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✅ THE CHINA MAIL, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1957.
DON IDDON reports on the NEW HOLLYWOOD
is
1957...the pen
mightier than the star
NIVEN
more offers than he can handle.
GRANT
.on top again at
$200,000 a film.
STANWYCK
romance is out.
Hollywood, Tuesday.
ANNOUNCING the new Hollywood. Sure of itself- well, almost-confident of the future (practically), and dedicated now to art, that is, as long as art makes money.
And the astonishing discovery, after 50 years of movie-making, is that art creative writing with emphasis on plot and action and talented, sometimes inspired, performances by unavowed names
is paying off at the box office.
This has been drummed into me by the producers and the writers ever since I arrived here.
The alors themselves have not been so enthu- siastic. Why should they be? The now deal in Hollywood makes them less important and the writers more important.
'I said to this kid Novak: "Look you're not Monroe." Then wo
went over hor voice, which was awful.'
A few years ago writers of were put in the corner the room and the back of mass the restaurant. Their sala- ries were a tenth of what the stars goto
production huge sound stages at several studios concentrating
on
I saw concerned about
was
what
To, the producers who
kept empty Louella Parsons or Hedda Hop- telling me the story's the thing the Los Angeles not the star, 1 gold: "What and is per sald in
papers. Today he and the about this girl Novak?" quality. others realise
-what is that
glant. British written in the newspapers, and their syndicates all over the world, might make
Or so it says. All that has changed.
One of the most intelli- One of Hollywood's most successful producers, Jerry gent men in Hollywood and
Elin Wald, says: "We have be- Broadway, come adult.
out puts it simply:
We are
Kazan, "To com- of the ready-to-wear, off- pete with television you've the-hanger stuff. We are got to make something the in tailor-mades now. public can't see on TV
home."
"You can't just tell
'Go write some- writer,
thing about a typhoon
80
ut
That is what Hollywood a doing, or at least thinks Ris
we can put Bill Holden in doing. And it seems to be pay- it. The 'writer has to feel ing off. what he is doing."
Dead era
IT is ironical that, just
when Hollywood look
ed like diving into a de- pression under the threat of television und a yawning the public, along writer, the director of in- dividuality, the creator Fave it.
comeg
to
Carroll Baker and joinna Wood ward reap the benefit of Hollywood's soft-pedal on big names.
Producer Wald explains it this way: "We gave her the build-up just as Meroe was given the build-up. They both had some- thing-magnetism, sex, Agure, chenn: 'but
WAN the build-up essential. I said to this kid Novak, whore name is Marilyn, 'Look, you're not Monroe.'
"We changed her name from Marilyn to.Kim. We went over her voice, which WOB awful; we tried and tried and we suc ceeded."
According to Wald and others who should know, there are three stages, in, building up a star. First, when she is break ing and she will do or say anything to get ahead; secondly, a few good roles; and, finally, the third, or peak, stage, where lose more money for Holly she is right on top and worry-
local Press.
- find Hollywood prosperous,
Everywhere I went calling, at the houses of my long-time friends, Deborn Kerr and Greer Carson, I found optimisan and wood than what appears in the ing and wondering how to keep almost a new spirit,
Film-land is booming. Unable
or
So Hollywood has discovered to murder television it has mar. the world as well as art. rid it, and many of the major studios are turning ou!
peela television series.
man here, As Daily Mait Jonah Ruddy, my guide, puts "The money. Is pouring in and, barring sets of God, will continue to do so."
Louis B. Mayer is dead. 2: So is his era,
It
Have you read the Nor- man Muller look on Holly- wood, The Deer Park? will sk you: but it is closer to the truth the usual gruel that has been fed to you.
Also acts of the devil, such 03 Sputnik!
Hollywood doesn't talks much except as the
about Sputnik, than
subject of more space films.
The new Hollywood has little room today for the Mayer formula or carbon It has copies.
rejected
A gracious welcome to your guests:
DRY FLY SHERRY
DRY FLY SHERRY
IOWLATER HACEN TODRAMAT
More & more people are drinking DRY FLY SHERRY
Cheaper
NE-THIRD of the Hollywood- backed firms now before the cameras are being made abroad. A big slice of Hollywood, Its stars and its producers, is per- petually on location.
