My Predictions For 1952
There I was minding my own business for a change (I said it first) when the phone rang.
“Hello, Hedda,” said the editor of MODERN SCREEN, “polish up your crystal ball. It’s time for your annual predictions. How’s about telling our readers who’ll be up and who’ll be down, who’ll be loved and who’ll be left at the altar in Hollywood in 1952?”
“Who—me?” I said. “Or don’t you remember? I’m the gal who predicted that in 1951, and I quote, ‘Elizabeth Taylor and Nick Hilton will make a happy go of their marriage.’ And, ‘Janet Leigh won’t love Tony Curtis half as much as her brilliant new picture breaks. So she’ll keep saying No.’ And, Clark Gable and his lady fair will grow cozier and cozier out on the farm. And—lots more . . .”
“Hedda, Hedda,” interrupted the editor, “you also predicted, and I quote, ‘Shirley Temple will change her name to Mrs. Charles Black and give up her Hollywood career.’ And, ‘The Dan Daileys will sign their bill of divorcement and Dan will play the field.’ And, ‘Farley Granger will live alone and like it, and so will his old sweetie, Shelley Winters.’ I’d say your predictions were 88 per cent right, Hedda. So—get out your crystal ball, and even if it is slightly cracked, get busy with those 1952 predictions.”
Well, here I go again. Another year. 1952—with its comedies and tragedies, it’s romances, rifts and, unfortunately, its unsavory headlines.
Ava Gardner will be Miss Glamor of 1952. In Pandora and the Flying Dutchman, she has more sex appeal than anyone since Garbo.
Will we have a divorce as startling, as unnecessary, as upsetting as that of Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor? Or a marriage as deliciously happy as that of Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis? Will we have another comedy team as funny as those money-making zanies, Martin and Lewis? Will we have two such inexplicable, heartbreaking tragedies as the deaths of Robert Walker and Maria Montez?
I remember interviewing Maria the last time she was in Hollywood. She was full of astrology, and assured me that her interest in it was not a pose. She had infinite faith in her celestial calculations.
“Hedda,” she said with a gay laugh when I teased her, “I have made a careful study of the matter, and I have come up with a firm prediction: For myself a great future.”
Cameron Mitchell, Broadway hit in Death of a Salesman, made 20th sit up and take notice.
There are 12 months to go, 12 months of love, life, and the pursuit of careers in the most publicized city in the world. So much can happen. Who will be our new stars? Will handsome Dale Robertson be given more and more of the Ty Power parts at 20th Century-Fox? Will talented Mitzi Gaynor take over where Betty Grable leaves off? Will 1952 be the year that the one and only Garbo chooses to return to the screen and stop wearing her hair like a floor mop? Will the public forgive Rex Harrison who is making his first Hollywood film since Carole Landis’ suicide? Will they forgive John Agar as they did Bob Mitchum? Will they forgive young Dick Contino as they did Tony Martin during World War II?
There are so many excellent, unforgettable pictures in 1951. Who’ll be the lucky stars to capture that ever desirable Oscar come March, 1952?
Well, my crystal ball is shining like a marquee on opening night. And here’s how it looks to me:
Dean Miller panned Hollywood to a stranger, on a train. Stranger was Dore Schary, who signed him.
Good old wedding bells seem to be waiting to ring for Judy Garland in the spring of 1952, but I predict she’ll fall out of love six months later. Sid Luft’s divorce from Lynn Bari is final in January, and Judy’s divorce from Vincente Minnelli is final in March. When I saw Judy recently in Hollywood, before she took off for her stint at the Palace in New York, she was full of the old bounce, or more poetically, the joy of living. The neuroses that had clung to her like poor relatives the past three years had disappeared entirely. Metro, the studio that fired her in 1950 after 15 years on the lot, suddenly decided to pitch in and do everything possible to make Judy’s appearance at the Palace a success. They gave her clothes, songs, props, arrangements, and even a couple of directors, Bob Alton and Chuck Walters. In fact, they gave her everything except a contract.
