Greetings Franchot fans,

Good news on the book front!  I've signed a deal with BearManor Media
to publish Franchot's life story.  The book will be available
September 2008, in time to commemorate the 40th anniversary of his death.

Official announcement will be forthcoming on Franchot-Tone.com, but
wanted fans here to be among the first to know.  Thank you for your
continuing interest in and support of the book project!

BearManor Media, by the way, is Ben Ohmart's publication house that
last month brought us John O'Dowd's superb biography of Franchot's
third wife, Barbara Payton.

I'm almost finished reading my copy and highly recommend it to
everyone for unequalled insight into who Barbara was as a total human
being, not just the gossipy aspects of her downfall. There's also a
lot of wonderful photos and information about Franchot in it as well.
I'll be writing a review article about it on the FT website shortly.

In the meantime, you can order your copy here:

http://bearmanormedia.bizland.com/id98.html

Congrats again to John! :)

Lisa

Hi Lisa,
What a wonderful piece on Franchot, both from you and Andre Soares. His
pre-interview article hit on all the major highlights of Franchot's life and was
extremely well-written and your answers to his questions were expansive and
showed a depth of knowledge about Franchot that I both respect and admire. What
  a tremendous prelude to your book.

Lisa, Barbara's book will be out next week (March 12). I have no idea what
sort of reception it is going to get but I do know I did my damndest to tell
her  story with the honesty and respect I believe she deserves. As you know,
very few  people suffer in their lives as much (or for as long) as Barbara did,
and  the saddest part is that if she lived NOW there would be plenty of help
for  her! I know that John Payton is at peace with the way I handled his
mother's  story so I guess that's all I can really ask for.

Thank you, Lisa, for all the wonderful information you gave me about
Franchot for Barbara's book. I hope you will be pleased with the way I've 
documented
the interesting part he played in her life.

Take care,
John
<BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now offers free
email to everyone.  Find out more about what's free from AOL at
http://www.aol.com.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Greetings Franchotphiles!

Time for a shameless plug....

Andre Soares has written a great article about Franchot on his
website, Alternative Film Guide (altfg.com) which also includes a Q&A
with yours truly.

The official link is:

http://www.altfg.com/blog/archives/2007/03/06/franchot-tone-
biographer-lisa-burks-discusses-the-1930s-mgm-leading-man/

Or, try this abbreviated URL:
http://tinyurl.com/3b9x9o

I hope you'll stop by to read the article and leave feedback about
Franchot - thanks!

ALSO....

John O'Dowd's eagerly anticipated biography of Franchot's third wife,
Barbara Payton, is scheduled to be published this month (it may even
be out now - John, what's the scoop?)  Visit the publisher website at:

http://bearmanormedia.bizland.com/id98.html

and John's website for Barbara at:

http://www.hollywoodstarletbarbarapayton.com

Lisa

Hi guys!
I was looking around and found this blog that puts little bit here and
there about Franchot. If you want to read them all just go to the top
and enter franchot tone in the search and search the blog.
The author of the blog in an author of more than 170 books about the
stars of the 1930s and 40s. Hope you like it!

http://gdhamann.blogspot.com/2006/11/gene-tierney-in-40s.html

Jo

Welcome Bridget!

I don't know a lot I just pick up what I can ,

Rosella



Thank you for the welcome. Just call me Bridget please. You all must
know more about Franchot than me. It's so nice to be here talking to
other members. I am reading the messages here and also Lisa's blog.
Everything about Franchot is so interesting and mysterious to me.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thank you for the welcome. Just call me Bridget please. You all must
know more about Franchot than me. It's so nice to be here talking to
other members. I am reading the messages here and also Lisa's blog.
Everything about Franchot is so interesting and mysterious to me.

Hi Guan,
It's nice to have you here! Don't forget to go to Lisa's blog and her site (
franchottone.com ) you can read all the current and past posts. She tells you a
lot about Franchot and her experiences with his family pertaining to the
biography.
Glad to have you,
Jo


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Welcome to the group Guan!

I watched Franchot many yrs ago,it is nice to have a group for him!

Rosella

Hello! I'm a new joiner. I've been a fan of classic movie stars since I
was still a child. I didn't know Franchot until a couple of months ago
when I happened to see Dancing Lady on TV. I was fascinated by him at
first sight. Thank you Lisa for providing this wonderful site! I'm going
to learn more about Franchot's movies, his life and...


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Posting this in another group,one mentioned what a good actor Franchot
was,

Rosella


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

It works Jo,lovely!!

