He would have to be reinducted into the army, but a deferment was given to enable Ladd to make Two Years Before the Mast (the release of which was postponed two years). "A former talent agent for stars like Robert Redford and Judy Garland, Ladd Jr. joined 20th Century Fox in 1973, and later became president. The producer and executive of the movie industry, Alan Ladd Jr, passed away at 84-year-old. I am always asking, Can this role be more interesting if its played by a woman rather than a man? he told The Los Angeles Times in 1988. This had been a successful vehicle for George Raft several years earlier, and Paramount wanted "a sure-fire narrative to carry him on his way. Where to read in English, What happened at Twist Of Fate sanctuary? It premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in April 1953,[77] grossing over $114,000 in its four weeks there (a large sum at the time),[78] and earning $8million in North America over its initial run. Even during the filming of This Gun for Hire, Paramount knew it had a potential star and announced Ladd's next film, an adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's story, The Glass Key (1942). There, he greenlit George Lucas' $10 million science-fiction film the original script was titled The Adventures of Luke Starkiller as Taken from the Journal of the Whills, Saga 1, Star Wars when few in Hollywood saw any potential in it.Lucas once recalled his meeting with Ladd, whose faith in the filmmaker began with an early screening of Lucas' American Graffiti before it was released. When a loan default put MGM in the hands of Credit Lyonnais, the French bank acrimoniously ousted Ladd, who was eventually given $10 million to sever his contract and two projects to take with him. Alcohol, Drugs Said Ladd's Death Cause. Universal made him a member of a small group of youngsters the studio hoped, by proper training, to convert into movie stars. Having starred in such television programs as VEGA$ and Spenser: For Hire. It should be made in black and white, Mr. Brooks wrote in his book All About Me! "My biggest contribution to Star Wars was keeping my mouth shut and standing by the picture," Ladd told Variety. April 17, 2023, 11:14 am, by She was also survived by two brothers, Alan Ladd Jr. and David Ladd. Unfortunately, by the 1960s he also began to experience a few health problems. It was only a small part, but it involved a touching death scene that brought him attention within the industry. In 1976 he became the companys president. However, his legacy lives on through his films. It took me back to the old Saturday matinees, he told The New York Times in 1977 as Star Wars, released a few months earlier, was smashing box-office records. April 2, 2022, 4:14 pm Mr. Ladd's big break came in 1939 when he met Sue Carol, a motionpicture actress turned agent. "[22], Both the film and Ladd's performance played an important role in the development of the gangster genre: "That the old-fashioned motion picture gangster with his ugly face, gaudy cars, and flashy clothes was replaced by a smoother, better looking, and better dressed bad man was largely the work of Mr. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. His last picture was completed last summer, The Carpetbaggers, fil.med at Paramount, where Mr. Ladd's career started. Facts Verse Ladd Jr.'s daughter, Amanda Ladd-Jones, confirmed he died on Wednesday in a social media statement . [58], "When a star's off the screen, he's 'dead'", Ladd later reflected. Ladd's cool, unsmiling, understated persona proved popular with wartime audiences, and he was voted by the Motion Picture Herald as one of the 10 "stars of tomorrow" for 1942. When other studios didnt want it, he took on the project that became Star Wars. He later guided Chariots of Fire, Young Frankenstein and numerous other movies. He eventually returned to America and was eager to become one of Hollywoods most successful film producers. But the same year that 1979 film opened, after clashing with Fox chairman Dennis Stanfill, Ladd left to form the independent production company Ladd Co.On his own, Ladd produced, beside The Right Stuff and Blade Runner, films like Body Heat and Police Academy.But Ladd Co., weighed down by some disappointments and hefty budgets for films like The Right Stuff, struggled to be profitable. Thank you. He was 84. Mr. Ladd, though, was. [105], In 1963, Ladd's career looked set to make a comeback, when he took a supporting role in The Carpetbaggers, based on the best-selling novel. Here is all you want to know, and more! In 1985 he was brought in to run one of its movie divisions; soon after that he was named president and chief operating officer, and then chairman. Then, the breaks began. It kept going on; it wasnt stopping, he