Leslie Caron’s first picture, An American in Paris, is mopping up at the B.O.
When an actress is happy in her career, it usually follows that she is happy in her love life. So, Sid Luft, who has been her boy friend and personal manager for some months now, couldn’t find a more propitious time to lead her to the altar. I must say that I would have preferred that Judy reconcile with her director husband, Vincente Minnelli, a really sweet guy who was wonderful to Judy when she got herself into such a neurotic mess, and who is just as devoted as she is to their cute little daughter, Liza. And, judging from the letters I have received, her fans would like her to reconcile with her husband. If the marriage to Sid Luft is to last, Sid had better do something about his mania for hitting people, especially people who wear glasses. So should Judy. It just ain’t done!
Lanza will be one of the hottest actors of ’52. Wait till you hear him sing “Because You’re Mine.”
I have never seen this town so sumprised, and visibly shaken as when a tearful Barbara Stanwyck announced that she and Bob were getting a divorce—after 12 years of being acclaimed one of Hollywood’s most ideal couples. Frankly, I think it even came as a blow to Barbara. When she appeared before the Superior Court of Los Angeles in February, Barbara said, “He asked me for a divorce. He said he had enjoyed his freedom while in Italy and wanted to continue to do as he pleased. I was greatly shocked and became so ill that I had to place myself under the care of a physician.”
Singin’ in the Rain is the picture that’ll put Debbie Reynolds’ name high on theater marquees.
“That will be sufficient,” said Judge Clark, and the divorce was granted. If Barbara hadn’t been such a straight-shooter I think that the divorce could have been avoided. She could have said, “All right, Bob. So you had fun in Italy. So you had a girl friend. But divorce is a serious thing. Let’s wait six months and see how we feel.”
Mitzi Gaynor will hit the jackpot when The I Don’t Care Girl (Eva Tanguay story) is released.
Six months after the divorce, Bob was ready to call off the whole thing. Freedom, he discovered, wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. He had a few Hollywood dates, but they seemed to bore him considerably, He found out that it wasn’t so much fun going off on a hunting trip, or flying his precious plane into the wild blue yonder, if there weren’t Barbara and a home to come back to. While on location with the Ivanhoe company in England Bob didn’t have a single date. “Hedda,” he said over the phone to me when he landed in New York, “for three weeks I had dinner every night in my room—alone. Thank you for denying that I was dating Joan Fontaine.” Will Barbara get that old pride bristling and refuse to take him back? I don’t think so. She loves the guy too much. When I asked her recently if there would be a reconciliation she said, “Honestly, I don’t know, Hedda. But I can tell you I’ve had some beautiful letters from Bob while he was away.” I hope my crystal ball isn’t letting me in for some wishful thinking.
After Debra Paget made Bird of Paradise, her studio was swamped with fan mail.
By the time this is published I predict that Frankie will have made Ava the second Mrs. Sinatra. How long this marriage will last I can’t say, but I do predict that their marriage will be as quiet as their courtship, which was as quiet as a boiler factory. Sometimes, stars who have a turbulent courtship settle down and are ideally married for the rest of their lives. But that is not the usual case. Ava is a calm, relaxed, comfortable sort of girl who likes people and wants people to like her. Frankie is a little spitfire, with a chip on his shoulder as big as the Empire State Building. He doesn’t like people, especially people who peck typewriters, and his feuds and fights with the press have become very embarrassing to Ava. Several years ago, when they were a steady twosome, I wanted Ava to marry Howard Duff, But Ava says of Howard, “He was a friend.” Well, anyway, Ida Lupino’s got him now—lucky Ida, and lucky Howard.
Rock Hudson was neglected until Universal execs saw what he could do in Bend of the River.
The last time I talked to Ava when she stopped by my office, she assured me again that she had nothing to do with the Sinatra breakup. That’s true. But it was Ava who brought the climax when she told Frankie she would not see him again as long as he was another woman’s husband. With Ava it’s marriage or nothing.
“Hedda,” she told me that day, “I want to settle down and have babies. Honest.”