I've passed it on for others to see in other groups I'm in,

Rosella

On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 06:03:06 GMT "texanjo@..." <texanjo@...>
writes:
Okay, I've cut and pasted this addy. Myspace.com has been having
problems. http://www.myspace.com/franchottone
I hopw that one works tell me if not.
Jo

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Okay, I've cut and pasted this addy. Myspace.com has been having problems.
http://www.myspace.com/franchottone
I hopw that one works tell me if not.
Jo


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I just tried getting there but I couldn't get it to work,

Rosella

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

New site www.myspace.com/franchottone

If you would like to light a candle or leave words of kindness for
Jeff you can go to : http://thomas-tone.memory-of.com/about.aspx

Or you can go to www.findagrave.com and search for thomas jefferson
tone. you can leave some words of kindness there too. The photo if one
from Lisa's collection.

there is a sentence about Franchot and Joan but The rest of the
article is interesting. You may need to cut and paste it.

http://www.calendarlive.com/nightlife/clubs/cl-ca-
125nightlife21may21,0,6926301.story?coll=cl-clubs

Hah!  Yes, I do tend to go underground every now and again; if I
didn't hibernate I'd never get any major chunks of work done. :)


--- In franchottone@yahoogroups.com, "texanjo@..." <texanjo@...> wrote:
>
> Hey Lisa,
> Good to hear from you. You fell off the earth for a few days there.
I was thinking that you must be really busy you normal make time to
blog.
> I love Stephanie Jones' site. It's really done well.
> I love the mural. I have it on my watch list at eBay.
> Jo
>

Hey Lisa,
Good to hear from you. You fell off the earth for a few days there. I was
thinking that you must be really busy you normal make time to blog.
I love Stephanie Jones' site. It's really done well.
I love the mural. I have it on my watch list at eBay.
Jo


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thank you for the welcome everyone!

take care,
Jody

In a message dated 4/25/2006 3:52:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
lisaburksonline@... writes:

Hi Jody, and  welcome to the Franchot Tone list.  I'm always glad to
see new  members and read what you have to say about Franchot. :)

LOL,  Jo!  I was catching up on posts here and at was confused about
a  second Jo as well.  I guess I'm tired. ;)

Also, thanks so much Jo  for your recent posts, particulary the
magazine article link posts.   The Best of Everything Joan Crawford
is a fantastic website, run by my  friend Stephanie Jones.  Nice find
on those articles and very  informative for the list, thanks!

My apologies to all for being quiet  around here lately but I've been
busy writing, not just on the Franchot  biography but also about a
newly-discovered mural once owned by Jean  Harlow and Paul Bern.

For more information, here's a link to the story,  which I finally
published online last week after several months of  research:

http://lisaburks.livejournal.com/59172.html

Lisa











[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Rosella!  Glad you enjoyed it.  I agree, it's a fascinating piece of art and
Hollywood history.  I guess it got lost in all the scandal of Paul Bern's death,
and eventually forgotten about.

----- Original Message ----
From: sitfan@...
To: franchottone@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2006 5:33:09 AM
Subject: Re: [franchottone] Jo-Jo! :)

Finally got to your link here Lisa,fascinating,passed it on,

Rosella



On Tue, 25 Apr 2006 07:52:09 -0000 "Lisa Burks"
<lisaburksonline@...> writes:
> Hi Jody, and welcome to the Franchot Tone list.  I'm always glad to
> see new members and read what you have to say about Franchot. :)
>
> LOL, Jo!  I was catching up on posts here and at was confused about
>
> a second Jo as well.  I guess I'm tired. ;)
>
> Also, thanks so much Jo for your recent posts, particulary the
> magazine article link posts.  The Best of Everything Joan Crawford
> is a fantastic website, run by my friend Stephanie Jones.  Nice find
>
> on those articles and very informative for the list, thanks!
>
> My apologies to all for being quiet around here lately but I've been
>
> busy writing, not just on the Franchot biography but also about a
> newly-discovered mural once owned by Jean Harlow and Paul Bern.
>
> For more information, here's a link to the story, which I finally
> published online last week after several months of research:
>
> http://lisaburks.livejournal.com/59172.html
>
> Lisa
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>



YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS

  Visit your group "franchottone" on the web.

  To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
  franchottone-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Finally got to your link here Lisa,fascinating,passed it on,

Rosella



On Tue, 25 Apr 2006 07:52:09 -0000 "Lisa Burks"
<lisaburksonline@...> writes:
> Hi Jody, and welcome to the Franchot Tone list.  I'm always glad to
> see new members and read what you have to say about Franchot. :)
>
> LOL, Jo!  I was catching up on posts here and at was confused about
>
> a second Jo as well.  I guess I'm tired. ;)
>
> Also, thanks so much Jo for your recent posts, particulary the
> magazine article link posts.  The Best of Everything Joan Crawford
> is a fantastic website, run by my friend Stephanie Jones.  Nice find
>
> on those articles and very informative for the list, thanks!
>
> My apologies to all for being quiet around here lately but I've been
>
> busy writing, not just on the Franchot biography but also about a
> newly-discovered mural once owned by Jean Harlow and Paul Bern.
>
> For more information, here's a link to the story, which I finally
> published online last week after several months of research:
>
> http://lisaburks.livejournal.com/59172.html
>
> Lisa
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Hi Jody, and welcome to the Franchot Tone list.  I'm always glad to
see new members and read what you have to say about Franchot. :)

