Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1945-04-13

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Fred MacMur- Fred MacMurray
ray is the very
core of everything that is simple,
Straightforward, and American. He's
as down-to-earth as applesauce or
the boy next door. He's the sort of
fellow every man and woman wants
a son to be. He's got integrity-and
try and beat that word when you're
cropping for tag to give the meas
ure of man.
A record of 40 top pictures since
1885, when Fred came into motion
pictures from the New York stage,
is proof to doubters that you can
be all these things and roll up big
ger box office than the glamour
playboys any day. Less than a year
ago Twentieth Century signed Fred
MacMurray to long-term contract.
They knew they had secured one of
the most valuable star properties
this industry ever produced. The
clear, fresh baritone which won him
nod from Hollywood when he was
playing in Roberta" on Broadway
and his slick way with a saxophone
are capitalized in where Do We Go
From Here" his first for Twentieth.
Double Indemnity" was the last
big release in which he won public
approval.
Aims to Please
On the heels of this singing part,
Fred, with typical MacMurray YER
satility, embarked on the role he is
now shooting, Captain Eddie" the
story of the famous racing driver,
Eddie Rickenbacker. This is the
tale of an al-American-a typical
product of this democracy, like Fred
himself. His third will be pardon
My Past" which Fred will produce
and star in as well.
He is deeply concerned with the
customers" when it comes to max
ing a picture. Other stars refer
to the public as my audience" or
my fans" To Fred they'll always
be the customers" and he's of the
firm belief the customer is always
right.
His temperament, his art, and his
income never stand between him
and humanity. The very names that
build the framework of his biog-
raphy are down to earth and all
American: Kankakee, ILL.,, where he
was born, and Beaver Dam, Wis,
where he grew up, and Carroll COL
lege at Waukesha, Wis.,, where he
put the finishing touches on his edu-
cation.
No Silver Platter
Like most successful men, Fred
helped earn that education He won
the American Legion award for the
highest scholastic and athletic rec
ord at college. He bought a sax
played it, too, in the American Lee
glon band. When orchestra jobs were
thin Fred was a house-to-house
salesman of electrical appliances,
store clerk-anything to keep him
and his mother going.
Il dread interviewers, Hedda," he
told me, because I'm bad copy. I'm
just plain guy. My wife and l and
the Ray MilIands have lots of fun
together just doing the things all the
millions of other taxpayers are do
ing around these United States. Moth
ing whimsical, nothing fancy"
Fred and Lillian have two chill
dren-Susan, four, and Robert, one
year, both adopted. They want four
more and recently bought the Leland
Hayward home in Brentwood to
make room for the kids.
DoUn to Earth
Il don't like to hold forth about
my notion of things. Why should my
opinions of life, love, death, and
taxes be any more interesting than
those of any man in the street,"
But there's plenty going on in that
head of his. He's a solid investor.
Believes in property, in the land.
Owns ranch near Santa Rosa with
purebred stock. He buys good pic
lures for his Brentwood home, etch-
ings and canvases he likes to look
at and live with; not meaningless
things of vast value to serve as
publicity items.
Unfair to the Fair SEX
The New York theater has two dis
tinguished women producers-Mar-
garet Webster and Antoinette Perry.
Paramount has a distinguished
woman or did have - Phyllis
Laughton. Mitch Leisen refused to
make pictures without her. Paulette
Goddard won't do one without Miss
Laughton's help. Paramount admits
she's wonderful. The only reason
they won't make her full ledged
director is, so I'm told, they're
afraid the men won't take orders
from a lady. Since when. fellows7