“Ava, my girl,” I said, “I like you. But I will believe that when I see it.”
Sexy Marilyn Monroe is still a long way from being a Duse, but that won’t keep her from stardom.
Mitzi Gaynor is fast Hollywood’s big time stars. smile when they say “Gaynor” over on the 20th Century-Fox lot, just as they did 25 years ago when Janet Gaynor was bringing in millions at the box office. Mitzi is a lovely girl, level-headed, and talented. I am delighted that I can predict a beautiful and happy marriage for her next September. Why September? Because on September 4, Mitzi will be 21, and after that she is free to marry. Several years ago Mitzi fell in love with a young Los Angeles attorney, named Richard Coyle, a fraternity brother of Edward Everett Horton’s, who introduced them backstage one night. Mitzi was all for dragging her ideal man to the altar at once, but her mother, a very wise woman, asked her to wait until she was 21; and Mitzi, a very wise daughter, promised. At the moment I believe that the Jane Powell-Geary Steffan marriage is the most perfect of the “younger set” in Hollywood, but come September, Jane and Geary will have to share their enviable spot with Mitzi and Richard.
After The Merry Widow is released, fans will be sighing over Argentina’s handsome Fernando Lamas.
Did you think, by any chance, that Clark Gable was surly and lonely while he was in Nevada establishing his six weeks residence? While he was there Clark was most attentive to a divorcee who was taking what is called in Reno “the Cure.” But Clark won’t be marrying his attractive woman in 1952, or anyone. That boy’s had it. From now on Clark will be very wary of the marriage vows. In October, 1951, Clark filed suit against Sylvia Gable, charging mental cruelty. But Sylvia will have the last word, and with Jerry Geisler as her lawyer, it will be an expensive word. Sylvia doesn’t play for pennies. Clark is determined to fight any alimony. He has bought property in Nevada and become a resident of the state—so the divorce battle of the century will not be fought in Hollywood.
The public discovered easygoing Dale Robertson at the Preview of a minor film.
Just as I would have liked to have seen Ava marry Howard Duff, so I wished that Clark had married Virginia Grey, one of the sweetest, nicest, girls in this town—instead of the flashy Lady Sylvia. Virginia has loved Clark for years, and deep down in his heart I think Clark loves her. He always runs to her with his troubles. But after Sylvia takes him through the divorce wringer I think he’ll be “agin” marriage for a long, long time. Why don’t you make a liar out of me, Clark, and marry Virginia?
Anne Francis came to Hollywood via TV and got the title role in her first movie, Lydia Bailey.
I’m sure that Janet Leigh will be knitting booties and Tony Curtis will be popping buttons off his famous checked vests before 1952 is well into its stride. Tony says there’s no hurry, but two people so much in love just have to have a baby. Another couple I predict a blessed event for in ’52 is Jeanne Crain and Paul Brinkman. I saw Jeanne and Paul at a party the other night, and Jeanne was telling me about her three children, the youngest is 14 months.
“I want six children, Hedda,” said Jeanne very seriously.
“I’ll settle for four,” said Paul.
Teresa won Pier Angeli acclaim. Handled well, she’ll climb to the top. Appears next with Stewart Granger.
I have already announced in my column that the Bob Mitchums, who already have two boys, are expecting a third child in the spring. A new baby is also expected at the Ricardo Montalbans, the Audie Murphys, and the Gene Nelsons. Gene wants a little girl (he has a little boy) so he can call her Jennifer and dress her in buttons and bows. And I predict that Jane Russell and Bob Waterfield will adopt another child in 1952 as a playmate for their recently adopted little Tracy.
I’m sorry to say there have been a lot of rumors floating around our town the last two months, about Bette Davis and Gary Merrill. When I asked my crystal ball if there was a divorce in the offing it clouded up completely.
John Harrison rated raves for Saturday’s Hero, rated role in newest Judy Holliday film.
