The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-09-14

HOLLYWOOD, Sept. IA = Not long ago, l referred in this column to Ingrid Bergman as "the greatest actress in scren history" Since the item appeared, I've been deluged by letters from readers who indig- naptly advance the claims of their favorites - Bette Davis, Ida Lupino, Ginger Roger, Jennifer Jones, Greta Garbo and many others. Why, they challenge, do I regard Miss Berg man as The greatestp"
 do So primarily because = judg- ing the screens many fine actresses by the work they have done - she has displayed the most versatility. In the six years she has spent in Hollywood, she has played every- thing from heavy drama to light comedy, and been superb in every role. David o. Selznick, producer who believes SO thoroughly in type casting that he customarily screen tests scores of players for every role In order to find the fictional characters real-life prototype, says fiatly that Miss Bergman can play any part ever written for Q woman.
 Her rivals are, many of them, re- markedly capable actresses but they are all specialists. Bette Da- wis, to cite a perfect example, is a tragedienne, and fine one. But her one effort at comedy was sorne- what lack-lustre.
 It seems to me that the actress who can assume any character and make 1t convincing, is obviously head and shoulders above those who are limited. Until one of her rivals displays equal versatility, I'll still regard Miss Bergman as "The greatest" of them all,
 Memories That Bless and Burn: When Hollywood's meanest practical joker fllched the pipe William De. marest was to smoke in a movie SC. quence, and stuffed the bowl with rubber bands When Bing CroS- by inscribed one of his own photo graphs with a phony name, and sent 1t to a fan magazine which was, staging a contest to find his rperfect double. He lostl When Vince Barnett did his "in- Sulting waiter routine at a party given in Pola Negri's honor - and Pola, flying into Q rage, threw Q plateful of salad at him When Marie Dressler, who had known for weeks that she was suffering from an incurable malady, fainted on an MdM set and, on coming to, pledged everyone present to keep her illness a secret because she wanted to "die in harness"
 Chatting with Jean Pierre Au- mont on the Heart Beat" set heard a strange war story. Aumont, commissioned by the Free French but~serving as . liaison ofilcer at- tacfed to an American division, was one of the first men ashore when theaU. s. Seventh Army landed near MarSeilleS. Prior to the landing, he wasg summoned to the shipboard quarters of the divisions com. lnander and asked if he were farnil- far with the section of coast line CklUlGtl AVE ulNNSAOH' huHbOtt H0AlAt- ted that he was. "Our bomhers will strike here" said the c. O., pencil pointing an operations map. "dive us my information you can." Au- inoiit spent the next thirty minutes detailing the topography of the estate where he had spent his va. cation in io39-an estate belonging to his most intimate friendl
 In the RKO picture, Some Must Watch" Ethel Barrymore, as an in. valid, plays her scenes in bed. When she arrived in Hollywood, she des. cribed 1t as the "softests" part of her entire career. After two days on the set. she changed her mind and de- nounced 1t as inhuman torture. Southern California was sweltering in the worst heat wave of years. The outside temperature was above the one hundred mark; the temper. ature. on stage. was even higher, thanks to the battery of sun lamps needed to light the set. And Miss Barrymore, clad in Q flannel nightie, was playing her scenes under blank. etsl