LOL, Jo!  I was catching up on posts here and at was confused about
a second Jo as well.  I guess I'm tired. ;)

Also, thanks so much Jo for your recent posts, particulary the
magazine article link posts.  The Best of Everything Joan Crawford
is a fantastic website, run by my friend Stephanie Jones.  Nice find
on those articles and very informative for the list, thanks!

My apologies to all for being quiet around here lately but I've been
busy writing, not just on the Franchot biography but also about a
newly-discovered mural once owned by Jean Harlow and Paul Bern.

For more information, here's a link to the story, which I finally
published online last week after several months of research:

http://lisaburks.livejournal.com/59172.html

Lisa

Yeah that's fine.
BTW don't forget to go to Lisa's Franchot site. She has a blog there. She
updates it almost daily at the least weekly. She gets busy with reseach and her
other projects. Click on the current link at the top for the last entry.  Glad
to have you here.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

No problem Jo, My name is really Jody. Is that ok? I understand completely.

take care,
Jody

In a message dated 4/22/2006 8:07:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
texanjo@... writes:

Hi  Jo,
It's good to have you here. I don't mean to be rude but chould you go  by
another name. My name is also Jo and I don't want to confuse anyone here.  Thank
you,Jo






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Very interesting to read Thanks!

Rosella



On Wed, 19 Apr 2006 06:01:19 -0000 "Jo" <texanjo@...> writes:
> link: http://www.joancrawfordbest.com/articlescreenland1233.htm
>
> Joan Unmasks Hollywood for Franchot Tone
>
> A beautiful star proves that Hollywood can be friendly!
> One of the most refreshing stories you have ever read!
>
> originally appeared in Screenland, December 1933
>
> Your guess is as good as Hollywood's as to the status of the Joan
> Crawford-Franchot Tone "romance." Their scenes together in "Dancing
>
> Lady" are intense and torrid. On the other hand, both deny
> emphatically any serious off-screen interest. After talking to them
>
> both, I can only report that I thought I saw "Maybe" in their eyes.
>
> But whether they fall in love depends on -- oh, a lot of things.
> Joan won't be legally free until next May. She wants to see her way
>
> clearly. Which, at that, is a typical Crawford trait. No girl has
> ever tried so hard to do what is right and been so misjudged as the
>
> earnest, radiant Joan.
>
> As for Franchot?
>
> That he admires Joan tremendously, that to him she symbolizes all
> that is splendid and fine is evident to their friends. Does he
> aspire to win her? A pretty strong mebbe to that!
>
> Meanwhile, Hollywood lies before him like a world set out expressly
>
> for him to conquer. Certainly Joan interest has helped him both
> professionally and personally. Three months ago SCREENLAND presented
>
> him to you as a brilliant but constrained newcomer. In bringing him
>
> up-to-date Joan's influence must be credited for much of his
> advance.
>
> "When I started West from New York I expected to land in the most
> fantastic of places," he confesses now. "I thought every actress of
>
> importance would conduct herself in the fashion of the movie queens
>
> in "Once in a Lifetime." I visualized studio contacts as a moral and
>
> mental hazard, to be approached with great caution!"
>
> Then, break of breaks, he met Joan Crawford!
>
> Though he had an impressive cultural and stage background, Franchot
>
> was untested material to Hollywood. Being seen with Joan immediately
>
> focussed attention upon him. If she liked him, there must be
> something swell about the lad.
>
>
> Ever since they played together in "Today We Live" you have been
> clamoring to see Joan and Franchot together again. Your wish will be
>
> gratified in "Dancing Lady," from which the scene above is an
> exciting sample of what you'll see on the screen!
> Had he come into her life at any other time his luck might not have
>
> been the same. She would have been too busy. But Joan, at the end of
>
> her heartbreaking struggle to preserve her marriage, was tired and a
>
> little too lonely and discouraged. Franchot, so talented and good-
> looking, happened along at the psychological moment.
>
> "What Joan has done," he confided to me, "is to explain Hollywood.
> When you understand a thing you can plan your course accordingly and
>
> avoid the unnecessary mistakes."
>
> To realize just how he has benefited from his association with her,
>
> think back a minute to his past and his attitude when he arrived at
>
> M-G-M.
>
> The son of a wealthy business man, Franchot had no youthful
> struggles. He was sent to a boys' private school and later to
> Cornell. At college he was preeminent in dramatics and scholarship,
>
> being president of the dramatic club and a Phi Bete.
