People: Aug. 15, 1969

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The Metropolitan Opera's beautiful soprano Anna Moffo has had more than her share of movie offers. But most of the roles were not for her, she said. They were just plain "dirty." Now Anna has apparently found the film she was waiting for. She is in Rome starring in Una Storia d'Amore, playing the long-suffering mistress of a flashy young cad who makes love to her (while taking blue movies with a remote-control camera), then tosses her out into the street. Doesn't all the naked grappling and wrestling qualify as dirty? Not at all, says Anna earnestly. "It's not one bit in the category of lewd films because the wife goes back to her husband in the end. She is not just cheating her husband because her emotions are involved. She is basically a woman of our time. A very honest woman who has a moment of tragedy."

"The first time I've ever been in love," The Playboy was saying in Rome. "I've found what I've been looking for in all the other women: freshness and innocence." As he spoke, he stroked the hands, hair and knees of the silent, smiling brunette by his side. After a career of elaborate bachelorhood spun out against a kaleidoscopic backdrop of beautiful faces and figures, Publisher Hugh Hefner, 43, was telling the press that his long-elusive heart had been captured at last. The girl was Barbara Benton, a svelte 19-year-old California coed who graced Playboy's July cover and is already starring in her first film, What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Business Like This? Has he already proposed marriage? asked reporters. "Not now—maybe later," replied Hugh. But it was "a serious relationship" all the same. Well, would she say yes if he did ask? the newsmen asked Barbara. Said she with a smile: "It would be fun to say no."

Postmarked Paris, the packages addressed to Moonwives Jan Armstrong, Joan Aldrin and Pat Collins contained curious-looking presents: three black wrought-iron keys. They are quite some keys, though—they open the front doors of three luxurious villas in a pine forest overlooking the Mediterranean. The ladies' admirer is Mario Marello, a real estate developer who is building a community of $40,000 vacation homes near Fréjus on the French Riviera. While he followed the moon shot, says Marello, "I couldn't keep my mind off the wives and children and the terrible anxiety they were feeling. I wanted to do something for the wives. So I decided to offer what I had—my houses." Although Marello declares that he will make "absolutely no use" of the astronauts' names, it is unlikely that NASA will allow the girls to accept the generous offer. In the past, the answer has always been: "Thanks, but no thanks."