Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1945-03-02

tional Velvet" 1t zsszaazss zzs'sazsA
is her outstanding Elizabeth Taylor
performance in
this picture that has lifted her to
the stellar heights.
Since she first set foot on the MGM
lot almost two years ago Elizabeth's
heart has been set on playing Vel
vet. The studios had the script
since May, 1887, waiting for the right
girl. Hundreds had been tested and
many announced, but with no sue
cess. When Elizabeth approached
Producer PandrO S. Berman she was
told, "I'm sorry, honey, but I'm
afraid you're not tall enough. Be-
sides, Velvet has to ride horse over
very difficult steeplechase course"
Spirit That Wins
Il can learn to do that" prompt
ly declared the little girl. "And
can grow, tool"
In the next three months she did.
To the amazement even of her FAM
lily doctor she grew three inches.
This is explained by the fact that
she suddenly developed an enor-
nous appetite, after being finicky
eater for years, and added two
hours to her sleeping each night. 1t
was all her own idea, and she stuck
to it.
Elizabeth already knew and loved
horses. She had learned to ride at
the age of four while living in Eng
land. Now, during the three months
she trained daily on jumps until she
was clearing five foot hurdles with
ease and grace.
When she confronted Berman
again he, too, was amazed at her
growth. He called Clarence Brown,
and they watched her ride and jump
and marveled some more. A tech
nicolor test was made, and Velvet
had been found.
Elizabeth was born in London, the
daughter of Francis Taylor, art deal
er, and the former Sara Southern,
who played the little crippled girl in
Charming Pollock's 1.-THE Fool' on
the New York stage.
Elizabeth attended school at By
ron house in London. She was seven
when war clouds began to darken
Europe and her father moved his
family to America. They have since
made their home in Beverly Hills.
Two years ago when her father
was on duty as an air raid warden,
Sam Marx, a Metro producer, was
moaning to a fellow warden about
not finding child for "Lassie, Come
Home" with Roddy Mcdowell. The
man said, Taylor, here, has a
young daughter that would be good
for that part" Sam said to Taylor,
Bring her over to my office tomor-
row, will your" Taylor did, and
Elizabeth got the part.
On Her Way
After the Lassie picture she ap-
peared with Roddy again in white
Cliffs of Dover" then was loaned to
Twentieth for "Jane Eyre" as
James Inflated school chum. Her
death scenes marked the first real
proof of her acting talent. Follow
ing this she achieved her goal of the
title role in National Velvet" in
which she teamswith Mickey Rooney.
4ASl HSAl assignment "dS awaiting
her, and she's now nearly finished
Hold High the Torch" 1t is a part
to delight any child and particularly
Elizabeth. In the cast with her are
her old friend, Lassie, the collie dog
star, and collection of wild life,
that includes black bear, coyote,
beaver, silver fox, squirrels, chip
hunks, porcupines and even skunks.
The set is little girls paradise in
which Elizabeth revels.
Her mother phoned me the other
day and said, "Hedda, Elizabeth is
just dying to bring over her pet
chipmunk to introduce him to your
pet dog, Wolfe" Well, since l love
Wolfe as she does her chip, had
to say: wait until you can get her
out of the house without an animal
then Wolfe will love to see her, and
so will l."
With or without animals, Elizabeth
will creep straight into your heart,
and let me predict now, no amount
of praise will ever spoil her.
And NoW Comes the Da.Un
Here's postwar planning that'll set
Hollywood on its heels. An independ-
ent company is being formed by
Leo McCarey, Frank Capra, Sam
Wood, David Butler, George Stevens
(when out of uniformly, and Gregory
La Cava. That's not bad. Bing
Crosby's already tied in it for one
picture year. Only way actors
and directors can have any money
left is by an independent deal, it
seems. Warmers we're smart in CIV
:v,S M nnv