recalled later. His death news got confirmed by Amanda Ladd-Jones, the producers beloved daughter. At his death he owned a large hardware store in Palm Springs. He also received a six-year offer to make Adventure Limited, a TV series. [] More, Lou Reed is one of those legendary performers whose influence cant be matched. Allan Ladd continued to act regularly in films throughout the 1950s and 1960s. I sit in a corner by myself and am tickled to death when someone comes over to talk to me., Copyright 2023 /The Celebrity Deaths.com/All Rights Reserved. Despite the failure of The Great Gatsby, Alan Ladd was still a popular film star and had a great reputation for being easy to work with. Back in Hollywood, he made 13 West Street, as a star and producer, for Ladd Enterprises. Also pictured is co-producer Bruce Davey. Anyone can read what you share. As his parents divorced at a young age, he spent most of his life raised by his mother. Date Of Death: January 29, 1964 Cause Of Death: N/A Ethnicity: White Nationality: American Alan Ladd was born on the 3rd of September, 1913. Rackin wrote and produced Ladd's subsequent film, titled Santiago, which he made for Warner Bros. For Jaguar, Ladd produced, but did not appear in, A Cry in the Night. Facts Verse Hot [115][116] Their only child, Alan Ladd, Jr., was born on October 22, 1937. PALM SPRINGS, Calif., Jan. 31 (AP)Alan Ladd did not die of a heart attack, but the cause of death will have to be determined by laboratory tests, a deputy coroner said today. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Carol Lee Stuart Ladd Anderson in 2010. Alan Ladd was cast in the 1942 film This Gun for Hire an adaptation of the Graham Greene novel A Gun for Sale. Ladd gave her the money, thinking it was for alcohol. [108], On November 2, 1962, Ladd was found lying unconscious in a pool of blood with a bullet wound near his heart. Moreover, he had won several awards for his work as well. [85] Ladd's fee for his Warwick films was $200,000 against 10% of the profits, plus living expenses.[86]. His father died when he was four. His two stints at the studio were less successful than his time at Fox, but movies he made there included Moonstruck (1987), Rain Man (1988) A Fish Called Wanda (1988) and Thelma & Louise (1991). [89] However, despite Ladd's presence, a series did not result. Ladd also backed Alien. He was 84.Ladd died Wednesday, his daughter Amanda Ladd-Jones, who directed the documentary Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies, wrote in a Facebook post. But no director dangled a fat contract in front of the handsome laborer and no feminine star demanded that he become her leading man so Mr. Ladd retired from manual labor and enrolled at the Bard Dramatic School. Alan Ladd, Actor, Dies at 50; Appeared in 150 Movie Roles; Became Famous for Part of Killer in This Gun for Hire Was Hero of Shane, https://www.nytimes.com/1964/01/30/archives/alan-ladd-actor-dies-at-50-appeared-in-150-movie-roles-became.html. He had his own company, Jaguar Productions, and invested heavily in real estate. Ladd died Wednesday, his daughter Amanda. Unfortunately, he only received one small, uncredited role in the 1932 film Once In a Lifetime. I think he was very conscious of his looks. 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His black-lashed eyes, however, gave nothing away; it was 'take me as I am' or 'I'm the boss around here'. Ladd appeared unbilled in Once in a Lifetime (1932), but the studio eventually decided Ladd was too blond and too short, and it dropped him after six months. 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And he did so with an easy-going, tight-lipped manner that made him widely admired by stars and filmmakers. Lets look back at Alan Ladds life and career as well as how his son paved his own way in Hollywood. [122], Alan Ladd, Jr., was a film executive and producer and founder of the Ladd Company. [30] He had a cameo spoofing his tough guy image in Star Spangled Rhythm, which featured most of Paramount's stars, and then starred in China (1943) with Loretta Young for director John Farrow, with whom Ladd made a number of movies. Alan Jr. studied at the University of Southern California, was called up as an Air Force reservist during the Berlin crisis of the early 1960s and, once released, went to work in the mailroom of the talent agency Creative Management Associates. Ladd Jr was born on October 22, 1937, in Los Angeles. Ladd also backed Alien. But the same year that 1979 film opened, after clashing with Fox chairman Dennis Stanfill, Ladd left to form the independent production company Ladd Co. On his own, Ladd produced, beside The Right Stuff and Blade Runner, films like Body Heat and Police Academy.. Shane, in which he played a strong, silent, courageous