Evening star., 1939-12-31

SWedtSnOp.
I'm reporting at m, January
"and I've been away from movie
stages so long, I'm sure I won't
know exactly how to act. I'm happy
about it, too, because in these four
months I've learned how to relax.
And it's going to be a little more
fun making pictures this year. You
see, I've won my f1ght-I'm to make
only three this year"
Bette took on Is pounds during her
Eastern vacation-enforced by row
with Warmers over the actress ale
cations of too much work-and since
returning to Hollywood three weeks
ago she's been engaged in the job OF
getting rid of half that extra pound
age.
my mother threw up her arms
in horror when I walked in the
door," she said. Il couldn't get into
any of my clothes. And getting
into trim again is no joke. For the
first time in my life I had to diet.
In 10 days I took off IL pounds
on a menu of nothing more than
boiled eggs, lettuce and vinegar. Ugh
eat that three times a day and
you soon begin to think life isn't
worth living!"
But the actress hurried to warn
against printing the recipe-for fear
it might be unfortunately seized
upon by calory-conscious ladies IN
the overweight class.
First 1 went to a dietitian," she
said. Then the doctor came and
looked me over. There is matter
of blood pressure and things like
that to check before any one should
plunge into such gustatory misery"
Bette is now down to 113 pounds,
as against the 101 she weighed when
she staggered home after the last
shot was fired on THE Private Lives
of Elizabeth and Essex
"I was so drawn and skinny was
afraid to look in the mirror" she
said with shudder. Il knew had
to get away. Making that picture
was agony. I would never want to
go through it again.
Doing Elizabeth had been my
ambition for years. When the studio
agreed to make the picture I was
hilariously happy. The script was
beautifully written and I had visions
of marvellous picture. They named
it The Knight and the Lady and
that was the first pain in the neck.
I knew that was all wrong-not be-
cause, as so many accused, Enrol
Flynn would receive first billing
but because Elizabeth was no lady.
It would have been a rank mis-
nomer.
Then I fought to induce them to
let me make myself up as Elizabeth
really looked. They wanted to pic
ture her as a glamorous creature.
We settled that - at least so I
thought. Then, after I cut my hair,
put on that hideous wig and creased
lines on my face, the studio doctored
up the still pictures and took out
all the ugliness of the character.
After more controversy, we finally
saw eye-to-eye on that phase.
But getting that title changed
was the real rub. We went all the
way through production with it.
Finally, with only one days shoot
ing left, I phoned Jack Warner and
told him I couldn't finish the pic
ture unless the title was changed.
I stayed away from the studio next
day. That night we came to an
agreement. I suggested The Loves
of Elizabeth and Essex That, to-
gether with a bit of theft from the
Charles Laughton picture, The Pri-
vate Life of Henry VIII evolved the
name under which the film was
finally released"
Bette also revealed that she bit
terly protested making of "The Old
Maid" She thought the public
wouldn't 60 for what she termed
that sobby old dame" in the central
role. She Is now astonished that
box Office receipts indicate it will be
more successful than either Eliza
beth" or Dark Victory" The latter
picture is her all-time favorite-and
my all-time high," she adds.
Bette's first new deal' picture is
Rachel Fields Cali This and Heaven,
Too" and she's extremely happy be-
cause Charles Boyer, current ace
among the heart-throbbers, has re-
turned from the wars to play oppo-
site her
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