Evening star., 1940-05-19
Bv Sheilah Graham.

HOLLYWOOD.
Stars who sign new long-term
contract ought to have their heads
examined. The advantages Of free
lancing are so obvious that I'm
always struck a little dumb (f1g-
uratively speakingD when I hear
that some one like Bette Davis or
Clark Gable has signed on the dotted
line for another seven years of
servitude to Warmers or Metro as
the case might be.
More and more big shots of the
screen are joining the ranks of the
free-lancers and enjoying the bene-
fits. When Cary Grant was under
contract to Paramount, it was moth
ing out of the ordinary to make
seven pictures a year for the studio.
Furthermore, the said pictures were
mediocre. When his contract came
up for renewal three or four years
ago, Cary wisely decided to plunge
into the free-lancing sea. He made
"Topper"-which revealed his light
comedy bent. Then came '"The
Awful Truth" which put Cary in
the delightful position Of asking
-SlS0. o-and getting it-fors future
pictures.
"a Paid for His Release.
Free-lancers are able to choose
which pictures they make and when
they shall make them. Ronald
Colman was time-and- picture
slave during his seven years under
contract to Goldwyn. AS free
lancer, Ronnie makes three pictures
only, every two years, and chooses
his periods of vacation-either on
his yacht, or at his ranch. players
under contract are supposed to get
IL weeks of rest a year. But rarely
does this come to them in the
entire period-it's usually week
here and q week there in-between
pictures) Colman, as a free-lancer,
can make exceedingly advantageous
money terms. He asks-and gets
5000 900 per picture, or 500, 900 and
a percentage of the profits-as he
did in his. last, Lucky Partners" :"
Joel McCrea was so eager to
join the free-lancers that he paid
Goldwyn a substantial sum for his
release. Dick Powell did the same
with his former Warner bosses.
Since McCrea's freedom, he has
hoped from studio to studio. His
first big chance as a free-lancer
was in Cecil B. De Miles Union
Pacific" fof Paramount. His best
picture this year is Primrose Path"
for R-K-O-Radio. He is now in
Walter Wanger's Foreign Core
spondent."
Never Again, Says Irene.
/. Dick Powell's freedom enabled
him to go on a long and profitable
personal tour. He is currently on a
picture-by-picture deal at Para
mount, and is planning New York
musical stage show with wife Joan
Blondell.
Irene Dunno tells me that never
again will she sign any contract
for more than two pictures. Her
long-term contract at R-K-O,
while giving her "Cimarron," added
up to more bad pictures than good.
As a free-lancer, Irene has picked
for herself a series of successful
films-"Theodora Goes Wild" 1.-THE
Awful Truth" Love Affair."" when
Tomorrow Comes" and MY Favorite
Wife" She limits herself to two
or three a year at the most, which
leaves her with ample time for
vacations in New York, Georgia or
as at present-in Honolulu.
There isn't a producer in Holly
wood who wouldn't give his eye
teeth to put Laurence Olivier under
term contract. But they'll have to
catch him first. II will never sign
q contract for more than one or
two pictures" Olivier told me be-
fore his recent Romeo and Juliet"
tour. It was this freedom that en-
abled him to embark on the tour.
And, by the same token, 1t was
Vivien Leigh's lack of freedom
she is under joint contract to
Selznick and Korda-that made 1t
impossible to extend the tour for
q proflt-making period. Miss Leigh
has another two years of contract
servitude, after which she too will
free-lance. On behalf OF Hollywood