title character, was particularly popular. Either way, Ladd Jr. had contributed a lot to the movie industry. [9] Suicide was ruled out. [44] And Now Tomorrow was a melodrama, starring Loretta Young as a wealthy deaf woman who is treated (and loved) by her doctor, played by Ladd; Raymond Chandler co-wrote the screenplay, and it was filmed in late 1943 and early 1944. He was cleaning a gun at his Hidden Valley ranch when he tripped. April 17, 2023, 11:08 am, by He was still unsure about whether the film would work when he attended the premiere in San Francisco until he heard the tidal wave of applause at the end. Sadly, Chelsea passed away in 2021. Alan Walbridge Ladd (September 3, 1913 - January 29, 1964) was an American actor and film producer. [133] Ladd suffered from chronic insomnia and regularly used sleeping pills and alcohol to induce sleep. He was 50 years old. While he survived this accident, it took its toll on his health. Hopefully, we will get more information about him in the future; while his family passes through these difficult times. [102] Spelling also wrote Guns of the Timberland for Jaguar and Warners, in which Ladd appeared; it was his last movie for Warners. Allan Ladd Jr. first worked with 20th Century Fox and had a successful career assisting with the production of popular films including Star Wars and Alien. Ladd was cast, instead, in Branded, a Western. "I'd produce. Alan Ladd was neither a brilliant Broadway actor lured to the motion pictures nor a soda jerk snatched from a Kansas drugstore. His portrayal of Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby earned him additional acclaim. Mr. Brooks went on to make several other movies with Mr. Ladd, including the Star Wars parody Spaceballs in 1987, when Mr. Ladd was chairman of MGM. As an independent producer, Ladd Jr. helped steer films including Once Upon a Time in America (1984), The Right Stuff (1983) Gone, Baby Gone (2007) and Mel Gibson's Braveheart (1995), for which he won best picture. His son, Alan Ladd Jr., carried the torch lit by his father and went on to become a successful film producer. I never made any contact with him. On January 29, 1964, at age fifty,Alan Laddwas founddeadat his Palm Springs home of an overdose of sedatives and alcohol. He attended the Oscars in March 1943,[34] and in September he appeared in a trailer promoting a war loan drive titled Letter from a Friend. He was injured falling off a scaffold and decided to quit. NEW YORK Alan Ladd Jr., the Oscar-winning producer and studio boss who as a 20th Century Fox executive greenlit Star Wars, has died. He also announced plans to turn Box 13 into a feature-film script, and was hoping for cameos from old friends, such as Veronica Lake and William Bendix. "I guess it is kind of a sweet justice," Ladd told the Los Angeles Times in 1996. In view of the circumstances of Mr.. 3.3k Views. I knew right then and there, Mr. Brooks added, that I had finally met a studio chief that I could really trust.. He was 84. [69], In 1951, Ladd's contract had only one more year to run. "Paramount is like a home to me", he said, "and I'd like to remain on the lot for one picture a year. His death news got confirmed by Amanda Ladd-Jones, the producer's beloved daughter. Most of all, he previously worked at MGM and Fox as an executive. He was 50 years old. [7], Ladd's performance in The Mikado was seen by a talent scout. The New York Times obituary (January 30, 1964).[21]. His only false move may have been granting Lucas' merchandising rights rather than a raise when American Graffiti became a hit. Let's look back at Alan Ladd's life and career as well as how his son paved his own way in Hollywood [49] He also found time to make a cameo in a big-screen version of Duffy's Tavern. We all hit it off at our first meeting because the first thing Laddie Mr. Ladds nickname said was, Youre absolutely right. Therefore, the death cause remains unknown for the moment. He then convinced Ladd that he should play the title role in an adaptation of The Great Gatsby, to which Paramount held the film rights; Ladd became enthusiastic at the chance to change his image, but the project was delayed by a combination of censorship wrangles and studio reluctance.[61]. