THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1959.
THE STAR MAKER : continuing the fabulous Darryl Zanuck story
DAR
A lion-but Marilyn just ignored it
• The gonius of Darryl Francis Zanuck has touched the lives of everyone who gous to the cinoma... and it has pro- jected somo of Hollywood's greatest stars from obscurity to fame. For instance, thoro was a girl called Marilyn Monroe...
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ARRYL ZANUCK was sitting in
green-and-gold executive office in the heart of Hollywood's 20th Century-Fox studios.
He was patting a lion. A fully-grown, heavily-maned lion.
Zanuck had adopted him as a pet after he had appeared in a jungle fin. He had named him Melty after Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer, the rival studios whose trade mark is Leo the growling
lion.
Zanuck, the incorricttle pracileal Joker. ked to produce Metty at private funcheon parties when the unsuspecting guests were setlig down to the meat course,
This afternoon he was waiting to interview a new candidate for stardom.
When Marilyn Monroe was shown in and approached across of morale the
vast expanse
shattering carpet, Zanuck gave Metty farewell put. Atetty padded out with his trainer.
Marilyn may have bre:
and
by
Zanuck with John Huston (left), who directed his latest film "The Roots of Heaven."
LOGAN GOURLAY
Zanuck gave her a part in she became dimeult, untract-
So far Miss Monroe had no reputation as an actress. She was just a symbol of hygienie six created by the publicity depariment.
She was Invariably into for appointments. She demanded more money, better scripts, less work. She was impossible.
"She was Zanuck says now: the most difficult star I've ever bandled. Without exception. She nearly drove us nuts."
But he says it without re-
warned pault the eccentric the new comedy he was able, unmanageable. Zanuck
zoological planning, All About Eve. A Or she may have been small part to try her out. humour
of transixed by Zanuck, King the Hollywood jungle. Anyway she gave no sign that she was aware of the departing Metty. Her wide blue eyes registered a little fear, they were flxvi firmly on Zanuck. He may have been disappointed, but he got right down to business.
I owe you an apology" be said,
Miss Monroe looked surprises, "I didn't think you had much to offer when you were work ing here before, so I dropped your contract," said Zanuck. "I made a big mistake,"
Miss Monroe looked pleased,
Most efficient
Under the supervision of his Heutenant Harry Brand, the de- partment was the most efficient orguisation of its kind in Holly
wood,
proach or rancour
The fact remains that Zanuck has survived unscathed after 33 in high-pressure hypo- years
He has chondriacal Hollywood, he has never been, to a psychl- never had stomach ulcers and atrist. But all the stars weren't
They excelled themselves ou Monroes. Mist Monroe. They assigned a writer called Nat Dychos to
pen there boudoir wisectocks. One of many
"I sleep with nothing on czcept "
The only words Chanel No. ) which fell from
"I've just seen you in Asphalt Jungle," said Zaniek. in you've got great possibilities. I want to offer you another con- tract."
Miss Monroc looked very pleased.
"If you accept tell your agent in get in touch and we'll work cut the détulla."
She was quoted
and
Undoubtedly Zanuck played
the
YOLSON.
The director asked: "What *words?"
Zanuck sald: "The obvious simple words like I'm going to sing to you now, mother.'"
These were the first words ever spoken in ♫ motion plofure.
After The Jazz Singer came The Singing Fool the original at-utkie-also starring Jolson.
So reluctant
The Singing Fool made Joison, of the curiously barsh but com- pelling voice, an International
Bui
bccording to rulebrity. Zanuck, he was a simple man, palve, und Interested in few
his work.. things outside
Zanuck once said to him: except gambling.
Care about 1wo You only things. Your work and the rate track."
Jolson
beamed and repiled: "You've got them in the wrong order.
It was in the early days of
her lovely lips. end displayed in provocative at immense part in the creation the talkies that Zanuck began Monroe legend. But his long and fruitful working poses in every magazine
with GEORGE partnership Monroe is only one among many, newspaper in the world,
ARLISS. But as yet she was unproved who is in debt to his genius.