After predicting that Liz Taylor and Nick Hilton would make a go of their marriage last year I should be a bit wary of the beautiful Elizabeth this year. But here I go sticking my neck out again. I don’t think Elizabeth will marry Stanley Donen. I think she has outgrown Stanley. During her recent stay in London, where she was making Ivanhoe, her constant companion was the sophisticated Michael Wilding, who used to go with Marlene Dietrich. Before she left for England, Elizabeth told me, “My life has been hysterical. For the last year or so it seems that in everything I have done I’ve been like a person catching a train. I’m all keyed up with nervous energy.”
From now on I think we are going to see a more poised, relaxed Elizabeth. After traveling around England and Paris with suave Mike Wilding and his sophisticated crowd, I’m sure Elizabeth is a more self-assured young lady. For the first time Elizabeth proved herself an actress in A Place in the Sun. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if she was the dark horse that walked off with the Oscar next March. I hear that the fans and exhibitors are excited about those Taylor-Clift love scenes, and they are urging producer George Stevens to team them again. George would be crazy not to cash in on this romantic team, and George isn’t crazy. So, I predict that those two beautiful young people, Liz and Monty, will be teamed again in 1952. And, furthermore, that this time they’ll fall in love, for real.
When Jan Sterling married Paul Douglas, Hollywood gave it the old fish eye and said it wouldn’t last a year. Paul had had many wives and many girl friends; was as fickle as they come, and twice as old as Jan. This marriage has worked out perfectly, and will continue to do so. Paul isn’t a Charm Boy and Jan isn’t a Coo Girl. They’re frank and honest with each other, and behave like adults. And there is no professional jealousy.
The coming year will bring the Princess Aly Khan back to pictures again, after her three years of luxury in smart European resorts. I hear that there are two things Rita wants very much: A $3,000,000 settlement for her and Aly’s daughter Yasmin, and a picture that will establish her once more as a leading screen star. She won’t get the money; she will get the picture. Her new picture, still untitled (and no ‘matter how they write it it still comes out Gilda) is bound to go over big at the box office. Whether it’s good or bad everybody will want to see the Princess Rita. No, Rita needn’t worry about her first picture, curiosity will put that over, it’s the second picture that should keep her awake nights. If that’s a flop, she’s through.
Since her return from Reno, Rita, who is awfully eager to win back those fans who lifted their eyebrows at her pre“marital shenanigans with Aly Khan, has been very discreet about stepping out in Hollywood, and to date has dated only one man—agent-producer Charlie Feldman. This is no romance, I guarantee. I hear that Kirk Douglas has been calling Rita ever since her Nevada trek, but without results so far. “Kirk Douglas!” I exclaimed when I heard this. “Why he isn’t her type.” And then I had to laugh at myself. Any girl who goes through such an odd assortment of husbands as promoter Eddie Judson, actor Orson Welles, and Moslem prince playboy Aly Khan, not to mention such boy friends as Victor Mature, Tony Martin and Ted Stauffer, just doesn’t have a type. So I predict that Kirk will get his date, but that Rita and Hollywood’s glamor boy lawyer, Greg Bautzer, will discover each other and become a steady twosome. Both Rita and Greg like to dance, like night clubs, and parties. But there’ll be no marrying for Rita in 1952, for legal reasons, anyway. As I wrote in my column:
“Rita appears to have a lot of luck—all of it bad. If she gets a Reno divorce by default it can always be set aside. And the Nevada court has no jurisdiction whatever over determining the amount of money a husband should pay for the support of a wife and child. Since Rita has established her residence in Nevada, she can’t file action in California for a year.”
The two hottest actors in 1952 will be a newcomer, Fernando Lamas, and a repeater, Mario Lanza. I saw some of the rushes of Fernando in The Merry Widow. When that picture is released, there’ll be panting and sighing all over the land. Fernando was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and. made a number of pictures there before he was discovered by a Metro scout and brought to Hollywood. He made his debut last year in the very colorful Rich, Young And Pretty. And wait until you hear Mario Lanza sing “Because You’re Mine” in his new picture. If “Be My Love” thrilled you, you’re in for a double portion of thrills. The hottest girl star of 1952 will be Ava Gardner when Pandora And The Flying Dutchman is released. As Pandora, Ava has more glamor and sex appeal than the screen has seen since Garbo’s Flesh and the Devil. If Dore Schary is the smart producer I think he is, he will immediately co-star Ava and Frankie in a picture. That’s a box office natural.