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. History is often guilty of erring on the side of sensationalism but in Ladd's case suicide is the logical assumption. _______________________________________________________________________. A prominent producer and executive of the American movie industry, Alan Ladd Jr., passed away. He soon became an agent, representing, among others, Judy Garland. He passed away on March 2 nd, 2022. Did Alan Ladd Jr suffer from an illness? The arrangement with Warner was not exclusive, enabling Ladd to work for other studios. Alan Ladd was an iconic actor who went through tremendous hurdles to become a successful actor in Hollywood. "I'd like to retire from acting", he said in 1960. It was an arduous four-month journey to travel to California and the family first lived in a migrant camp in Pasadena before settling in the San Fernando Valley. He served in the Air Force in World War II and came out of it as much in demand as ever. He was married to his second wife, Sue Carol, from 1942 to 1964. In all,. Thank you.. Mr. Ladd, who at various times held top positions at 20th Century Fox and MGM/UA as well as running the Ladd Company, which he founded in 1979, was known for a relatively laid-back style in a business full of intrusive executives. His first motion picture part was in 1939 as a seasick voyager in Rulers of the Sea. [111] This was accepted by the police investigating. Ladd died Wednesday, his daughter. This company went on to become one of the most successful production companies in Hollywood. Release for this film was delayed. His father, an accountant, died when Alan was only 4 years old leaving his immigrant mother to look after her son. [74], Ladd's final three movies for Paramount were Thunder in the East, Shane, and Botany Bay. I cant be a villain or anything close to one. Alan Ladds first marriage was to his high school sweetheart Marjorie with whom he was married to from 1936 until they divorced in 1957. No cause of death was given.Ladd Jr., the son of Shane star Alan Ladd, started in the film business as his father's stuntman but rose to become one of its leading and most widely liked executives. He was leading the movie division of Path Communications when that company acquired MGM, and in 1991 he became chief executive. [114], Ladd married Marjorie Jane "Midge" Harrold, a high school sweetheart, in October 1936. While the role in This Gun for Hire was a supporting role, Alan Ladds performance was so memorable that producers realized he was destined to become a leading man. [12], Ladd managed to save and borrow enough money to attend an acting school run by Ben Bard, who had taught him when he was under contract at Universal. In 1948 a survey was taken of the film-going habits of 4,500 teenagers in Lakewood, Ohio. [32], Ladd briefly served in the United States Army Air Forces' First Motion Picture Unit. Whispering Smith (1948) was his first Western and color film, and Shane (1953) was noted for its contributions to the genre. What about any of the films produced by Alan Ladd Jr. Do you think that people still remember Alan Ladd as one of the great actors of the Western genre? His first film for Jaguar was Drum Beat (1954), a Western directed by Delmer Daves, which was reasonably successful at the box office. Allan would soon discover, however, that there was another genre where his talents would shine. Ladd also kept acting, following the path of many Hollywood stars made Duel of Champions (1961), a peplum in Italy. Popular actor who played the title role in the 1953 western movie, Shane. As an actor he was famous for being a cold, calm killer or a cold, calm good guy, who was nearly a bad guy. Facts Verse And he called me up and said, OK. And I never saw him again, until I told him that the film was finished and I wanted him to see it. His other notable credits include Two Years Before the Mast (1946) and The Great Gatsby (1949). NEW YORK (AP) Alan Ladd Jr., the Oscar-winning producer and studio boss who as a 20th Century Fox executive greenlit "Star Wars," has died. ____________________________________________________________________________. This was a unique sitcom that managed to combine comedy, romance, science fiction, and fantasy all at once! I had to get him to lower his voice too; it was too high. Looking on are co-producers Alan Ladd Jr., left, and Bruce Davey. Alan Ladd Jr., who as a producer and studio executive was a guiding hand behind scores of successful films, none bigger than "Star Wars," which he championed when its young director, George. "[21] John Houseman later wrote that Ladd played "a professional killer with a poignant and desolate ferocity that made him unique, for a time, among the male heroes of his day. and immediatelywas discovered by talent scouts from Universal Studios. They lived in a migrant camp in Pasadena, California, at first and then moved to the San Fernando Valley, where Beavers went to work at FBO Studios as a painter. She wrote about the sad news and informed the public on Facebook. "If I were more eloquent, I would have thanked Credit Lyonnais for treating me shabbily and allowing me to take this project with me. Ladd Jr. won a Best Picture Oscar for Braveheart and commissioned George Lucas to write Star Wars. I cant play black or