Cinema: A Star Is Born

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The studio formalities were a human test before the screen test. Deborah and Tony arrived shortly before noon. The first order of business was meeting Benny Thau, padishah of new talent and liaison officer between Mt. Olympus and sea level. Benny was most cordial. Casually Gable strolled in. One by one, Benny flicked the switch to all the members of the High Council—Eddie Mannix, Sam Katz, Howard Strickling, Arthur Hornblow. One by one they filed in to look over their corporate purchase. They were charmed by this lovely girl. They recognized her at once as a lady. They thought that she handled herself well. In fact, they were more convinced than ever that she was perfect for Kay, The Hucksters' heroine. Said Deborah later: "It was like being anesthetized. I was cross-eyed looking at everybody."

Then the big moment arrived. L.B. himself would give them audience. In fact, he had arranged a little intime luncheon in the fourth floor executive dining room, next to the gymnasium and steam room. The hard, magnificent old man was graciously interested in Tony's war record. He was even more interested, if less conversational about Miss Kerr. But the demitasses were hardly drained before things began to hum at the studio. Deborah knew that she had passed Test No. 1.

"On the Team." She was taken down to Publicity and introduced to Melvina Pumphrey (Mel is very good with new girls). It would be Mel's job to help Miss Kerr "adjust" to a new way of life. Mel would be her immediate contact with the public and press. She would instruct Deborah in what to say and what not to say. She would be present at every interview and would report to the studio on what had been said. Deborah and Tony were reminded, in velvet tones, that they were "on the team" now and were expected to "play ball."

Meanwhile, Producer Hornblow was furiously at work. He called in Irene (Irene is a superb couturiére) and discussed Deborah's wardrobe. Within a week he wanted to shoot the scene in which The Hucksters' hero makes a pass at The Hucksters' heroine, and he wanted a dress for it right away. While Irene rushed to obey, Deborah was rushed to Make-up and Hairdressing. Make-up did everything to Deborah Kerr's face that the most ingenious cosmetic artists in the world can do. In the end, it decided that it was impossible to do anything for her that nature had not done already. Hornblow agreed (Jack Dawn really knows his stuff). Deborah's face photographs beautifully with nothing but a base, lipstick, eyebrow pencil and a minimum of highlighting. Then Hornblow and Director Jack Conway studied the hairdressing tests very carefully (L.B. believes in trying everything on film), expressing their feelings in low hieroglyphic grunts.

Somehow Deborah also had to squeeze in two sittings in the portrait gallery (the national magazines would be clamoring for pictures). Then there was the housing problem. The studio took care of that. By the greatest good fortune, Screenwriter Casey Robinson (noblesse oblige) had made his Pacific Palisades house available, a charming English-type cottage spang in the middle of an orange grove. This was a great load off Deborah's and Tony's mind (L.B. believes that a good star is a happy star).