Evening star., 1941-11-13


minutes they might call out the fire
department. Lots Of preliminary
preparations, tense atmosphere
about the stage. bevy OF still
photographers flashing countless
bulbs and a group of morbid front
ONCE souls staring from the side
lines.
You see, this was no ordinary kiss.
It happened to be kiss No. l for
Veronica Lake Imagine that, II
YOU cana movie siren getting to
be a star in two pictures without
once being called on to put out
with a single kiss!
There she stood trembling almost
too much for the form fitting black
gown she had donned for the
scene. Her hair was tucked back
under a hat and that famous over
one EYE hair bang was missing
also for the very first time.
"I've got stage fright. too, for the
first time in my life" she whis-
pered. u wish there weren't so
many people around
Then she was called into the
scene. 1t was set in front OF a
carnival shooting gallery with peo-
pie milling all around her and Robert
Preston. This shot, however, was
up close, looking into the gallery,
so no extras we're in the scene. But
the situation was far from seclusion.
We counted 81 persons watching for
| that kiss.
Director Frank Tuttle swings the
cameras into action. There Is q
brief exchange of dialogue in which
Veronica explains to Preston that
she's about to leave for San Fran
cisco. He sweeps her into his arms
and then comes that No. kiss.
1t looked like any other screen
kiss. Veronica just encircled Bob's
shoulders with her arms and lip met
lip. She also shut her eyes, but
that's good kissing technique and
not due to nervousness. We hear. Di-
rector Tuttle let them hold that
kiss. 1t was a two-part kiss, be-
cause they came up for air, then re-
kissed.
Tuttle said the scene was okay
The sound man said differently
we picked up that pounding right
in the middle of the shot" he said
Veronica giggled. That was my
heart" she said.
We remembered hearing that
pounding. The scene was made
again-for another doublekiss. But
this also was no good. The motor OF
a truck outside was being picked up
in the sound track. The assistant
director swore, sent a man charg-
ing outside to stop the noise.
Preston was very cheerful. "You
don't have to bother on my &C.
count" he winked.
X y X
They went at it again. This time
some clunking had come in the
ventilator. Preston was grinnine
broadly. That's members of my
gashouse gang fixing it up for my
continuous enjoyment" he said.
They tried it once more. This time
everything went of in tiptop shape
Tuttle said, Now we'll do 1t fol
Veronica's closeup"
"Again?" asked the at-last-kissed
siren.
Sure" chirped Preston. why dc
you suppose took this part, any
way? Then we do it for my close
ups. This is my luck day"
They moved out of the scene
The publicity photographer ran up
Il couldn't get there to photograph
that kiss" he shouted. step right
over here and we'll pose some spe-
cial ones-good and hot"
They won't be hot" said Veron.
lea. I'm no good kissing. I'm tot
cold"
Don't let her kid you," sale
Preston.
After kissing some more for tht
flashlight fellow, Veronica looks oul
way and tries to make conversation
I'm wearing of this lipstick b,
the shovelful," she says. I've 60
on four layers Of 1t and three o
talcum."
And seven Of PreSton-and tina
doesn't wear off," chided Bob.
The still photographer yells
Come on, clinch again. need an
other good pose. Make it warm"
Says Preston, I'm turning owe
my days check to the relief fund
I never knew there could be day
like this"
And so, boys and girls, you cal
settle back and let the world NOV