gray. However, many audience members didnt realize that. In August 1933 Ladd was one of a group of young "discoveries" signed to a long-term contract with Universal Pictures. He adopted her daughter Carol and also had two children with her, daughter Alana, and son David. But Ladd Co., weighed down by some disappointments and hefty budgets for films like The Right Stuff, struggled to be profitable. (AP Photo/Eric Draper, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news, Jalen Hurts, Eagles agree to $255M extension. That the old fashioned motion picture gangster with his ugly face, gaudy cars and flashy clothes was replaced by a smoother, better looking and better dressed bad man was largely the work of Mr. Ladd. Mitchum later told a journalist that the producers met Ladd at his home after "he'd just crawled out of his swimming pool and was all shrunken up like a dishwasher's hand. No cause of death was given. Their "overwhelming first choice" as film star was Alan Ladd. Following financial troubles, the family moved to California when Alan was 7 with the hopes of finding more opportunities and a better life in the Golden State. His popularity hadnt waned at all, and he continued to get offers to appear in films upon his return from the army. Ladd's deal with Warner Bros. was for one film per year for 10 years, starting from when his contract with Paramount expired. [9][109][110] At the time, Ladd said he thought he heard a prowler, grabbed a gun, and tripped over, accidentally shooting himself. In fairness, MGM couldnt have afforded to make this film at the time. This film had been planned since 1946, but production was delayed due to a combination of difficulties with the censor, and Paramount's reluctance for Ladd to play such a challenging part. His untimely and tragic death shocked the industry and tributes poured in from his colleagues. Facts Verse [106] This was a co-production between Embassy and Paramount, meaning Ladd was filming on the Paramount back lot for the first time in over a decade. He created roles played both by himself, but also other actors, including the part of Rick Blaine in an adaptation of Casablanca. "[35] In December 1943, he was listed as the 15th most popular star in the U.S.[39], Ladd fell ill and went to the military hospital in Santa Barbara for several weeks in October. [6], Ladd enrolled in North Hollywood High School on February 18, 1930. This Gun for Hire that made him famous. He would soon star in a noir film that would change his destiny. They later moved to Oklahoma City where Alans mother remarried. By then Mr. Brooks was box-office gold, thanks in part to Young Frankenstein, which had earned more than $100 million, and, as he told The Los Angeles Times in 1987, he could have taken Spaceballs to just about any major studio. [1] He was posted to the Walla Walla Army Air Base at Walla Walla, Washington, attaining the rank of corporal. For his son the film industry executive and producer see, Freelance star: Warner Bros., Universal, Warwick. Lets hear your thoughts in the comments. The offers kept coming in and he appeared mostly in crime and drama films. In 1962, Alan Ladd was found lying unconscious in his own blood! If I were more eloquent, I would have thanked Credit Lyonnais for treating me shabbily and allowing me to take this project with me. He chose Braveheart.. Alan Ladd Jr., who as a producer and studio executive was a guiding hand behind scores of successful films, none bigger than Star Wars, which he championed when its young director, George Lucas, was having trouble getting it made, died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. He was also the producer for the upcoming film North of Cheyenne. Ladd then received an offer to star in Boy on a Dolphin (1957), a film being made in Greece for 20th Century Fox. He passed away on March 2nd, 2022. He was a legend amongst legends. In a 1999 interview with The New York Times, the director Norman Jewison recalled his experience working with Mr. Ladd on the 1987 hit Moonstruck, which won three Oscars. Ladd's next role was a significant change of pace, playing Jay Gatsby in the 1949 version of The Great Gatsby, written and produced by Richard Maibaum. He worked a series of odd jobs and began auditioning for roles. I also insisted that he get himself a decent set of dentures. Mr. Ladd then went to work for The San Fernando Valley SunRecord, but still desirous of being an actor, he took a job as a studio griplaborerwhich he held for two years. April 17, 2023, 10:56 am, by I don't remember hearing him laugh, or ever seeing him laugh. Allan played Jay Gatsby in the 1949 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby though this wasnt a big success. Forest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale, Los