Jennifer Jones Speaks Out
by Aline Mosby
(United Press, March 30, 1955
A determined Jennifer Jones said today she wanted to sweep away the rumors that her husband was a svengali who "interfered" with her career.
The mysterious Miss Jones, one of Movietown's finest actresses, long has been a subject of speculation in the film colony.
She appears aloof to some co-workers, shy and insecure to others. She is rarely interviewed by the press, and the stories long have sizzled the gossip columns that her husband, eminent producer David O. Selznick, who discovered her and then married her, still wields control over her career.
10-Page Memos
While she was starring in Italy in "Beat The Devil," her co-workers say Mr. Selznick allegedly dispatched 10-page memos daily to director John Huston as to how his wife should be directed.
But today the actress, in her first interview here in three years, declared heatedly: "He has never interfered in any way."
"This is a subject I usually avoid," she said, her big brown eyes flashing. "But perhaps it's time I spoke up."
"He has at times been asked for advice. As a matter of friendship, he has given his advice. It very often happens they turned back on him and people said he interfered.
No Man To Ignore
"After all," she said, my husband is David O. Selznick and he's not a man to ignore. He is much too busy, much too occupied with his own interests to become involved in anyone else's production."
The one-time brilliant career of the actress, originally masterminded by Mr. Selznick, has been quiet in recent years. Her last two films, "Beat The Devil" and "Indiscretion Of An American Wife," were unusual, artistic triumphs but not general hits, possibly because of lukewarm promotion. Three months ago, she starred on Broadway in "Portrait of a Lady," a costume opus that folded after four days.
"It was a personal failure," she admitted honestly. "It did not destroy my dreams of working in the theater. I hope to go back. Everyone has ups and downs in this business."
The actress also took a year off the screen to have a baby, which made her give up a scheduled role in "The Country Girl." Grace Kelly, her replacement won an Oscar nomination.
"As it turned out, I wished I could have done it, but, of course, the baby was worth it," she said.
She now is working in Hollywood for the first time in three years, in "A Many Splendored Thing," which may zoom her back to the limelight. She portrays a half-Chinese girl who falls in love with a married man, William Holden.
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by Aline Mosby
(United Press, March 30, 1955
A determined Jennifer Jones said today she wanted to sweep away the rumors that her husband was a svengali who "interfered" with her career.
The mysterious Miss Jones, one of Movietown's finest actresses, long has been a subject of speculation in the film colony.
She appears aloof to some co-workers, shy and insecure to others. She is rarely interviewed by the press, and the stories long have sizzled the gossip columns that her husband, eminent producer David O. Selznick, who discovered her and then married her, still wields control over her career.
10-Page Memos
While she was starring in Italy in "Beat The Devil," her co-workers say Mr. Selznick allegedly dispatched 10-page memos daily to director John Huston as to how his wife should be directed.
But today the actress, in her first interview here in three years, declared heatedly: "He has never interfered in any way."
"This is a subject I usually avoid," she said, her big brown eyes flashing. "But perhaps it's time I spoke up."
"He has at times been asked for advice. As a matter of friendship, he has given his advice. It very often happens they turned back on him and people said he interfered.
No Man To Ignore
"After all," she said, my husband is David O. Selznick and he's not a man to ignore. He is much too busy, much too occupied with his own interests to become involved in anyone else's production."
The one-time brilliant career of the actress, originally masterminded by Mr. Selznick, has been quiet in recent years. Her last two films, "Beat The Devil" and "Indiscretion Of An American Wife," were unusual, artistic triumphs but not general hits, possibly because of lukewarm promotion. Three months ago, she starred on Broadway in "Portrait of a Lady," a costume opus that folded after four days.
"It was a personal failure," she admitted honestly. "It did not destroy my dreams of working in the theater. I hope to go back. Everyone has ups and downs in this business."
The actress also took a year off the screen to have a baby, which made her give up a scheduled role in "The Country Girl." Grace Kelly, her replacement won an Oscar nomination.
"As it turned out, I wished I could have done it, but, of course, the baby was worth it," she said.
She now is working in Hollywood for the first time in three years, in "A Many Splendored Thing," which may zoom her back to the limelight. She portrays a half-Chinese girl who falls in love with a married man, William Holden.
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