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Show t . 1 AA Poking at lllOLLYWOOD 'i LJOW evil can you get? The answer an-swer seems to be go as far as you like. Look at the cinematic cads who have become Idols of millions, mil-lions, all because they gave out with that certain schmaltz when they smiled and got tough. Squish a grapefruit in a lady's pan and become an international idol. Fight the frails, fool 'em, kick em in the teeth. That's right, boys, be a gold plated heel. There's fame in being infamous; success In being snide; luxury in being a louse. Alan Ladd, who hauls home more fan mail than the rest of the Paramount ' boys, collected his claque through rugged, hair-on-the-chest snarls and being quick on the draw. He was an overnight sensation sensa-tion in the role of the Raven. "This Gun for Hire" put Ladd in the top money class. "Mask of Dimitrios" brought immediate im-mediate celebrity to Zachary Scott, who played the - most baleful bum f"' " vsrr'"71 po s s I b 1 e . He ftf ' ? wasn't even nice y ? " to his mother. ' "Evil appeals RSto ?j to the romantic," , " j fM said Scott, who's 'ty A right back being 7 j, swinish in; - rjr ' "Strange Honey- 'jA, moon," since he's ' ' ' finished "PI old dx&j&d Autumn in Your zachary Scott Hand. "It's human nature to want to kick over the traces and be unconventional. uncon-ventional. Don't ask me why. But so few people have the nerve. Cases of wishful thinking are universal. Evil somehow is regarded as colorful and evildoers are thought to have intestinal intes-tinal fortitude for daring to be what they are. "The public seems to find escapism escap-ism in pictures about evil, and the sinners themselves are looked upon as fascinating because they're dangerous, dan-gerous, and danger appeals to the multitude because it offers respite from routine," says the new devil hero, Scott. Evil Lingers On Although' "Public Enemy" was produced years ago, that touching sequence' wherein James Cagney wallops Mae Clarke with a grapefruit grape-fruit is still recalled but lovingly by the baddies. That performance definitely established estab-lished Cagney in motion pictures. Today he's starring in independent productions produced by his brother Bill, and has just finished a new rugged portrayal in "Blood on the Sun." Clark Gable owes his start to dirty doings in a sagebrush thriller, "The Painted Desert." Gable hadn't even been heard of before when he wras hired for that job. But with the release of "The Painted Desert'' all worries ceased for Gable. He snagged an M-G-M contract and everlasting fame. From Pasadena Playhouse obscurity obscu-rity to a dynamic bit as a downed Nazi aviator who provided Greer Garson a few horrible minutes in "Mrs. Miniver" is the tale of Helmut Hel-mut Dantinc. His name was on every casting director's lips once his nasty Nazi interpretation was seen. Warners cornered the newcomer's signature on a term deal and he's been causing caus-ing the heroines panic ever since. All of which hasn't affected Dantine with the girls of the world. They think he's just divine. List Keeps Growing As a menace in "Ship Ahoy" a Red Skelton conglomeration of non-sense non-sense John Hodiak arose from the multitude of contractces. That he-man he-man quality brought him "Lifeboat" opposite Tallulah Bankhcad. The rest has been gravy for Master Hodiak, Ho-diak, whose M-G-M future is really real-ly bright Gene Kelly realizes the value of being a heel. From being a personable per-sonable no-good in "Pal Joey," a Broadway musical, Kelly attracted Hollywood's eye. His introduction to the camera was as a guy you loved hating in "For Me and My Gal." What a dirty life he gave Judy Garland! The champion nasty character of them all is George Sanders, who saunters back and forth between the devil and the angels. George's hateful dandy in "Lloyds of London" Lon-don" brought him to our notice. It was his first big splash, lie's been splashing ever since, and I don't mean in a bathtub, either. Yes, it pays to be bad. Any actor, aspiring for fame, should not make heaven his destination, desti-nation, as far as film roles are concerned, con-cerned, but arm himself with a pitchfork and horns and charm the multitude. Answer to Her Prayer R.K.O. has signed Maureen O'llara for "The Fabulous Invalid." This play Is taken from the Broadway Broad-way hit by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. It's a drama of the American theater, told through the career of a famous actress, and will be done in-technicolor. The role will give her a chance to do some real acting as well as look beautiful. beauti-ful. . . . Dinah Shore serenaded sailors sail-ors on a warship at San Pedro the other morning. At sunrise ihe sang "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning." |