Evening star., 1941-05-18

Devil and Miss Jones" which was
produced by her husband, Frank
Ross, in collaboration with Script
Writer Norman Krasna. Sam Wood,
who has made such hits as Our
Town." Goodbye Mr.. Chips" and
kitty Foyle," directed.
II you try to list the select few
who number Hollywood's ultra
tophight stars, you must of neces-
sity include Miss Arthur, whose
bubbling voice and impish effer-
vescence have created a particular
niche for her among f1lmdoms elite.
1t was a niche Jean determined
to make for herself some time ago
and Enthusiastically did.
About the only time she set out
to do something and failed to
achieve the objective was when she
decided to become language teach
er. And the only reason she didn't
succeed was that she changed her
mind and decided to become an
actress instead. Which, it seems, she
has accomplished most successfully
Determined on a career.
Jean is Hollywood's prize rebuttal
to the rule that you have to hail
from the hinterlands to make good
in motion pictures. Shes a big
town girl from New York.
Educated there, at an early age
she discovered that she was pos
sessed of a marked ability to master
foreign tongues with the greatest
of ease. And, quite naturally, she
determined to make a career of it.
There was, in her case, the prob
lem Of tuition. So, to earn her way
through college, the future star
capitalized on her obvious beauty
In short, she became a model.
And before she knew it a talent
scout had seen her and Jean had
changed her posing from the still
cameras to the motion picture kind
She made her cinematic debut op-
posite Richard Dix in a baseball
opus entitled Warming Up" And
from this beginning she proceeded
to a series of Western sagas and
two-reel comedies.
1t was at this point that the
Arthur ability to do what she wanted
asserted itself. If she was to be an
actress, reasoned Miss Arthur, she
might as well learn to be a good one
According to Plan.
Accordingly, she quit moviedom's S
colorful environs and hied back TO
Manhattan Her object was to get
a basic dramatic education in the
worlds best training ground-the
theater.
For most people this would be
easier said than done. But, as
pointed out previously, when Miss
Arthur goes after something she
generally performs according to pre-
arranged plan. Which is precisely
what happened.
Without undue delay. the brown
haired beauty rose to Broadway
stardom and played the leads in II
plays. In three years she estab-
hshed a reputation as an outstand-
ing, capable dramatic actress.
Only then did she return to Holly
wood. Her second visit to Cinema
City, however, was far different
from the first. There were no more
two-reel comedy parts for Miss
Arthur, no more cowboy epics.
Really a Quiet Life.
Instead, the producers gave hel
the opportunity to show what she
could do in such vehicles as "Only
Angels Have Wings" Mr. Deeds
Goes to Town and mfr. Smith Goes
to Washington"
Mr.. Deeds and Mr.. Smith went
places in big way-and so did Jean
Arthur!
Despite her pre-eminence in the
film colony, however, Jean is def.
nitely not a part of Hollywood's
night life.
The star-and this is not a pres:
agents invention-actually lives 6
most quiet and restrained life wher
not working on pictures. She anc
Ross occupy comparatively modes
home in Brentwood. Their servant
staff consists of two people, whit
cook, serve, clean up and doubl,
in brass by acting as chauffeur!
when necessary. It's not exactly
q pretentious mode of existencel
Personally, Jean is an indefatig.
able walker, spending a good dea
Of time hooflng through Brentwood
and its environs, generally in thu
conpany of several or all Of the 81,