Evening star., 1942-06-09

to be found in the fact that only
imported actresses have been men
toned.
First was Luise Rainer. Miss
Rainer, more elfin than beautiful
in appearance, was not an illogical
choice on the part of her following.
Moreover, the role seemed an ideal
one for rapprochement between
herself and Hollywood. At least,
it did to Miss Rainer. Heretofore,
she had not been able to get along
with her employers, feeling rather
that they were very foolish in their
notions OF what she should play.
For Maria, however, she would for
give and forget. as what actress
would not? Miss Rainer even said
She would shave her hair for the
role II Paramount insisted. 1t was
gesture Heretofore made by onis
one actress, Bette Davis, when she
played Queen Elizabeth.
The suggestion was duly consid-
cred and turned down by Para
mount. Presumably also by Hem
ingway.
Miss Bergman was mentioned then
as possibility. And Zorina. The
only American actress of promi-
nence suggested was Paulette God
dard, who thus became the only
candidate for two most famous
hard-to-cast parts in recent years.
She was an early nominee for
Scarlett, also, losing out very quickly
because her career had reached by
no means the proportions it has
since.
The general idea for Maria always
has been an actress Of foreign birth,
probably on the theory that a wisp
OF foreign accent would be no more,
and certainly no less, than the part
called for. That would seem 20
open the nominations to Hedy La
MARI, but Miss Lamar somehow
was overlooked, perhaps because
Metro Goldwyn-Mayer never has
been in a mood to lend. or lease.
her to another studio. Or, maybe,
it was because Miss Lamar is the
-wistful whereas Maria was def
1nitely Of that spirit.
II. as the story goes, the selection
has narrowed down to Miss Berg
man or Zorina, the choice of either
probably would create no great
furore.
Miss Bergman, Hemingway's girl
from the beginning, has played
roles which have more kinship to
the character Of Maria. She has
cut a rather wonderfully wistful
figure since she made her first pic
ture In this country, "Intermezzo."
She was much the same in mood in
DR.. Jekyn and Mr.. Hyde" in which
she did stunning sort of Job while
poor Spencer Tracy was being sub
jected to that overdue horror por-
trait which the script called for.
On the contrary, Zorina. who
came to this country as a ballet
dancer (the most beautiful one in
the world, has been associated with
comedy parts. AS a comedienne she
has developed wonderfully, demon
strating a fine ability to hold her
own in even such company as Victor
Moore and Billy Gaxton.
II she has had the intelligence to
advance that far in that time, she
probably also would be able to un-
oertake Maria with small doubt a.
to the outcome.
She has the advantage today so
far as Paramount is concerned.
~
II 1t would not complicate the
situation too much to suggest it,
Hemingway and Paramount might
find the perfect compromise in an
actress so far not even considered.
She is Signe Hasso. who hung
around Hollywood doing nothing for
so long that she eventually took a
part in Golden Wings" on Broad
way. The play was as terrible as
Miss Hasso was not. Her addition
to the list of candidates for Maria
would make it a fine Scandinavian
competition for the finest Spanish
role in decade.
How about 1t, Paramount and
Hemingway?