Detroit evening times., 1943-01-10

But / soon met with a great
shock. Instead Of being brought
into New York, was taken on
a ferry out to Ellis Island be-
cause / had neglected to have
my re-entry status intact.
ON THE way out 10 the island,
~ on the ferry, ! was sur
rounded by fans, who met me
with smiles and welcoming hand
clasps and their greetings did
much to still my new fright-the
nightmare thought that perhaps
/ would not be allowed TO stay
in the United States.
IT took but a few hours for
word IL come from Washington
assuring me of my welcome TO
America And only little later,
/ arrived at the pier TO be greet
ed by a group of anxious friends,
who had read in the early news
being held at Ellis Island
These were my close friends
and in my happiness TO see them
again / was unaware that they
were more thoughtful than eXcit-
ed over being with me. l had
been upset, unnerved and had
had so little rest for so long
| did not register their thought
fulness was in a kind of
numbed state and hoped that
my tortured muscles and brain
would soon be able 10 relax.
My agent pushed a book into
my hand and said:
Miss Negri, read this as
quickly as you can. think there
is a swell part in it for you"
The book was For Whom the
Bell Tolls" by Ernest Heming-
way.
IT'S a best-seller here and has
Hollywood on its ear"
A few minutes later a friend,
woman, had known years be-
fore in Hollywood, clutched my
arm firmly with one hand and
carried bulging briefcase with
the other hand. She guided me
into a taxi, where we were alone.
With an air Of mystery she
patted her briefcase and said:
I've something important
here to show you"
We were in my hotel room be-
fore she opened the case-and
brought out stacks Of newspaper
clippings
Aghast, I read the headlines
and then went through the
stories. This was the first time
had even so much as an inkling
Of what the world had gossiped
about and believed.
/ knew then that what had
been reported to me as a COM
pliment from Adolf Hitler on my
work as an artist had been mis-
construed!
The world believed that I had
been Hitlers mistress.
i've never met the Fuehrer"
I said. If these stories were
true, / wouldn't be here. Surely
you must realize that"
/ had no idea then what those
stories, which obviously had been
circulated as a result Of the i'm
apination Of some writer, were
going TO mean to r1e.
IN Hollywood my friends and
the people in the studios said:
You look even younger than.
you did when you left"
And even more glamorous
than ever"
responded 20 their praise
and thanked them. The compli-
ments continued everywhere 1
went. And soon my spirits rose
and l was filled with hope.
But this optimism could not
last if l were TO play the part of
Pillar, the unhappy old woman
in the war-torn story, For Whom
the Bell Tolls"
I'VE have this part in mind for
you, Miss Negri." I was told.
Don't you see. with makeup, we
can disfigure you and make your
appearance in keeping with the
character Of Pillar"
1T has always been my ambi-
tion to play character parts"
answered. And I don't object
TO having my appearance dis
torted, but ! still do not feel that
l could do justice to the part"
But while hoping for the part
to turn up which feel will mean
my star will rise and shine again
in its rightful place in the Holly
wood heavens, one afternoon re-
Gently 1 played the most salts
flying role OF my career:
Standing in the rain, but for
getting / was drenched. / met