Evening star., 1946-03-03
HOII.YWO(

HOLLYWOOD.
I believe Ray Milland will win the
Academy Award this coming week
as the best Hollywood actor for his
performance in The Lost Week.
end That is what all Hollywood
believes. And that, from a recent
trip / took East, is what New York
and Chicago and Philadelphia be-
lieve.
Id like to tell you that Ray also
believes he'll win. But before i'm
bibing a cocktail Eyes, said cock
taiD with Ray in his elegant Para
mount dressing room, I was warned
not to bring up the subject. l gath
er that Ray is superstitious and
that, while he wants to win the gold
Oscar more than anything in the
world, he is afraid that if he talks
about it he won't.
But it is okay to talk about the
picture. l ask Ray, How did you
get the role of Don, the dipsomaniac
in The Lost Weekend?'" Many
people have wondered why Ray was
chosen for the role. Until that pic
ture, Milland was better known for
light, frothy comedy, although there
is nothing light or frothy about Ray
himself.
TT was lucky break" Ray re-
plies. So I question Charles Brack-
EFT, who produced and wrote the
picture with Billy Wilder, director)
There was never any thought Of
another actor" Bracket tells me
Every one knew Ray would be good
Put a good light actor into
more serious role and he usually
does we'll. Bing Crosby, for instance
iii Going My Way and The Bells
Of St. Mary's.'"
Chosen for Workmanship.
Milland has worked in Hollywood
movies for Is years. although this is
the first year that he has been
nominated for an Academy Award
But it was another Academy Award
picture-"The Informer,'' when
made in England-that resulted in
the Hollywood trip for the Welsh
born actor. In that first version
Ray played an extra.
They wanted some one to dou-
Bile for the hero in shooting
scene says Ray. who was chosen
because OF his craftsmanship. Ray
had then just resigned from the
sWank Horse Guards wherein every
man must be more than feet tall
but where, if you haven't much
money life is rather dull.
My father allowed me 20 pounds
a month";" Ray tells me. That
wasn't very much for a young man
with expensive tastes. One night
had a date with Estelle Brody tan
American actress in London) and ]
told her, Better enjoy this evening
because it's the last time When
explained that I was busted she
asked me If l had ever thought OF
acting. No I replied. She made a
date for me to come to the studio
in London where she was making
a picture and I was hired as an
extra" When Victor McLaglen' S
brother was i'll and unable to play a
part in The Flying Scotsman" Ray
got the role. A part in London
musical followed, and then a talent
scout sent him to Hollywood for q
nonspectacular role in Bought
Down to Last Dime
Hollywood remained blissfully un-
aware that it had a future academy
winner around in the person oi
Milland who. by this time, hac
changed his name from its origina
Reginald Truscott-Jones-he took
the Milland from the mill lands
near his home in Meath, Wales
The Ray was suggested by Pete
Smith, famed. producer of shorts.
Game the time" says Ray
when I was down to my last dime
He used that dime to ride a bus tc
a Los Angeles service station-for a
job. On that bus was also riding
the casting director of Paramount
That was 13 years ago. Ray is still
under contract to Paramount.
There are other things on Rays
mind right now, apart from the
academy awards. He is building a
house in Beverly Hills. And he is
buying new yacht and is ponder
ing on a name for the latter. Wher
1 suggest The Lost Week End" he
shudders.
My house will be small, only
nine rooms. There will be three
bedrooms-a guest room. one fol
myself and my wife. and one fol
our boy. 1t will be semitropical il
design, with a white roof" Ray