greeks
have a word for it
REPORT with considerable amazement that the Rank Organisation whose girls are usually compete in t tot tot Bank, ported from Greece an actress as all-electric as the latest kitchen and paid for her. a sum of money reputed to be in the region of £15,000.
Her name is Melina Mercouri, She is a idnd of Sophin Loren
with the build of a Katharina Hepburn. Her first flm, Stella,
has brought her offers from all
by THOMAS WISEMAN
over the world, including Holly- when they are making love they that in a situation Uke that
wood.
COWARD ROLE
WILDING
ever the script says or doesn't MICHAEL
MELINA MERCOURI There is no such thing as a good- aight pock.
Before he opens in the play on June 24, he plans to visit his
has children who are now with
Sald Wilding about his ex- wife, "She is on extremely nice girl and very amusing. I still ilke her very much."
are fascinated by themselves obviously we are lovers, what- Sho has come to England to and not by their lover, make a costume melodrama
say. Anyway, that is how I play come back from Hollywood their mother, Elizabeth Taylor, called The Gypsy and the "It is Uko eating-if you at it, otherwise it is not plausible, where he lost his wife, his hair in the South of France. Gentleman. Miss Maureen pleking at your food without That, you see, is the difference and some of his standing as on
the actor. Swanson was one of the English appetite you spoll everybody between the Engilah and
But not any of his Greek. With us a king is an imperturbability, girls originally considered for ele's appottle, too,"
The following day I had lunch explosion; there no such the part, but it she had been
with Miss Marcourt given it they would, prenum-
and her thing as a goodnight klas-you Said Wliding: "It is true that ably, have had to re-title the
It was she who had proposed fur The Lady and
"All right," aald Mr Cowen, me, but then I didn't do much Tho at her food: she ate voraciously, he is your Gentleman.
lover--If you for Hollywood. I'm not hitter to him, he said; which indicates instructing the waiter to bring insist,"
about anything, though. I'vo what a casual fellow Mr.
made a lot of money Wilding is, Having solled that to every always "I need many carbohydrates" body's satisfecllon, I inquired and never had any: I'm in the at his home by millionaire she explained, "I burn up so about Miss Morcourt's real-life same position now, Greek shipowner," John Caras, much enorgy."
Cowan. She did not sit picking English prodacor, Maurice either mean it or you don't" Hollywood didn't do much for
I ret Miss Mercouri this her lots of fattening things. week at a parly given for her,
Her acting, I told bar, cones $O OBVIOUS eloso to Incendiarism.. Sho
emotional attachments. On this subject she was more reticent.
Producer Cowan helped her
"I don't think of my career as falling or rising and 'career is a rulher pompous term, I
He added sa an afterthoughtt "I tumed her down, too; I said she was too young for.me."
Maybe he was right.
explained to me how she does Producer. Cowan started to |It," (Mr Ranke's Young Ladies, tell me the story of his film.
please listen.)
Ho and there were two men in Grock business man" he said, I just speak the lines someone "Sex," sald
out. "She is married to a think, to apply to my storie NOT ECSTATIC
Miss Mercouri, her life. One was the man cho "but she goes abroad to pursue has written for mo. When they ALEC GUINNESS is to malce is not a matter of tight dress drives to distruction and her career. She has been acting are good lines, everyone says A and docollete. You must credit marries; the other was....well. In the theatro in Paris and has what a 'clover chap that Mica The Loved One in which
having some her friend,
men with imagination.
"What do you mean friend,* * "It is not a matter of strip- uppal Miss Mixcouri, "bo is fense: that is for children and my lover, " American tourists,
mude a film for Jules Day."
Would she marry again? Miss Morcouri said: "I havo be careful beomiso my Well, it doesn't stipulate religion only allows me to be Which "It is not so much a matter that in the script" said Tho married three law,
10
rlago loft...
of being interesting to men as producer umenally, it just say means I have only two mar being interested by men. There you are friendly &
jere many motramen who...ast as Friendly · Shortat
If they are their only audieboo; Mércourt, "with
Wilding is, how very amusing; when they are bod lines, they say "what a dull dog.'
"I admit I've had some bad lines lately. But I don't have any regrets about anything."
ho
a ilm of Evelyn. Waugh's lays a incrtuary attendant at Hollywood's Forrest Lawn cemetery (which used to adver- tie: "Sleep with the Stars at Forrest Lawn"). ...
exactly
I can't say I'm Wilding in hire, to take over ecstatic at the prospect of Sir John Gielgud's role in Noel watching Ales Gulanoes “ema Coward's 'Nude. With Violin, balming the dead,