Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1945-02-23

- 1Ilu JuIlIIly uOlu
long term con-
Jimmy Dunn tracts at Twenti-
eth Century-Fox
since executives chalked off their ex-
cellent performances, Joan as Aunt
Sissy, and Jimmy as Johnny Nolan,
the famous singing waiter of Betty
Smiths novel.
Joan Blondell was to a certain
extent responsible for her exile from
the screen. She was tired of play
ing an endless succession of animat-
ed, gum-chewing typists, alternat-
ing with wisecracking blonde show
girls. Then, too, her husband, Dick
Powell, was trying to get away from
singing parts and into real acting
ones. But the producers didn't seem
to want him in either during this
period. So Joan, not wanting to
embarrass him, stopped taking parts
when he couldn't get any.
Leaue of Absence
Joan toured our army camps for
ID months-went into remote posts
as far north as Labrador and gave
homesick boys of her rich, vibrant
| personality. She followed this with
an uninterrupted 60 of over two
years on Broadway. The new Blon-
dell proves that she can be some
thing more than big-hearted bag
gage with head of gold. Director
Ella Kazan tells me she gives some
| gradations in her performance of
Aunt Sissy that bode well for future
efforts.
Jimmy Dunn never actually left
the screen or the stage. But for nine
years-since 1881, when he played
bad Girl'-he appeared in minor
movies of type that didn't reach
audiences that knew him as star.
And when casting time for "a
Tree Grows in Brooklyn" filed his
agent with enthusiastic ambitions,
Jimmy said: Skip it. You're vast
ing your time. l used to be a big
star on that lot-they'd never let me
do it." Daryl Zanuck was deter
mined the screen Johnny would live
up to the singing waiter of the book.
So he ordered every possible appl-
cant tested until the perfect person
showed up. The perfect person
turned out to be Ex-Twentieth Star
James Dunn.
Frank Confession
| Few actors are as frank as jim
my in talking of the things which
helped him to lose out in his pro-
fession. II began watching the
money clauses in my contracts,
Hedda, instead of reading the scripts
carefully" he said with commend
able frankness. $50 got the dough,
but I began to slip at the box Of
fice."
Jimmy Durante's comeback in all
the mediums-night clubs, radio,
motion pictures-notably Music for
Millions" with Margaret O'Brien, is
one of the bright spots of the year
just past.
This year Joan Crawford, after
many hesitations, nominations and
consultations, will essay her screen
comeback in Mildred Pierce"
red-blooded story by James NJ. Cain.
These are some of the comebacks
that enter the mind at the moment.
Not all attempts to resume star
status, sometimes lightly laid aside,
are successful. Pm thinking now
of the many times Gloria Swanson
was scheduled for big comeback
which never came off. Buster Kea-
ton never got back where he once
had been. Ramon NovarrO's fire.
quent attempts to star were fail
ures. once his lucky period had
passed.
Yes, comeback is sort of minor
miracle in the entertainment world,
but it can happen.
Smart Thinking
Frank Sinatra tells me, rain or
shine, he's going overseas to enter
tain our fellows in June. He has
turned down several pictures that
were unsuitable. He's looking for
something with human interest.
When I reminded him Bling Crosby
was 10 years getting "Going My
Way" he replied, well, why not
copy Bing and say I'm going his
way too? I'd like to-" "Roar-
ing Waters" highlights the Shasta
dam and will co-star Bill Gargan and
Robert Lowery.