The Bad and the Beautiful Page #3

Do I produce The Faraway Mountain

or don't I?

All right, Genius Boy.

You've got it coming to you.

Make it and hang yourself.

Why don't you fire me

and get it over with?

I know the talk around the studio.

They say I need you, that you do

the work and I get the credit.

You think I don't know anything.

Well, I know one thing:

Every studio in town turned

this stinker down. Go ahead, make it.

It'll lay such a bomb you'll never get

another job in this industry.

Will I let you produce it?

You're on suspension if you don't!

I thought my Faraway Mountain

outline was perfect.

After three weeks with Jonathan,

it was twice as good.

We worked day and night.

Kay kept the coffee hot and handy.

As Jonathan shaped our material,

I saw what Hollywood...

... later came to call

the "Shields touch," Jonathan's magic.

Our toughest problem

was a leading man.

On a Harry Pebbel budget,

a top star was out of the question.

So, I directed tests, a dozen tests.

Action.

So you are Theresa.

I find you as your brother told me,

alone in the great house...

... silent, proud and beautiful.

What is it?

Are you afraid of me?

Switch over to the next one.

Action.

So you are Theresa. I find you

as your brother told me I would...

... alone in the great house,

proud, silent and beautiful.

- Who's the girl?

- Douvane said she could test with him.

What did she promise?

Who is she?

George Lorrison's daughter.

Why didn't you shoot her face?

She was drunk.

This is murder, Syd.

Let's have that list again.

You're the director, pick your poison.

Jonathan.

- What about Victor Ribera?

- Gaucho?

- Why not?

- Sure you'd like him. Who wouldn't?

- Why can't we get Gaucho?

- The whole town's after Latin lovers.

- You wouldn't stand a chance.

- How do we know till we've tried?

Maybe you could talk him

into it, Jonathan.

Syd, what would appeal

to a guy like that?

Gaucho? Well, if I know Gaucho...

I'll drive.

Jonathan forgot one thing.

He forgot he couldn't drink.

Nice boy. But does he always

take on so much altitude?

He's been working

night and day for three weeks.

Besides which, he hardly ever drinks.

- He wants me to make a picture?

- Yeah.

Why does he go to all this

lovely trouble? I'm a very simple man.

I read. What I like, I act.

What I do not like...

...I do not act. Very simple.

A conference was held

in Pebbel's office...

... to discuss production plans

for The Faraway Mountain.

The suspense was killing me.

- Yes, Mr. Pebbel?

- You can go to lunch now.

- Why don't you take a look in there?

- I think I'll stay here and be nervous.

- Good luck.

- Thanks.

Jonathan...

- Didn't he go for Gaucho?

- Go for him? He had a hemorrhage!

First time a star said he'd be

in a Pebbel picture.

Harry went to bat for us. He slugged

it out with the front office!

The Faraway Mountain will be made

with a million-dollar budget.

Location in Veracruz.

Von Ellstein to direct.

Gaucho. Wendy for the girl.

Chapman my cameraman...

- Von Ellstein to direct...

- You're taken care of.

No separate panel, but your name on

the screen:
Assistant to the producer.

- Thanks.

- You know the story. It's your baby.

I want you on the set. You have

any ideas, I'll tell Von Ellstein.

Thanks, again.

Von Ellstein to direct...

- You said he was the best.

- Sure he is.

Fred, I'd rather hurt you now

than kill you off forever.

You're not ready

to direct a million dollar picture.

But you're ready to produce one.

With Von Ellstein, I am.

You're stealing my picture!

It was my idea!

Without me it was only an idea.

All right, Jonathan.

Let's put it this way.

You gave me your word.

So I did.

I got the starting date.

In two weeks you leave for Veracruz.

Mr. Von Ellstein,

you'll go one week earlier.

Mr. Shields, I don't like producers...

...but for a man with such a script...

...it'll be a pleasure to break my rule.

Today, I shall buy a producer lunch.

- Am I included?

- By all means, no.

Today I've seen a script prepared by

a producer who thinks like a director.

- 13 years I've been making pictures...

- Goodbye, Jonathan.

Fred...

So long, Fred.

This is the first time I've found a

script I can direct exactly as it is...

I always said the boy was a genius.

Are you looking at the Oscar he got

for The Faraway Mountain?

I know what you have

against Jonathan, and no wonder.

Look what he did to you, Fred.

He brushed you off his coattail,

so you had to stand alone.

And all you've got in the world is

a wife, six kids, two Academy Awards...

...and every studio in town after you.

Why, Jonathan ruined you!

Look what he did to me.

I gave him his chance to do

The Faraway Mountain.

Four months later, his contract's up,

and he walks out of the studio.

And I go right with him.

I know how you feel about him, Georgia.

After all, you're a woman

and an actress.

The first time I saw Jonathan,

I was not a woman or an actress.

The next time I saw him,

five years later...

... I wasn't an actress.

I was a nothing.

We'll sign you up outside. 9:00 people,

we'll need you in the background.

Following people, on your way out

please report to wardrobe.

- Mr. Amiel?

- What is it, Georgia?

I'd like to sign out early if I could.

They're casting a bit at Shields.

If I could get there by 3...

- Go ahead. Good luck.

- Thanks, Mr. Amiel.

Gus drove me over.

He waited while I changed.

There were few agents in town

with fewer clients than Gus.

He was the kind of agent

who handled only bit players...

... and who never could get into

a major producer's office.

Gus is still my agent.

Girls, will you come in, please?

Line up right across here.

You stand here, you over here.

Honey, will you come down here?

Thank you.

They're for the drugstore bit.

- How about the newborn baby?

- Four here at 3:45.

Girls. Mr. Shields,

Mr. Pebbel, Mr. McDill.

How do you do?

You're the director.

Is the girl on the end all right?

Yeah, sure.

- You're it.

- Thank you. Girls, come with me.

My call came two days later.

By then, I'd memorized my one line.

I'll wait.

Read any good books lately?

- Cut.

- How was it?

- Was that all right with you?

- Take it again?

- Once again, boys! Here we go!

- How's the makeup?

Try it again.

All right, roll.

- Speed.

- Action.

I'll wait.

Read any good books lately?

- Cut!

- How was it?

Print that. Let's have a test.

- Move in for a close-up.

- New deal, boys.

Your door was unlocked.

For a one-day bit,

you sure expect a lot of company.

For that kind of company,

I don't have to trot here at 4:00 a.m.

- All I have to do is pick up a phone.

- Well, pick one up!

You were under contract to Al Cope.

- Can you hear me?

- Yes.

- You were under contract, right?

- Three years ago, for six months.

Until they found

they had another cluck.

Did you ever play

a real part in a picture?

Last year I played lead

in a little epic called Jungle Tigress.

I ran it. You played straight man

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