The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-01-28
By ERSKINE JOHNSON NEA Staff Correspondent

Behind the Screen: Film studios are rolling the publicity drums again in Hollywood's annual deluge of pre- Academy Award propaganda. Some body should award private Oscars to hard-working press agents who will spend the next two months trying to corner the votes with all the adjectives in the book. It's little early to stick out our neckS and predict the winners, but we are willing to take a chance on the leading contenders for the best per- formances of the year.
 For the best feminine acting job, it looks like 8 four-way race be- tween film newcomer Jenniter Jones for "The Song of Bernadette," " Ingrid Bergman's Maria in "For Whom the Bell Tolls" Greer Gar son for Madame Curie" and Ginger Rogers Tender Comrade." l" Greers Oscar last year for Mrs. Miniver" will be against her, though her performance in "Curie" is equal ly as good. Jennifer Jones is the dark horse to watch.
 Mickey Rooney, Walter Pidgeon and Gary Cooper will battle it out for the best male performance. If Pidgeon'S Pierre Curie in Madame Curie" doesn't ring the bell loud enough, the press agnets will remind you that he almost won last year for ''Mrs. Miniver." 50 let's give it to him this year." will be the basis of Pidge's campaign. Rooney, mean while, is strong nominee for "The Human Comedy" in which he gave the best performance of his life. Cooper's Robert Jordan in "For Whom left lot of people cold, but he'll be nominated because of the pictures importance.
 SHOW STOPPER
 On a recent personal appearance in San Francisco, Eleanor Powell stopped the show at every perform ance with a dance number she's never done on the screen. She calls it her goulaSh number-"everything I can do" She's tried several times without success to include it in a movie studio officials always threw it out, Eleanor said, because it al- ways topped the finale" Some day she hopes to bring the routine to the screen as the finale of picture. The title will be "Goulash."
 Nicest review Pat O'Brien has re- ceived on his portrayal of the late Major Frank Cavanaugh in "The Iron Major" was written by the majors two sons, Phil and Bill. They wrote Pat: "You made us think of Dad'
 Makeup expert Max Factor, Jr, has long insisted that no woman can be completely glamorous un- less she has an appealing voice. He picks the tones of Ingrid Bergman, Claudette Colbert, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Greer Carson, Rita Hayworth, Hedy Lamar, Michele Morgan, Merle Oberson and Lana Turner as Hollywood's 10 best III this appeal department.
 Ten years ago young unknown named Paullette Goddard was given her first call to act in 8 movie. Thrilled, she arose early, dressed her own hair, put on makeup. Then she went to the studio and sat in an automobile while the camera shot only her legs. That was her only appearance in the picture. Now she's playing her first big emotional role in Paramounts T Love Sol dier." For the first scene in the picture she's seated inside one of those slot-machine photographing booths with a black curtain at the door. The camera is focused on the space below the curtain, catching only Paulette's legs. Same legs but the salary, we can assure you, IS a lot different.
 ADD AID LIB
 Carole Landis hereafter will think before she speaks. When Director Bill Setter finally okayed her scene aboard a camel in -Four Jills in Jeep," sore -muscled Carole said: "To think I wanted to be in a circus when I was kid" |
 'That,s good," said Setter. That line should be in the script We'll re-shoot the scene"
 Fan letter to Evelyn Reyes from a soldier she danced with at the Hollywood Canteen: q am deeply, | insanely and passionately in love -T1~QER116r1zNgE