The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-05-07

NOTES
sy BOB THOMAS

l LenOT mas UCConC q nVtlS 1SScuu,
and the legend grows every day.
He is a study in extremes.
From poor beginnings in Phila.
delphia's tough neighborhoods, he
rose to earn a million dollars in
one year. After a couple Of years
of frantic, money-making activi
ties, he tossed in his career and
has done nothing for year. He
lis the defendant in the biggest Law
suit ever brought by a studio
against a star; MGM is suing him
for more than u million dollars.
He was a hearty extrovert wher
he arrived here. But in the past
eight months, he has spent most
of the time within his Beverly Hills
home, refusing to see the press
and most of his friends.
Even his weight hits amazing
highs and lows. Last year he ate
himself up to a bloated 220 pounds,
then trimmed down to hard 165
He is reported above 200 again.
What is the reason for his I'm.
usual behavior? Even his close
friends aren't sure. They blame
T, it on his sudden fame, his disillu.
sionment with false friends, his
natural Italian temperament. Blu,
when they figure they've got him
pegged, he does something new to
upset their theories.
Life with Lama has never been
dull. He arrived in Hollywood a.
wild-talking, self promoting
young man. Unlike most other.
| who have hit the town, he haG
something to promote: q tenol
voice with signs Of greatness.
| Producer Joe Pasternak put him
In two pictures with Kathryn Gray
son. Lama walked confidently
through them, but his outspoker
manner created a feud with Miss
Grayson. Then came his biggest
hit, 1.-THE Great Caruso."
His big troubles with the studio
started with his next film, ''Be.
cause You're Min e." LAMA
thought the picture wasn't good
enough. When the film was ready
to start, he turned up so pounds
overweight. This caused months Of
delays and hassles, which were
finally ironed out. Lama did the
picture. but he wasn't happy with
Then came 1.-THE Student
Prince" Lama was having finan.
cial troubles at the time. He also
repeatedly disagreed over the mus
ic in the film and tilted with the
director. He recorded the songs
| for the picture, but he didn't show
up when it came time to shoot it.
All heck broke loose. After
weeks Of waiting, MGM paid off
Ann Blyth and others signed for
the film and suspended 1t. The
studio claimed $655, 900 had been
lost and sued LAMA for 4h mil.
lion dollars which included pre-.
dicted profits on the film.
Months later, the tenor indica-
ted he might come back to work.
But negotiations fell through. He
was fired from the studio. Boss
Dore Schary said: ''Lanza has
been shown every consideration.
The Student Prince has been
scheduled and rescheduled."
The suits ante was raised To
more than II million. Harry Ger
shon Of the MGM attorneys, Loeb
and Loeb, says The new figure in.
| cludes probable profits from three
| other films which had been owed
by Lama.
Lanza's attorney, Robert Kopp,
says the suit win be fought by a
| denial Of MGM's allegations. The
tenor's only public comment has
been that ''at the proper time and
before the proper forum. all OF
the details win be revealed" He
predicted, s'The decision viii be
lin my favor"
Now that LAMA has been fired
by MGM, he is free for other jobs.
His agents, MICA. report that he
| is besieged with offers. Among the
best possibilities are radio show
and 4 film version of .The vag.
abond King" at Paramount. No
Tv is planned at present.
..His first dates win be some
concert engagements in July, .
says agent Harry Friedman. ma.
rio win take eight or nine weeks to
prepare for them"
Joe Pasternak, wh9 produced I'D
of Lanza's pictures. says he ..feeis
like 4 father whose child has gone
wrong" He Is going ahead with
"The Student Prince" Vic Da-
none has been testing and win
probably play Lsnza's role.
Asked for comment On Faster
! nak's words, Kopp declared. The
relationship is apt. But Mario feels
like q son whose father has gone
wrong"
| UNIFICATION Oh DEATH