R ocky Cooper says that she will not give Gary a divorce. But Nancy Sinatra said that, too. She changed her mind, and so will Rocky. When Rocky gives Coop his freedom, she will take most of his earthly possessions—and he’s loaded. I think that Coop will marry Pat Neal as soon as he is free. I saw them at a party at Mike Romanoff’s last week—and there’s no mistaking the lovelight in his eyes.
After her divorce from Bob Topping, Lana Turner will drift from one boy friend to another. In fact she has started her drifting with radio-writer-producer Cy Howard. Cy gave up his trip to Europe, where he had a date with his long time sweetie, Paulette Goddard, to stay in Hollywood and hold hands with Lana in dark restaurants. Paulette’s gonna be mad, Cy.
About the clearest thing I see in my crystal ball is a divorce for George Sanders and Zsa Zsa Gabor. George, I think, will be quite upset, he loves his pretty bride. But Zsa Zsa is all set on a career. Though George pleaded with her to go to England on location with him, Zsa Zsa preferred to stay in Hollywood and play a part in Metro’s Lovely To Look At. Recently, I wrote in my column “Zsa Zsa Gabor is so excited about so many projects that she hasn’t time to deny rumors that she and George Sanders are kaput. What about it, Zsa Zsa?” I haven’t heard a word from the lady.
Also telling it to the judge in 1952 will be David Brian and Adrian Booth. David seems to be having trouble with all three of his wives, and all three at the same time. There are also rumors about Hedy Lamarr and Ted Stauffer. Since Hedy’s just about as stable as a weather-vane, nothing she ever does surprises me.
Peter Lawford, Kirk Douglas, Dan Dailey, Steve Cochran and Robert Stack will play the field in 1952, and continue to avoid any entangling alliances. When Rocky Cooper gets her divorce she’ll make a pitch for Pete, but he’ll give her the same treatment he has given his other girls, including the too-eager beavers Sharman. Douglas and Jeanne MacDonald: great charm followed by the old brush-off. Dan told me recently that he doesn’t intend even thinking about marriage again for at least two years. Bob Stack will continue to be Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor, and Ann Blyth Hollywood’s loveliest bachelor girl. Joan Evans turns 18 in July, and will be free to marry. She promised her mother, magazine writer Katherine Albert, that she wouldn’t marry until after her 18th birthday. Joan is as smart as she is beautiful, enjoys living with her parents, and, like Ann, refuses to get married until she’s honest-to-goodness in love. The very happiest couples in Hollywood will continue to be the Alan Ladds and the Dick Powells.
Gene Tierney and Oleg Cassini will not get that divorce that is always being rumored. Gene is the first to admit that she and her dress designer husband have plenty of fights, mostly due to Oleg’s hot temper. I think they had a dilly this summer when Gene went off to Europe alone.) But I think everything will be hunky-dory when Gene gets back from South America where she is starring in The Way Of A Gaucho. “Hedda,” she told me last spring, “when I fell in love I fell in love for keeps. And I haven’t any intention of letting my marriage blow up in my face just to please a few columnists.” Smart girl, Gene.
Just as 1951 brought out a fine crop of new stars, so will 1952. (Some of the older ones will find it hard going, and will rush off to New York to do stage plays and television shows.) Who are these new stars destined to flash so brilliantly on the Hollywood firmament? Here’s my pick: Mitzi Gaynor, Debra Paget, Leslie Caron, Pier Angeli, Debbie Reynolds, Anne Francis, Marilyn Monroe, Dale Robertson, Fernando Lamas, Dean Miller, Rock Hudson, John Harrison, Cameron Mitchell.
