Detroit evening times., 1943-01-10
CHAPTER Y
Culver SeSNIee


4 BELIEVED that only death could have pre-
vented my marriage to Glen Kidston-and as
read the cablegram l knew death had. Again
and again l went over the message sent by Glcn's
lawyer.
The news that the man ! loved was dead
shocked me beyond tears, but | remembered even
then that had had the eerie feeling that some
thing dreadful was going to happen when we part
ed at Southampton.
More explanatory messages . Glen had flown
blindly in a dust storm. he had crashed into
mountain side
felt as the train rushed me toward Cali
fornia, that was running blindly now against a
wall of dense fog. But how could | stop? Or turn
back? To what aim? l had to direct myself some
how over this new tragedy, because more than ever
now l knew / could not allow grief to block my
progress | must go on!
Emotion can exhaust nervous energy. knew
this all too well and l called on every bit of will
power possessed grtted my teeth and determined
that this time l would not let Hollywood know
that had been jinxed by love, that Tragedy had
once more overtaken me.
Two days and nights did not seem enough
time to recover from that shock. But surely there
is resilency of spirit, born Of many human eX-
periences, which gives recuperatve power to the
wounded heart of woman. So, l quietly deter
mined to meet Hollywood with a smile if it killed
me-
l stepped off the train at the Pasadena station
with my head up, wearing the latest Paris
ton, and held my head high to meet the group of
old Hollywood friends and at least 1000 fans
They greeted me with cheers and loads of flowers!
| returned their warm welcome with both
smiles and tears, but soon after the first excite
ment l was soothed. The family scented winds
drifting from the ocean and the mountains and
the redwood forests were like a benediction.
I was glad that had fought through the wall
of fog
realized now that had longed to be there
the place where belonged.
1t was home
"A Woman Commands" soon was told was
the title Of my picture 1t was based on the true
story of Maria Draga, of Serbia. The story had
much pathos as it was plotted around the ro-
nance of young king and a beautiful commoner,
who sang in cafe The king fell in love with her
song and then with her. They were married al
though she loved someone else. Her lover started
revolution and before she could stop the war both
she and the king were killed
Of course you recognize the plot because its
variations have often been used since in films OF
singing stars.
l liked the story and saw it's tremendous dra-
matte possibilities. And the fact that | was to
star in talking picture for the first time was
not as frightening to me as a similar announce
ment proved TO be to many luminaries of the film
colony at this time.
had been graduated from one of the best dra-
matte schools in Europe and l had been starred
on the legitimate stage before went into pictures.
had disciplined speaking voice When they told
me was also TO sing in the production was pre-
pared for that well. For the first time in my
career / would make use of my vocal training.
The producers were both surprised and de-
lighted when said: II have a cultivated singing
voice. I've kept up my study
My former Hollywood contract intact: |
could choose my leading man. my director and cos
tunes. And isn't it interesting that chose my
leading a tall dark fellow who had never
made film then? His name was Laurence Olivier
who has since reached fame on Broadway as
Katharine Cornell's leading man, and after that in
pictures with Joan Fontaine. in "RebecCa' and in
private life IS the husband of Vivien Leigh of
Gone With the Wind He was to take the part
of my lover, while Roland Young was to portray
the Wing N....'A. A.l....
The few weeks remaining before the produc-
tion would 90 into work were / decided TO be as
filled with diversion as ! could possibly make them
And il seemed that the entire movie colony CO.
operated with me in carrying out this plan
To my beach house in Santa Monica came old
friends bringing friends. There was much
merriment by day, and often at night had tre-
mendous fire burning on the beach as a kind Of sig
nal TO the colony 10 join in the amusement.