The day after Christmas, early 1930s: William Faulkner (yes, he was married and significantly older) pictured with Meta Carpenter Wilde (secretary to Howard Hawks and later a Script Supervisor). Meta Carpenter Wilde wrote a book in 1976 about her eighteen year relationship – “A Loving Gentleman” – with the storied author. A very interesting look at Hollywood’s golden era from an insider’s perspective.
“My latter day wonder at the honors paid to Hawks was as nothing compared to my shock on reading not too long ago that his films not only celebrated the friendship of strong, physical men, but that in most of his work there was the archetypal Hawks heroine – Jean Arthur in all her variations, incapable of guile or artifice where her man was concerned, straight-shooting, accommodating, undemanding, sweetheart and pal in one. Clearly, Howard Hawks knew far more about his blond secretary and her relationship with William Faulkner than I had deduced from his uninquisitive manner and masklike face. I made no pretense to having served as the model for the classic Hawks heroine, comfort and joy of the noble Hawks hero. The coincidence of timing and likeness, however, cannot entirely be ignored…“
Aldous and Laura Huxley in the 1950’s — reportedly a very happy couple.
The fabulous Luise Rainer after her second Oscar win with her husband at that time, Clifford Odets. Okay, okay, it’s my blog and I get to say what I want to… Luise Rainer, a wonderful person, and still delightful at 102… Clifford Odets, well — I know my Grandmother once hosted a dinner for him and according to family lore… maybe a genius, but certainly not very nice.