Angeles,California,United States. In addition, they had two children of their own, Alana (born April 21, 1943, when Ladd was in the army[121]) and David Alan (1947). The first two films were solid hits, each earning over $2 million in rentals in the U.S. and Canada; Two Years Before the Mast was a blockbuster, earning over $4 million and ranking among the top 10 most popular films of the year. She was the only daughter of actor Peter Lorre and his wife Anne Marie Brenning. The producer took his last breath at the age of 84-years-old. [67] Before he made this film, he appeared in Red Mountain, produced by Hal Wallis. All, he only received one small, uncredited role in the 1942 film this Gun for Sale popularity waned! Actor Peter Lorre and his wife Anne Marie Brenning become a successful film producer 122 ] Ladd... January 30, 1964 ). [ 21 ] Lorre and his wife Anne Marie Brenning mother! City where Alans mother remarried Palm Springs home of an overdose of sedatives and alcohol where to in. Owned a large hardware store in Palm Springs his contract with Paramount expired also kept acting following! When Alan was only a small part, but it involved a touching death scene brought! Popularity hadnt waned at all, and fantasy all at Once [ ] more, Reed... Verse Ladd Jr., was a film executive and producer, for Ladd Enterprises Universal,.!, 2023, 10:56 am, by the police investigating in Hollywood, he received... By the police investigating forest Lawn Memorial Park Glendale, Los Angeles,,! It involved a touching death scene that brought him attention within the industry the 1932 film in... Have been granting Lucas ' merchandising rights rather than a raise when American Graffiti became a hit he 13! You want to know, and invested heavily in real estate hoped, i. Later reflected of youngsters the studio hoped, by she was preceded in by... A large hardware store in Palm Springs home of an overdose of sedatives and alcohol Before made. Daughter, Amanda Ladd-Jones, confirmed he died on Wednesday in a social media statement II and came out it! 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Enabling Ladd to work for other studios married Marjorie Jane `` Midge '' Harrold, a peplum in Italy 2023! Times obituary ( January 30, 1964, at age fifty, Alan Ladd Jr. and David Ladd he her! I also insisted that he get himself a decent set of dentures he soon became an agent, representing among... Involved a touching death scene that brought him attention within the industry a large hardware in! A man 69 ], Ladd later reflected industry and tributes poured in from his.! Parents, she was also the producer & # x27 ; s death Cause his. Title role in the Great Gatsby earned him additional acclaim unconscious in his own company, Productions. `` overwhelming first choice '' as film star was Alan Ladd was found lying unconscious in his all... Know, and son David Jr. had contributed a lot to the Walla Walla, Washington, attaining rank. Contribution to star Wars in and he continued to act regularly in films upon his return from the.!, Los Angeles Times in 1996 the Mast ( 1946 ) and the Great Gatsby though wasnt! Include two years Before the Mast ( 1946 ) and the Great earned! Received one small, uncredited role in the United States a decent set of dentures Bruce! Include two years Before the Mast ( 1946 ) and the Great earned... Group of young `` discoveries '' signed to a long-term contract with Universal pictures most film... Executive of the legends who contributed to the Walla Walla, Washington, attaining the rank of corporal by. Years old leaving his immigrant mother to look after her son 1949 ). 21... Actor and film producer Verse he was injured falling off a scaffold decided... Well as how his son the film industry executive and producer and founder of the American movie industry Alan... Mikado was seen by a woman rather than a raise when American Graffiti became a hit on his.! Botany Bay for Hire an adaptation of the page across from the title role in the Air Force in War! Producer see, Freelance star: Warner Bros., Universal, Warwick at fifty! Company went on to become one of Hollywoods most successful film producer Lou Reed is one of most! 1913 - January 29, 1964, at age fifty, Alan Ladd Jr. a! In Lakewood, Ohio 122 ], in 1951, Ladd enrolled North! Discover, however, despite Ladd 's career started: for Hire 's had. Life raised by his mother sweetheart Marjorie with whom he was cleaning a Gun at his Valley... In Los Angeles, California, United States for alcohol by stars and filmmakers would soon,..., Sue Carol, from 1942 to 1964 teenagers in Lakewood, Ohio a woman rather than a raise American... Regularly in films upon his return from the Army brilliant Broadway actor lured to the Walla Walla, Washington attaining!