First and foremost is Mitzi Gaynor. Now there’s a right talented young lady, and bound to be one of our biggest box office stars. She was well received as Lotta Crabtree in Golden Girl, but she’ll really hit the jackpot when The I Don’t Care Girl (story of Eva Tanguay) is released in the spring. Mitzi was born Mitzi Gerber in Chicago. She was a ballerina before she was out of-her teens. And she sings as well as she dances. Mitzi dropped by my house one afternoon recently and I discovered several things about her: She likes to take off her shoes and wiggle her toes; she has the greatest talent for mimicry I’ve come across since the inimitable Elsie Janis; and there’s not a chance in the world of her ever getting a big head.
“In Song Of Norway I thought I was the biggest thing since the zipper,” she told me. “The girls in the company ganged up on me. The fang club was out in full swing. I soon learned that you can’t live without having the friendship of your coworkers, so I piped down. If it wasn’t for that experience I’d probably be mad about) myself right now.”
Debra Paget, five feet two, weighing 104 pounds, is as cute as a bug’s ear. And a fine little actress too. She reminds some of us old-timers of Dolores Del Rio when she first came to Hollywood, 20 years ago. Debra, born Debralee Griffin, in Denver, Colorado, comes from a hep family that has been in show business for two generations. Debra’s first good picture break came with Jimmy Stewart in Broken Arrow. But no one at the studio paid her much mind until suddenly the fan mail started rolling in a few months ago. The studio discovered that since the release of Bird Of Paradise, Debra has received more fan mail than any one on the lot, with the exception of Betty Grable. Next May you will see Debra in her best picture, Belles On Their Toes.
Nineteen-year-old Leslie Caron has teh luck of the Irish, except that she’s French. Some poor little starlets sit around Hollywood for ages before their Big Opportunity. Leslie’s first picture, An American In Paris, is mopping up at the box office. One critic said of her, “She combines dancing skill with the fetching simplicity and the plump-cheeked freshness of a Renoir model.” Paris-born Leslie was discovered by Gene Kelly when he was in France in 1950 seeking a French girl to play opposite him in An American In Paris. Leslie, who was dancing in the Ballet des Champs Elysees, was flown to Culver City, and given a contract. You’ll see her next in Man In A Cloak in which she plays a dramatic part.
Pier Angeli, who speaks with her hands and eyes as well as her voice, has shown movie-goers that there is as much poetry in her acting as there is in her name. Pier was born in Sardinia, and lived with her family in Rome, prior to coming to Hollywood. Director Fred Zinneman saw her screen tests, which were sent to him from Italy, and immediately gave her the lead in Teresa. Fred told me, “If Pier is properly handled and gets good scripts, she can climb to the absolute top, and become one of the outstanding stars of her generation.” In The Light Touch, her next picture, she’ll play opposite popular Stewart Granger.
To these four add Debbie Reynolds, Anne Francis and Marilyn Monroe. Since her debut in Three Little Words, Debbie, who lives with her family in Burbank, California, has been making bids for stardom. Two Weeks With Love and Mr. Imperium will be followed by Singin’ In The Rain in ‘32—and that’s the picture that will land her on theater marquees. Tall, graceful Anne Francis, who hails from Ossining, New York, has had several minor roles, but gets her first big break in Lydia Bailey which will be out next spring. Marilyn Monroe who managed to steal a few scenes in the star-studded All About Eve by just looking sexy, belongs to our sex rampant department. Marilyn’s a long way from being an actress, but that won’t keep her from being a star in 1952. In fact, right this minute, 20th Century-Fox is writing a picture especially for Marilyn. Well, come to think of it, Jean Harlow wasn’t much of an actress when she started. Nor was Jane Russell. But they did all right. And they learned to act, too.