It is cheaper to make films in Europe, where the studios have
tied
than Immense sums here in the U.S.
up,
i
there.
Novak is there now and she is one of Hollywood's most accom- plished warriers.
But the names? Well, look at them and consider the num- ber of come-backs:
08 A
Am I unfair to Winston?
WONDER what Winston will think of it?" The man who asked that question stood by the fire in a green velvet smoking-jacket. He had impaled a piece of tournedos steak on a small trident and was holding it to the glowing logs.
Often he bad asked that
question before. Then he had been wearing the khaki and red of the Director of Military Vice-Chief of the Imperial General Stuff,
Operations and
Now Major-General Sir John Kennedy was wonder- ing what his war- time master would think of his outspoken' memoirs, Just published as "THE BUSINESS OF WAR" (Hutchinson, 258.)
Frank Sinatra, os hot firecracker in half a dozen ple-Sir tures?
David Niven, back with bang in Around the World in Eighty Days, now has more offers then be can handle and David has kept his money; ho knows how to:
Cary Grant, back on top at $200,000 a picture:
Clark Gable, all the king --- in such ho his animal appeal will probably remain on the Lake throne another few years. Niven, Gablo has been very careful with his money.
A
High, Wise,
and Handsome
MONG the women stars, Joan
Crawford, Barbara Stanwyck, and Claudette Colbert have kept up high by wisely moving on from romantic roles to more mature character parts and they
the
And what about Monroe hier. have endured, sel!?
In the New Hollywood the Completely absorbed in her stars cannot get away with too husband, Arthur Miller, Marilyn, much temperament. For
her Hollywood star in Baby Doll, Ella Kazan big difficult name, according to friends, will probably wind up chose not
who had producer-writer-stor in but Carroll Baker,
and over been rejected, over partnership with Miller.
ogain.
In Three Faces of Eve Fox used Utle-known Joanne Wood-
As a
A lot of stars have done that money in order to make more and keep it.
Question
PUT THREE
QUESTIONS TO HIM
FRANKLY
by TOM POCOCK
datelined The Desert, Italy, and Normandy, the bold
WHAT will Churchill think writing and trenchant opinions
of Monty, of it Timé and bgain John repeated this question. Then tens of thousands of As we walked beneath massive words in the fast, neat hand of Cumberland oaks, looked for Sir John himself Thoughts salmon in the swollen river, on the Cabinet meeting that ant with
whiskies-and-soda ended 120 minutes ago, dashed before the great log fire... across pages of War Omco still hot foolscap. Opinions, "Well, anyway, Winston hus not read it yet," said Lady from the brain, committed to paper. at the United Servico Kennedy, and then, turning to Club after lunch,
What do
me: "But you have, you think of it? Truthfully, now,"
".
Controversy
I told her that her husband had written a fascinating, con- THESE papers, and the book troversial, and Important book, when they gave birth A book to inspire, irritate, and are riddled with controversy, I enthrall
took three points. "But do you think I have
I said: "You wrote that in been unfair to Winston?" asked 1942 you had had cause Sir John. I hope not, I just many previous occasions to be Lold the truth as I saw it. But uneasy about the Aghling Winston is such a colossal figurt qualities of our mon. They had that any adverse criticism of not fought as toughly as the him Is often regarded as Germans and the Russians, and sacrilegious"
now they were being outclassed
And there is plenty of criti- by the Japanese," cism of Sir Winston In the 356 pages of Sir John's book.
General Kennedy: "Thero were
examples of this both in the Western Desert and :- in The basis of it is that the Mainya. Frimitive men сад Prime Minister hiterfered too become tough fighters mara mich with the running of the quicidy than we cak It takes war by the professional us about three years to equip soldiers, sailors, and airmen, and toughen a new army,”
I said: This the professionals did, not
whe "You cay that. British, like. Sir John is a professional the
not too enthusiastic about to his backbone,
Invading France in 1044. Why Wila this?"
