YOUNG BLONDE FIGHTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 May 1940, Page 9

YOUNG BLONDE FIGHTER

CRASHES HOLLYWOOD. When you see Gary Cooper in “The Westerner,” watch for the performance of a young giant, who stages a fight with Cooper, which is said to be one of the greatest brawls ever filmed, writes Lon Jones from Hollywood. The young man is Forrest Tucker, who is seen in his first screen role, and for whom Sam Goldwyn predicts early stardom. Tucker found a new way to “crash” Hollywood, and he has started a career that seems likely to bring him fame and riches.

A few months ago the 24-year-old Tucker came to Tollywood on a vacation with his foster father, who gave a party for a few of his Hollywood friends. Among the guests was Mary Boland, the comedienne. Young Tucker told Miss Boland that he thought he’d like to become a movie actor. Miss Boland looked him over, and was impressed by his physique (he is 6ft. 4in. tall, weighs 2051 b.), his blue, eyes, and his startlingly blonde hair. She thought the movies could use a good-looking youngster like him. and advised him to get in touch with her agent, Sam Jaffe. Jaffe vzas impressed, too, and told the youngster he’s do what he could to get him a screen test. In the meantime, he told Tucker lb get busy himself and make himself known among the people who count in the film industry.

So Tucker, who had 500 dollars saved up for this trip, thought of. an idea of his own for getting known in Hollywood. He rented an apartment in one of the fancy Hollywood places that have a swimming pool in the courtyard and a corps of Filipino servants in gold-braided uniforms to wait on tenants.

This was an expensive way to live but Tucker looked on it as a good business investment. He then settled down to the very serious business of becoming known in Hollywood. He hired himself a Press agent, and he dropped in at all the well-known bars and night clubs in town where ho was sure of at least rubbing shoulders with top players and stars. After a few days of this somebody introduced him to Robert Stack, the young actor who gave Deanna Durbin her first screen kiss. Stack then introduced Tucker to Helen Parrish, the actress. They immediately liked each other, and began going around together. But Tucker was always smart enough to frequent only the places where he would be sure to be seen by gossip columnists. His campaign brought results. He was well known in Hollywood, but his chances for a movie career looked slim. And to add to his woes his money was almost exhausted. He finally ' decided to give up, and bought a ticket home with the last of his cash. Then Jaffe telephoned to tell him to report to Sam Goldwyn next morning for a test for a role in “The Westerner.”

Tucker was so excited he tore up his ticket, forgetting that he could get a refund and the fact that he still had to pass the test. Next morning he met Goldwyn, who was looking for a heman type to scrap with Cooper. Director Wyler said he looked fine, all but his hair, which, Wyler said, was “too beautiful for a mere male.” Tucker's hair was his pride and joy, but Wyler said, “Dye it, or else!” Tucker dyed his hair to a leaden-brown colour and got the part.