The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-06-20
HOLLYWOOD
NOTES
By BOB THOMAS

10y 6S6 bEE@NAh@1
I HOLLYWOOD lP-- How do writ
ers write?
This is a topic which has Away:
! intrigued me. | was delighted Il
learn that it was also a favorite
subject of Carson Kanin and Ruth
Gordon.
The gifted married couple rank
among the most successful writers
in the country. Separately, Kanin,
a top film director. wrote Born
Yesterday" which drew a million
dollars from the film rights alone.
Miss Gordon, one of Broadway's
foremost actresses. penned two hit
plays, Over q" and Years Ago. "
Together they have turned out six
screen plays, including "A Double
Life, p" Adams Rib" and "the
Marrying Kind"
The Kanins are here to put the
finishing touches on the screen
play of Years Ago." which will
star Spencer Tracy and Debbie
Reynolds. | called to inquire about
their writing habits. and found they
were as interested in the subject
as | was. Kanin especially.
Il must say that the business of
writing ingrigues me-" he re-
marked. I've only written since
the war, and that's the reason l
don't direct pictures any more:
I'm SO much in love with writing.
Through the good fortune of being
married to Miss Gordon, | have
been able to meet a lot of writer's.
| always ask them about their
habits.
I'VE have become good friends
of Thornton Wilder. He told us that
every author has some kind of
warmup period before he can
write. Wilder takes a walk, which
is physiologically helpful in circu-
lating the blood and stimulating
thought. Villa Gather used to read
a CHAPTER of the Bible before start
ing to write.
Ernest Hemingway writes long
hand with a pencil. When he fin
ishes, he breaks all the pencil
When he starts again in the morn
ing, he warns up by sharpening
all the pencils with a knife.
when we were in France last
summer. we called on Somerset
Maugham and fired all kinds o.
questions at him. He said he got
up every morning of his life and
wrote for four hours, no more, no
less. But supposing you get sick?
we asked. He replied: If you live
by the pen, you cannot afford to
get sick. -
| asked for their own habits, anC
the Kanins replied that they work
Notwithstanding around New
York City, driving to their country
home. etc.
I'VE get some of our best work
done on the train" Miss Gordon
remarked. When we go back
East. we're taking a slower train
this time, so we can get six more
hours of work done"
Instead of indulging in the usual
husband and wife small talk,
The Karins often kick around story
ideas. They talk their plots out
together, then parcel out the writ
ing and retire to separate offices
to work,
I've found that the actual writ.
ing is the easiest part of the
work. said Kanin. Il think most
authors have things pretty well
figured out in their minds before
they start putting it into words. .
Surprising they clash over ma
terial7
We work it out" he replied.
But | don't favor too much com
promise. You often end up with
something neither one likes. If one
Of us comes IN with a project idea
that the other one doesn't like,
we work separately. For instance
Uhcn / suggested the idea for
Born Yesterday, Miss Gordon
said she didn't care for IT,
And when | told him about
over q :" she added, he said
oh | suppose its all right, but
it's not my kind Of thing -
asked If they ever got away
from writing. Yes. he replied.
we 50 to our country place and
forget about il for a few days. p
Bat she added accusingly.
then YOU sneak upstairs and
@rite for hours in that notebook
oil yours
HOLLYWOOD n -~ Bob Hope
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