The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-01-28

HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 2s--About s00 ycArs ago, a guy named Shakespeare opined that "the plays the thing and have yet to observe a stellar career that failed to support his statement. All other things being equal, 1t Is the players who are lucky enough to get great stories that skye rocket Co the top. Those who fail to get top-notch vehicles, no matter how talented they themselves may oe, invariably wind up as also-rans.
 All of which is merely a round- about way of declaring that Cary Grant, Gary Cooper and three or four other free-lance stars should re- main box-offiee kings until they're too old and feeble to totter before the cameras, They're getting the cream of each years screen stories.
 Take Grant as exhibit "A". With every producer in the business yearning to put his name on bill- boards, he needn't accept any role unless he is completely satisfied with k. Last year, he was offered more than 90 pictares--all of them super productions. In each case, he was assured of the best continuity writ CTS, the best director, the best cam eraman, and the best supporting cast thas the producer could hire.
 Under such circumstances, only a complete mental lapse on his own part can give him a bad picture. Everything else is in his favor. It's small wonder that he, and the ultra fortunate few who share his priv ileges and rank, have made the old bromide about stardom being lim- tied to five or six years seem laugh able.
 IDOL CHATTER: The only sur prising feature of the Hedy Lamarr- John Loder separation is the fact that 1t was so long delayed Add incessant chatter-boxes well worth listening to: Margaret O'Brien Reports from England indicate that Vivten Leigh is several pounds more beautiful than she used to be Secret ambition: To watch Mae West running for a street car I'm just as impressed by Ginger Rogers talent for drama as you are, but l would like to cheer in another dancing role as appealing as those she used to play Studio press bulletin: "On her South American tour, Lana Turner will make every effort to travel strictly incognito' Wonder why Lizabeth Scott caught off-guard so often wears a sullen expressionP
 On the Three Wise FOOIs" set a; MOM. SO-year-old Harry Davenport fantaStically made-up as a forest pixie, was wearing such a smugly Selfsatisfied expression that I asked him "how come. .""A major triumph, : he assured me. "One of my life-ionf ambitions has finally been achieved Look!" looked-and he wiggled hi, earS-hig artificial ones created b, the makeup department. If onl, my old school chums could see m, do this, my happiness would be com. paete," he sighed.
 Being . sucker for outdoor pic lures filmed against majestic noun tain backgrounds, I'd be deli0hte, by the 10th Century Fox announce ment that Q third "Flicka" picture titled Green Grass of Wyoming" to be filmed. were 1t not for on thing. Roddie McDOwell is again t play the American rancher's sor Don't misunderStand-I think Rod die is one of the best juvenile actor in Hollywood today; I'd cheer hin to an echo in most roles. But can accept him as a range-rasied westerl kid while he retains that very Eng fish accent. It spells, for me ab an, rate, the illusion of reality.
 Speaking of juveniles, I'm remind ed of Ronnie Ralph, the li-year- whom Jackie Coogan hopes to mak Q top-flight kid star. I met Maste Ralph for the first time on a UniteI Artists test stage the other day, an, fle informed me that he can't decid whether he really wants to be an ac tor or a writer. T just won first priz in an essay contest in my school, he boasted. What subject did yol chose7" l asked. ''The Title" he re piled, very seriously, was My Pc Peeves Are All Movie Mothers Excep Mine" If there's anything in tn old rule that writers should stick t familiar subjects, he oughta ge along okay.
 Here's an irony: For II years, Ma ria Gainbareli, the New York Met