The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1932-04-14
MOVIEDOM'S FEMALE STARS BATTLE
n LOUD AND OFTEN OVER LEADING MEN
Clark Gable, Bob
Montgomery Are
Most Popular

Hollywood.-Once more the cry
is going out from Hollywood
give us more leading men,"
To be sure, we have plenty Of
actors who are classed as leading
men. But, with the exception of q
scant handful, they don't measure
up to the standards set by our very
choosey feminine stars. And you
have no idea how particular these
young ladies can be.
Must Fave ssIE' In Gobs
First of all the leading man must
have sex appeal, look interesting
enough for the star to appear to
have passion for him and be old
enough to make the star seem
younger.
If he passes those qualifications,
he must then prove his ABILITY as a
first-class actor-really better than
the star herself but with sufficient
discretion not to steal any scenes
from her. Our feminine stars real
~ consider it ungentlemanly for.
their leading men to steal scenes
from them.
There you have the demands
made Of leading men to-day--and
also the reason why nearly all of
the feminine stars fight over
scant handful, while the others
trade. their Rolls Royces for Fords.
And IL you don't think the femi-
nine stars really battle for their
leading men, you should overhear
one of the conferences sometime.
OF course, there isn't any hair
pulling. But from a verbal stand
point the battles are dong and
loud.
Clark is Storm Center
At present, and for some months
back, Clark Gable has reigned as
the most fought for leading man
in the business
The stars around the Metro Cold
: Mayer lot all know that the
presence of Gable in a picture will
add plenty to its box Office value.
And they also know that Gable
will be good boy and not steal
any scenes from them-or at least
not very many.
AS a result Joan Crawford, Nor
ma Shearer and Greta Garbo--thei
trio most apt to get their own way
on that lot-do plenty Of begging
and fighting for Cables services.
So far Joan is in the lead, having.
walked off with the prize for three
pictures.
B0b's Popular Too
However, the fighting isn't as
bad as 1t might be on that lot,
thanks to Robert Montgomery. AL
though he il rated as a star in his
own name, Bob is quite coveted as
a leading man by that trio of ladies
despite the fact that they know
his name will go up in letters al
most as big, as they command.
But Bob is nice chap who sell
dom Quarrels because his part
doesn't happen to be quite big
enough. And he has such a grace
full way of stealing scenes that the
stars don't realize they are being
subordinated.
OF course Bob gets his fat roles
in his own starring vehicles in
Of the studios lesser feminine play
ers for his leading ladies.
Others I'm Demand
Another young man who has
caused harsh words between stars
who otherwise are quite friendly is
George Brent--no relation to Ev-
elyn. George is a veteran of the
legitimate stage, having spent
many years on Broadway. But as
pictures go. he is only five months
old. That hasn't stopped Ruth
Chatterton, Barbara Stanwyck,
Joan Blondell and Loretta Young
from requesting, or rather de-
manding, his services.
Miss Chatterton absolutely in
sisted upon having Brent emote
opposite her in 1.-THE Rich Are AL
ways With U.s. And Stanwyck is
said to have done the same for $50
Big" Joan and Loretta still are
running second to them.
Connie Likes Joel McCrea
After being in the picture racket
for quite some time, Joel McCrea
suddenly has 1eaped into that en-
vious position of having girls
whom men usually fight over do
the fighting with himself as the OBJ
ject.
Ever since Constance Bennett
had Joel opposite her in THE
Common Law" he has been her
preference as leading man. And