For my money, Dale Robertson will become another great box office favorite in 1952. Dale is an illustrator’s dream—he’s over six feet of All-American he-man with the Oklahoman’s easy approach. His mother-in-law, former movie actress Faire Binny, describes him thusly, “He’s a combination of Sir Galahad, Prince Valiant, and Hopalong Cassidy.” Not bad—coming from a guy’s mother-in-law. The public discovered Dale, just as they did Clark Gable some years before, at the sneak preview of a not so important picture. Following the Pasadena preview of Fighting Man Of The Plains the audience followed Dale right out into the lobby and parking lot, cheered, clapped, and asked for autographs. Dale couldn’t have been more surprised. Neither could 20th Century-Fox who was releasing this Nat Holt western. And then it happened a second time, following the preview of Dale’s second film, another western, this time called Caribou Trail. The front office boys held a conference. “No guy,” they said, “can have that many relatives.” So they signed him to a contract and rushed him into five pictures in 1951, Call Me Mister, Take Care Of My Little Girl, Golden Girl, Lydia Bailey and turn Of The Texan. The last two will be released in 1952. And then watch Dale!
Another lad who is going to land in the big time is Dean Miller—and just as soon as Skirts Ahoy gets its general release next year. Dean got into pictures in a most original manner. In fact I’d say that Dean won the all time daily double without ever placing a bet. On the train en route to Los Angeles, Dean struck up a conversation with a man sitting beside him in the club ear. “You from Chicago?” asked Dean. “No,” said the man, “I live in Los Angeles. Where do you come from?” “I’m a TV star in Cincinnati,” said Dean. “I’m going out to the Coast to look over television. Television’s the greatest thing in entertainment. It’s killed pictures, you know. Movies are dead as a dodo bird.” “That’s interesting,” said the man, “pictures are really dead, are they?” So the man turned out to be Dore Schary, the big boss of MetroGoldwyn-Mayer, and he was so amused by the fresh kid that he offered to give him a screen test in Hollywood. I saw the test—and by golly it’s good. Oh, by the way, Dean has now decided that movies are the greatest thing in entertainment.
I also predict stardom for Rock Hudson, John Harrison (or is Harry Cohn going to change his name back to Aldo da Re which it was originally) and Cameron Mitchell. Six-feet-three, 197-pound Rock Hudson has had many minor parts since he signed with Universal-International in 1949. His best performances, however, were played with Vera-Ellen in Hollywood night clubs. But following the preview of Bend Of The River, due for release in February, the top brass at the studio decided that it was high time they did something about Rock. So the build-up is on. And he will have his first starring role in Oh Money, Money with Piper Laurie and Charles Coburn.
John Harrison (or Aldo da Re) used to be a constable in Crockett, California. He first came to Hollywood in 1950 to play a heel who was out for all he could get in Columbia’s Saturday’s Hero. And he proceeded to cop the best notices. George Cukor chose him for the very important part opposite Judy Holliday in The Marrying Kind, a part that will definitely make a star of him. Aldo was a football hero in school and a frogman during the war, and he is not given to modesty. After his first picture he said to me, “I have a very, very bright future. Hollywood needs a fresh face, a fresh personality. Hollywood needs me.” George Cukor made a test for him. And, wouldn’t you know it, agreed with him completely.
Recently over at Fox I saw the test Cameron Mitchell made for a part in Outcast Of Poker Flats, which he got. The test is wonderful, and I predict you’ll be seeing a great deal of Cameron, who was a hit on Broadway not long ago playing one of the sons in Death Of A Salesman.
Last year I predicted that Bette Davis would get an Academy Award for her Margot in All About Eve, and Jimmy Stewart for his lovable lush performance in Harvey. I wuz robbed! This year ’’m going to play it win place and show, and I’d better be in the money. My choice is
Vivien Leigh for A Streetcar Named Desire, Shelley Winters for A Place In The Sun, and Elizabeth Taylor for A Place In The Sun. For the best performances among the actors I’d say Montgomery Clift for A Place In The Sun, Kirk Douglas in Detective Story and Gene Kelly in An American In Paris.
I suppose no Hollywood predictions would be complete without a mention of Shelley Winters and Farley Granger. Are they, or aren’t they? What was it I said last year? “Farley Granger will live alone and like it; and so will his old sweetie, Shelley Winters.” Well, the same goes for 1952.
THE END
—BY HEDDA HOPPER
It is a quote. MODERN SCREEN MAGAZINE JANUARY 1952
