The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-23
It's Heavenly" Picture Maybe That's Why
 Simone Is Angelic NoWadays!
BY PAUL HARRISON

AAEAnNANaISAN
 NEA Service StaR Correspondent
 Hollywood quite . different Simone Simon who's working really working-these days in "Sev- enth Heaven"
 On the doors of the sound stage are merely the small and meaning less Keep Out" signs which you see on practically all stages of all stu- dios in Hollywood. Such warning, in letters only four inches high, may be freely translated, Visitors Welcome"
 When a prowler on a studio lot comes upon a really big sign read ing, in eight-inch letters: KEEP OUTi Absolutely No Visitorsl Po- sitively No Admittancel" he be- comes cautious, but not discouraged. For such 8 sign may be taken to mean that visitors will be tolerated as long as nobody complains about them, but that spectators shouldn't feel i1sulted if they're uncere- moniously asked to leave.
 The only way 8 sound stage can be made impregnable is by station ing policemen at the doors. There is just no reasoning with a studio cop, which is why they are hired in the first place. But there are scores of stories about unimpres- sionable watchmen who have re- fused to admit stars and directors to their own sets.
 Free For All
 The sets of Simone Simon's two previous pictures were guarded by studio cops. But not Seventh Heaven" Press correspondents, as well as friends of the cousin of the owner of the Bijou Theater in Six Corners, Kan, may be taken in to watch the pouty little actress his- trionicS-in-the-raw.
 may as well admit that the an- ticipation has got 1t all over the realization. No fireworks. Mile. Simon is not only docile, but is downright cheerful about it. If, through some fault of her own, 8 scene has to be done over and over again, she doesn't sulk, or lash at the other people. If the scene must be repeated due to an- other players mistakes, she is per- fectly gracious about 1t.
 It may be that Daryl Zanuck, or somebody, had her in for little heart-to-heart talk. Or perhaps the credit goes to Director Henry King. He is a deliberate worker, and very patient with his players.
 There are some who say that Mile. Simon's previous directors worked too rapidly and succeeded only in bewildering her. She still doesn't understand English very well. Hockey?
 When confused and angered, her defense was to plead illness. Sev- eral times, when production was delayed on her first two pictures, there was grave doubt about the genuineness of her illness. Indeed. she twice left the studio and went to play a few Snappy sets of ten- his.
 She chews gum most of the time, and seems to park it in one cheek while she is speaking her lines. For this picture no attempt was made to overcome her accent, but 1t is less noticeable, because her voice is generally low
 Much of her time when sitting around the set IS spent talking with Jimmy Stewart, her co-star. She says she likes Stewart because he seems shy, while other people are assured and abrupt. Her best friends and closest ad- wiser, though, is Lee Fredericks. her woman hairdresser. They have lunch together, chat in the Simon dressing room, and leave the studio together. Hairdressers know more about the stars than do any other people in Hollywood. Free Talent
 One of the principal reasons why Hollywood night clubs offer little formal entertainment is that movie stars continually arc being badg- cred into putting on free acts. Bhg Crosby, Martha Rave, and the Ritz Brothers are the answers to the players of every master-of- ceremonies. They like to entertain, and so are not in line for sympa- thy.
 But many another actor is forced into giving away a speech or song when all he wants is to get out of the limelight for while. What kind of fun is 1t to perform for bunch of bibulous merrymak- CTS and then have to pay 8 thum- ping big check for the evenings discomfiture?
 But the stars keep right on per- forming. because, for some reason or other. they value the esteem of the night club crowd. Only movie celebrity who flatly declines to aid the inooching night clubs is Franc