Woman's Own February 20 1960 Page 47

Hero or the hit-and-run crash

continued on page 49

SHOW PAGE 

By COLLIE KNOX 

The quiet man who turned down screen stardom

Richard Johnson. . . already they're hailing him as a second Olivier - but he's no carbon copy of a famous star

"MY ambition is to be a good actor. The only way to attain this ambition is to play every type of part in the live theatre.'"

So, with refreshing modesty, said tall, dark, and let's face it, handsome, Richard Johnson, the young actor critics are tipping for the top.

In 1957 and 1958 Stratford seasons they ran out of superlatives for his performances as Mark Antony and Romeo.

Here, without doubt, is a virile hope of the British theatre.

Richard Johnson speaks very quietly, appears to be half lost in thought, has graces but no airs.

He scored a big hit in his first Hollywood film, Never So Few, with Frank Sinatra and the sultry Gina Lollobrigida. Now he has astonished everyone except himself by coming back to star in the new John Mortimer play, The Wrong Side of the Park, opposite Margaret Leighton, for, compared to his film salary, the proverbial peanuts.

Before starting rehearsals he went on TV in the A TV serial, Epilogue to Capricorn. This actor certainly works.

"MGM wanted me to stay in Hollywood on a long contract, but I said I would like to do just one film a year, so they signed me up for five years, five films.

"What struck me most about Hollywood is that it is a success place. Unless you can make it, you had better get out. 

Frankie the gentle 

"By the way, I had the privilege of introducing Laurence Olivier to Frank Sinatra, and they got on very well together." 

"Did you suffer from the famous Sinatra temperament?" I asked. 

"I never saw it," he replied. "Sinatra was gentleness itself to me. He is a perfectionist, a real professional. His nervous energy is amazing."  

Richard's wife, Sheila Sweet, will be remembered happily as the first Pat Grove of the Grove Family, and more recently as the girl friend in BBC TV's A Life of Bliss, with George Cole. 

I asked him: "Do you think it is wise for actors to marry actresses?" 

He smiled. "Certainly I do. But maybe I'm prejudiced. Sheila and I like being with one another and not in a crowd; that is why we plan to live in the country. 

"Don't think I'm being pretentious," Richard mused, "but I feel that actors can help people, take them out of themselves, help them in anxiety or stress." 

I looked curiously at this young man who has rented his own room at the top. "You like people, don't you?" I asked. 

A pause, then, "Yes, I think so, but the people I like best are natural and uninhibited." "Because you would choose to be like them, if you could?"

His hidden chord 

"Yes, that's it," he replied eagerly. It was as if I had touched a hidden chord. 

Already 'They' are hailing him as a second Richard Burton, as a second Olivier, a second this and a second that. 

But he is a second nothing. He is and very efficiently, the first Richard Johnson.

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Connie's disc is my cold-weather choice 

SINGER Connie Francis suits me fine. She's got a voice as cheering as hot punch on a cold night, and with her latest EP 

You're My Everything (MGM 711) she doesn't let me down.

Connie Francis: girl with a knock-out punch

Usually the Ray Conniff Singers trill their way through a melody without actually singing a word.  But now they've made their first singing disc. It's the Talk of the Town (Philips BBL 7354). It's just as catchy and full of zippy numbers.

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YOU CAN'T SUBMERGE CARY GRANT 

WHEN, I ask, is Hollywood going to stop firing out these war stories like cannon-balls?

Dizzy from recent celluloid battles, I went along to see Universal-International's Operation Petticoat and found a farce this time. 

Cary Grant, as Admiral Sherman, is put in command of 'a proper shower' on the submarine Sea Tiger destined for Pacific manoeuvres.

 His leading officer, Nick Evans (Tony Curtis), admits he's only joined the Navy because the uniform attracts the girls. 

Under the influence of this doubtful Romeo, the crew somehow manage to swell their numbers with five stranded nurses, set up a gambling joint on shore, and to confuse the issue even further paint the submarine pink. 

All the time Japanese planes are buzzing overhead. And when the U.S. ships mistake the pink vessel for the enemy, the situation gets tricky to say the least. But it is saved by hoisting a few ladies' undergarments.

* War was never like this! Tony Curtis, Dina Merrill in 'Operation Petticoat' 

 I must say Mr. Grant emerges admirably.

Cashing in on the boom in beat business, I hear that Renown Pictures will be releasing their baby, Beat Girl, on the world next month.

Part of the film is shot in, Soho and you'll find several genuine members of the coffee bar clan lurking in the crowd scenes.