Zanuck called him then, and For instance, there was the on the screen, Did she po59129
The most exciting, AL stili docs, alte indefinable star quality? unable, happy-go-lucky
star I've ever worked with. When Zanuck was Did she have any talents that helping to launch the talle
"But he was also chronically couldn't be precisely measured
era in Hollywood, he walked mean. He loved a dollar more it vital statistics?
than any man I've ever known." on to the set when the cele-
During their tong association "Mammy" Prefer crated
and Arliss Cined Zanuck together only once.
When the meal was over and Zanuck had paid the ill, a
"I think Faid to Arliss:
you first should buy me a drink in
right club now,"
After "Gentlemen Blondes" everyone knew that the answera were resound ingly "Yes,"
Miss Monoroc said: "I certainly will."
They were about the only words she ultered in that fateful Interview which WAS beginning of her extraordinary wiggling rise to stardom.
the
In Seven Year Itch and Bus Stop
And so did Miss Motree, As other successes
was scene
being shot in The Jazz Singer, the first part-talkie film.
Jolson was sitting at a piano, ready to sing.
Zanuck Interrupted and Bug-
should followed geated that he
speak a few words,
Q
Arliss agreed reluctantly. They were: greeted at the night club by the owner who showed them te the table reserved for VIP's, Ho then sent A Image to Zanuck asking him to accept & bottle of clïampogne, with his compliments.
When the waiter started to pour the champagne, Arllas stopped him saying: "I didn't order that stuff. I never drink
11. Take it away."
Zanuck whispered to him that Arliss It was on the house. beamed and said: "In that case. I'll make on exception and try attle."
They got through a couple of bottles.
▾
Zanuck, who spent his vacationa hunting grizzly bears, and the ingenious sweet Temple, who cuddled teddy bears. But it was highly accesatul. Profcasionally and personally.
On screen Shiricy thrived in carefully chosen subjects which aweet- were lapped up by n toothed public. Off screen she hero-worshipped Uncle Darryl.
He for his part could be heard calling her the Itle genius."
High praise indeed from Uncle Darryl.
Gangstars Shirley Temple.... lavish musicals.
and harsh realism like The Grapes of
The exceptions Wrath and i was a
a
Fugitive froul Chain Gang Over the years Zanuck has Zanuck luminated been forced to the conclusion
them all with his that meanness
talents, la an "occupa tional disease among actors and netresses.
But there are notable excep- tons. Among them arc DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, Sen..
princely
JOHN spender, BARRYMORE, ERROL FLYNN, and GEORGE RAFT.
As taft admitted recently In an autobiography, he had to fight, steal, and cheat at the beginning to make money, but when he became a film star he was almost naively generous.
Zannich found that not all tough-guy lim actors are аз rugged as they would have their fans belleve,
"When we were making Public Enemy No. 1 we had a collection of the most menacing characters
you've ever seen on the set,
"One afternoon a watchinan rushed in and shouted that a bunch of gangsters had broken into the studios, to shoot up all the actors who werc mis- representing them on the scrven. "In two seconds at the set was cleared.
"Of course, it was all a prac- tical joke, I never did find out who arranged it."
I suspect it was Zanuck,
another Zanuck- It was kindly and avuncular-who emerged in his partnership with plamp With SHIRLEY TEMPLE, whom he rates "the most like- able, least dimcult star I've ever met."
She worked with him after he left Warner Brothers, hed where he had reigned as the youngest executive producer in Hollywood. He hail formed a new company then called 20th Century, now 20th Century-Fox. It was an unlikely partner- ship.
The hardened, bristling
INSIDE SHOW BUSINESS by John Lambert & Peter Evans
TWENTY years ago it was Irene Dunne. Then came Greer Gar- Bon, Ingrid Bergman, and Grace Kelly.
Now it is Vera ́Miles, a 28-year-old blonde who generates the special brand of sex appeal known in Hollywood as "quiet sex."
It's just as lethal 写 any other kind of sex but so much. more resned-like having a sfieneer on the end of a gun.
She, is to co-star with. Van
Johnson and Emin Williams in the alm of A. Cronin's
"Beyond This "Place."
This is the girl, starmakor `Alfred Hitchcock has put under personal contract for seven years. The girl he plans to star in at loist
two fimms, a year. Tho girl ho
can
doan out to other ludios
at £00,000 #
picture.
