Movies

If the rumors are true that Michael Jackson's lavish life style has left him broke, he would not be the first famous celebrity in financial straights.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's victory in the California Recall Race brought to mind the many times Hollywood figures have been involved in politics. Here are some related anecdotes.

Jimmy Stewart was seen one night in 1933 in New York performing on stage as a female impersonator by an MGM Studios talent scout. He was signed to a contract to come to California to work for the prestigious studio. Studio Head Louis B. Mayer expressed doubt when he first saw him,"He's so skinny! A beanpole." Efforts were made to put weight on him, the 133 pound actor was constantly sharing butterfingers candy bars with Ann Miller which seemed to fatten her up more than him.

The best-selling novel Jaws published in 1974 primarily focused on a man-eating shark that terrorized a small island town. There was a subplot involving a love affair between two of the main characters, the young scientist and the police chief's wife. There was also a twist involving the Mafia using threats to keep the beaches open which helped turn more characters into fish food. Critics saw all sorts of hidden meanings and symbolism in the story.

To the average person the life of a television star seems like a glamorous occupation. But many actors signed to long term contracts feel more imprisoned than privileged.

How a star appears to the public often involves careful planning which can sometimes backfire. Pop Star Michael Jackson enjoyed the public image of being a Peter Pan like eccentric. He would personally leak crazy stories to the tabloids. Later when his publicists told him that he went too far with his wacko image, the gloved one did a series of interviews where he called the tabloids," a bunch of garbage."

It was originally called The Big Heart. Daryl Zanuck the shrewd head of Twentieth Century Fox couldn't buy the image of Santa Claus in a court room. But like so many ventures Miracle On 34th Street (1947) came about because of passion, in this case that of Director George Seaton who had gone to New York on his own and made arrangements with management from the real Macys and Gimbels to film in their department stores. Impressed by Seaton's commitment Zanuck gave the show a green light.

Britney Spears' rapid walk down the aisle and subsequent annulment continued a long line of wild marriages in Tinseltown.

When you are in business every person you hire gets paid before you do and it may take years, even decades before you see a payoff. That was certainly the case with Walt Disney who spent his whole working career dealing with tough-minded bankers, demanding stockholders and difficult employees.

Filmmakers have found the horror genre to be a potentially low budget, high profit way of breaking into the business.

Katherine Hepburn came to Los Angeles in 1932 and like Calista Flockart, had a theater person's snobbish view towards Hollywood. In person, she impressed no one with her looks and style, and executive David O. Selznick worried about her "horse face". She finished her first film, Bill Of Divorcement with John Barrymore and told him," Thank God we're finished. I never want to act with you again". The Great Man replied," My dear girl. I wasn't aware that you had".

Writers are often are greatly surprised or disappointed by how their work is changed when it is adapted for the big screen.

For the last twenty years of his life, John Wayne often had a profound effect on people that crossed his path. Meeting him in person for some was like meeting Abraham Lincoln or George Washington. Yet the Duke usually stayed humble and almost always kept his sense of humor.

When Jim Carrey was paid a record breaking salary, $20,000,000, for The Cable Guy (1996), John Travolta topped him by asking for $20,000,001 for the movie Michael (1996) and got it. But there is always someone who makes more than you.

Gene Hackman once lamented that the worst thing about becoming a famous actor is that you lose the ability to observe people without being noticed yourself. But some performers are so good at disguises that notoriety is no obstacle.