Evening star., 1944-09-10
HOLLYWOOD.

"Going My Way" is one Of the
most human pictures Hollywood has
ever made. It probably will be one
Of the most successful of all time.
But 1t is a picture without a single
romantic kiss. Kiss minded direc-
tors have been asked II they believe
this Is an indication that the kiss
may be on its way out. And almost
in unison they cry mol" and assert
that Going My Way" is freak in
that respect.
AS a matter of fact, and in spite
Of the bussing derelictions of Go
ing My Way" kissing is becoming
more and more of factor In Holly
wood celluloid romances as the
months go by. They're bigger and
better kisses, too, great lunging
SmackS that often overrun Hays Of
flee time regulations and register
with resounding gusto on the sound
tracks. Nowadays you find few Of
those subtle, silly little pecks that
were the amorous rage in movies Of
only a couple years back.
Hollywood Waking Up.
War pictures, problem pictures,
thoughtful pictures, documentary
and historical Aims are being pro-
duced today in quantity and quality
far and away better than ever be-
fore. Actually, Hollywood has walked
up at last to the fact that the typical
film audience has much better than
a 12-year-old mind. But, whatever
the problem, the documentary or
the war angle, there's always the
kiss-that great big kiss.
The tallest, most passionate and
at the same time the shyest kissing
in town is taking place out at David
0. Selznick's establishment In Culver
City, where Ingrid Bergman and
Gregory Peck are working in a psy-
chiatric murder mystery called The
House of DR.. Edwardes," Alfred
Hitchcock directing.
Miss Bergman is feet 7R. Mr..
Peck Is 6 feet 3. There have been
taller kissers in the movies but
never together.
1T works fine" said Mr.. Peck.
Its better to see eye-to-eye on
things, don't you Think"
Miss Bergman, who has been
kissed by many leading man who
had to stand on box in order to
look forceful, agreed modestly that
to have a tall gent at last was
better.
Both Are Shy Types.
| Both players are exceedingly shy
about their kisses, though, and fire.
quently break up a scene with
laughter. Mr.. Peck's chin seems to
tickle Miss Bergman's neck or
something. Anyway, professionals
both. they prefer to work without
audiences in the kiss sequences.
In Practically Yours Claudette
Colbert, who never gets kissed at
all in her current big picture, Since
You Went Away" has considerable
trouble getting kissed by Fred Mac
Murray. 1t takes the Offices of a
photographer, who pretends he
merely wants to photograph kiss,
to warm things up, after which Mr..
MacMurray performs to the salts
faction of all concerned.
The kissing trend, according to
! experts who keep tab on such mat
ters, Is back to the fortnight all
American smack. Several years ago,
the continental caress, or the Boyer
buss, was the thing. Paul Henreid
was another practitioner Of sub
tlety.
In wartimes, people are in more
OF a hurry. For proof of this if you
haven't time for a movie, visit any
railroad station or bus terminal.
The gals are getting thoroughly
kissed, and no fooling around.
Betty Is Vigorous.
Betty Hutton, child of nature.
is kissing Bing Crosby in Here
Comes the Waves" a picture which
offers the ultimate in vigor-two
Betty Huttons. Twins, that is, both
played by Miss Hutton. One is shy.
one is bold. Mr.. Crosby can tell the
difference in the dark Miss Hut
tons attack is as all-embracing as
1t. Gen. Patton's famous enveloping
movement with tanks.
! Another fortnight kissing Sc
quence takes place in "Frenchman's
Greek" in which Joan Fontaine and
Arturo de Cordova are the protag-
onists. To begin with, Miss Fon-
taine's kisses are very cold; but it
turns out that Mr.. de Cordova is a
pirate, and that he finds access to
Miss Fontaine's quarters. Kisses
are as warm as the Hays Office will
a 1ln,Y-