Two men
were
General Kennedy: "We went to the Teheran conference in 1943 hoping
to postpone the
ward at a cost of a few hundred NOW this compaready been invasion of France and, instead,
Realism is a word I've heard The Independents are harvest. dollars a week, where two years a lot around here-realism, not ing the dollars and the Hecht, ago they would have hired made by Hall of the money that is make-believe. So Glant, which H, Lancaster threesome is big Busan Hayward at $0,000. making Hollywood smile was about Texas, was made in business..
theatres, Texas; Baby Dalt, about Missis- comes from overseas with British and Commonwealth slppl, in Mississippl, and Water- cinemas heading the st
front about New York, in New York, Simple, isn't it?
three of the richest
It has General
the Kennedy's striking pp through wartime boss, Field-Marstal Balkans,
"We were Lord Alanbrooke, But
overruled by the Hollywood is ex- The new
Per- presenting their case, the two Americans and Russians,
haps this may have Ideas Dart Lancaster, Jiminy périmenting, trying new
saved men differ. Few people
London from devastation by V- Stewart, and Gregory Peck are and new namos,
Lord Alanbrooke gave his weapons the following year. As youngish play at being all-powerful any actors in Hollywood. And they more in the film town as the private wartime diary, a raw, it was, the Normandy invasion
Had the What about, the names? The are all artists.
intelligent take a bigger part overwrought document, to that was a near thing.
penman and the old eraven fear of the skilled
Sir Arthur Germans not held their main real, razzic-dazzle name of the
force near of people like women's societies, the Legion of Bryant,
Calais for tho momont, ond maybe it is only The power
second landing they expected, going to be of the moment, la Schary, Zanuck, DeMille, or Decency, etc., is dying.
The result was the slick and the battle would have been Kim Novak. Kim is very big box Goldwyn has dwindled.
many all office and knows it; but she is artist is, in Two or three years ago that Jack Warner seemed to be not exactly an actress,
working for himsoli.
I have never known mysel so sought after. Hollywood at. last appreciates the import ance of the audience thousands of miles away.
GREAT AGE OF SCIENTIFIC EXPANSION
USSI
US
UK
Í THE BARNEKJ
OF WALE
FRON
HANCELLOR:
Hollywood is growing up and not very scholarly book "The touch and go."
The
instances,
I like it.
RESTRICTI POLICY
INVESTMENT
“WELL, CHURCHILL SAID HE HAD TO FIGHT THE LAST WAR WITH ANCIENT WEAPONS ?”
Lendon· Express' Bernies
Turn of the Tide" In the highest military circles it is widely belloved that tho reputation most harmed by this.. book belonge to Lond Alanbrovice.
THEN
Criticism
Was wide
and
In
I said: "And what about the Prime Minister? Now General Kennedy lashed You write that, in 1942, 'It himself to the mast and sailed became more and more difficult his colours to it. He wrote his for Churchill to maintain His own book. He wrote it, while position as Prime Minister, Governor-General of Southern
Critic Rhodesia after the war, And bitter. Our victories later then he called in as editor and the year came only just in time adviser another soldier, to save him. Who could havo Brigadier Bernard Ferguson, replaced him?” who is as handy with a pen as General Kennedy: ""At the with n sword. Sir John time, politicians were seriously ondered, "I do not want. a thinking of either Cripps or personal write-up."
Eden. But had they the same drive, courage, and leadership? - The raw material for The "Winston was unique, Some- Business of War" was not body likened him. a powerful Just late-night diary, General locomotive that had to be kapt Kennedy led me. through the on the rails. I believe he had red stone Elizabethan manor three main assets. house hv rents from tho
"One was his unquenchable, National Trust to a big, baro stimulating courage.ne
room "Good for children's parties at Christmas"
Thero piles on tables were bundles and bundles of papers
tied together with white tape.
**
"Another was his firsi-band knowledge of politicians and civil servants and his power to drive themL.
The third was his masterly handling of the Americans. No- body else could have done that," It is the shut of history. At Speaking of. Sir Vinston, random, he picked a handful Goderni Kestedy umudi - of paper. A pencil scribble worda "massive," "titanio," that was Bir John Duys. "colossal.".
personal statement when he Then henki: "After all this supersocked, as ̊C.LGS. by I wonder if the fellows in my Alanbrooke, with a footnote club will evar aponic suggested by Kennedy-that hapagain.""na
tell no bitterness.
Peng Y think they will
A "roughly sketched pian for belleveren Anbw what
an assault on - Casalin the Winston Will think of it. He artist-Montgomery,
Jotters, i lettors-from
Jumbo,⠀⠀ Alez, Auk
· lirgo, abests – of rough
thas he