She is alsp.
the girl who
iv. quickly
becoming
Ito Llywooda - Deni
Number One lexiling lasly.
The quiet sex
success flies in
while, But no. She falls in love and calls, it quits
But Miss Miles recalls her childhood with vivid clarity. "I remember that there wasn't
"50 I looked around for a smaugh food in the house to replacement. I first saw Vera feed us. We never had enough Miles on TV. Thờ thing that money." impressed me about her wor her quality of restraint plium her "potential sex appeal,
Vna
12 mystery
Miss Miles's narration of the sad saga hints at her acting potential. Her eyes grow mlity, her voleo softens, her tremble.
The only alight flaw le that
"Just like Kelly when she her story is a bit exaggerated. was beginning. You know, she says her mother: "Vern never
shy, lacked confidence. Once succÉES- touched her she had to work very, Hard, gained authority, she began to child never went hungry, l'a radiate. I thought there. VERK
B fairly happy..
may she had
chance of that happening to youth." Vera,"
the
But whatever her beck- Then Hitchcock Began a pub und Hitchcock is sure of her
lelty campaign, to cover her
the beginnings, Said he, anch
Tuture.
vot" usplat mem must be an element-of-myilENYEL, WOTSHOE
But he was not always pleased with the ultimate result. He had grave doubts about I Was a Fugitive from a Chain Gang. When he Arst saw it shown at a studio lom- review, he basted the acting of PAUL MUNI
The exact words he used were. "This is the worst per- formance that any human has ever given on the screen."
That year Muni was awarded the Oscar, Zanuck could be wrong too.
·Page 13′
WOULD YOU KNOW WHO SHE IS? -
The unfamiliar face to Marilyn Monroe as the was in 1950 when Zanuck took one of his greatest and most successful gambies.' Hi publicity men created the legend... Zanuck gave her the chance to act.
As yet it hasn't been possible
Dramatic exit for Mr Burton.
+
Just over 18 months ago, made D dramatic
The simple fact is that he was bored as a studio production chief.
*I wanted to escape to make
more creative,
After the war the challenge Zanuck of television to the cinema exit from the 20th Century-Fox hy own films. I wanted to be
He retained his major brought out the immense bold- studios. nes in Zanuck's character. He shareholding in the company switched all
production (130,000 shares), bựt he resigned resources of 20th Century-Fox to as production chief. CinemaScope.
the
And he gambled on a young British actor, RICHARD DURTON.
But
0
The gossips sald he was worn out, Anished,
They said he wanted more time to be with Bella Darvi,
4
To Burton, who had the who was then his protegće, leading rale Jn The Robe,
But he has launched out as a Zanuck said: "You're Ane lending independent producer: actor.
aa He has made three large-scale you're not important movie star with Alma: Island in the Sun, The Sun Also Rises, and the recently international appeal."
completed Roots of Heaven, star. "It's possible to be both," sald ring his new protegee Juliette
Greco. Burton,
Could it be Roundworms?
Microscopic roundworm eggs are everywhere. In vegetables, fruit, water. Even in the best ordered families there, is always the danger of infection. And children are most liable to attack. They don't realise the dangers in uncooked foods and contaminated water.
Happily, there's a simple, proved remedy
‘ANTEPAR
PANTEPAR
TRADE MARK
"I love making flims."
He says this with a lover's passionate conviction..
Whatever the charma of a Mias Darvi or a Mics Greco, they cannot compete with Zanuck'a first and only' lasting permanent love-the Muse of the Movies, The pedants say that there is no such Murethat she's just a mechanical gobot. But-Zanuck knows better. He has spent his life creating her-partly in his own image, And the with her,
man, is Infatuated
THE END.
One dose of 'AcerAR” gan vid of vinendworms in a day. Pleasant-talog AartsPAR" should be taken at bedtime. Then youndwis, are expelled the next day —exsily snad naturally 1 "Ajmirant is always quick, mare, sale. It causko na pain or sickness. Not even with inall children,
Ninks "ANTEPAR" a zesztins family habit, Give everyone the dose every three months. And be sure your tuptly are. s/ways tres from roundworgia !
ANT
ley Garbo.'' Hardly, airesAM: KONYA UNTLES