>
> Yet being elected to Phi Beta Kappa for his heavy studying didn't
> dampen his zest for extracting the utmost from each passing day. He
>
> is high-spirited and perhaps that is why he was intrigued by the
> exhilarating life of the theatre. To his staid parents' astonishment
>
> he accepted a job as the juvenile in a Buffalo stock company as soon
>
> as he had graduated.
>
> "I made forty a week -- while it lasted!" he recounts. "I headed for
>
> Broadway and fame when that 'tryout' was over. Only -- fame kept at
>
> a respectful distance from me. For weeks I pounded the pavements! At
>
> last I persuaded a little theatre organization in Greenwich Village
>
> to allow me to illustrate how well I could enact the lead in the
> first production. I read the part with profound confidence. They
> rewarded me with a supporting role.
>
> "It was a hectic but stimulating existence from then on. Good plays
>
> and bad ones, strong parts and poor ones. Finally I got into
> Katharine Cornell's 'The Age of Innocence.' " This success launched
>
> him into a series of juvenile leads and the highbrow critics
> proclaimed him the white hope of the legitimate. That brought the
> Hollywood bid.
>
>
> Director Robert Leonard talks over the scene about to be "shot" with
>
> the star and her leading man. This story tells you how Joan has
> helped Franchot Tone to win screen success. The Crawford-Tone team
> will delight you in "Dancing Lady."
> Franchot was anxious to oblige when he reported to M-G-M. But he had
>
> no suspicion that movie-making was going to be complex. Everything
> had been comparatively smooth sailing. Despite the pavement pounding
>
> he was never broke. He soon found that there are all sorts of
> problems in Hollywood and that signing a contract is only half the
> battle.
>
> He determined to play a lone hand. Silence couldn't get him in to
> trouble. And so our first conception of him was that he was aloof.
>
> The advice of one who is at the top, of one who has learned the
> ropes by often bitter experiences, has been an invaluable aid.
> Ability can mean nothing in pictures if you don't know the tricks of
>
> the trade. Unless it is properly explained.
>
> "This is where Joan's counsel comes in," Franchot said to me. (We
> were introduced over the telephone, by the way! I'd called Joan and
>
> he happened to be at her house. So she did the honors by remote
> control. Later I took to visiting them on the sets.)
>
> "In every business there are people who must be pleased if one
> wishes to be looked up with favor. Powers behind the thrones, too.
> Joan intimated who was who in Hollywood." And, of course, she
> sponsored him socially.
>
> Probably the most noticeable change she affected on him was in his
> viewpoint towards publicity.
>
>
> Sensational chapeau! Joan Crawford sponsors the satin "sailor" -- to
>
> be worn with formal frocks, my dear! Of course this type of hat
> should only be worn by girls with poise and sophistication. Speaking
>
> of luscious lines, this hat has 'em!
> "On the stage it is a negligible factor. I felt that posing for
> portraits and autographing books for fans was a form of
> exhibitionism. At premieres I used to blush violently when noticed
> and I'd scribble my name in the fans' books so fast I scarcely knew
>
> what I was doing.
>
> "Joan showed me how wrong I was. She convinced me that a picture
> player is not making a fool of himself when he acknowledges the
> public's curiosity. She believes one should be very grateful to the
>
> fans for their approval. I agree now that I've reasoned it out.
>
> "I remember my first Mayfair Club party at the Biltmore. A news
> photographer snapped a group shot of Joan and Doug, Jr., the Irving
>
> Thalbergs and the Leslie Howards and myself. I carefully stood so
> that my head would be completely hidden by Leslie's!"
>
> The lessons in showmanship have modulated his reserve. He still
> lacks the spectacular quality which big stars have, but it can be
> developed since he is no longer inhibited by self-consciousness. He
> is endeavoring to discover just what kind of publicity is best.
>
> "When I see how writers have badgered Joan, particularly when she
> announced her separation from Doug, I shudder at the dangers one can
>
> encounter by being too kind to the press!"
>
> Franchot has moved in from the beach to Brentwood, a few blocks from
>
> Joan. The set decorator who fixed that delightful barn-house for
> Alice Brady in "When Ladies Meet" supervised the furnishing of the
> new Tone home. (With some suggestions from Joan!) The chief feature
>
> is a beautiful all-white bedroom, designed for his mother. Franchot
>
> anticipates a visit from her shortly, having forwarded pictures of
> the room to Niagara Falls.
>
> There are many details of the actual camera work which he has had to
>
> master, and on which Joan helped him.
>
> "My gestures were quicker than they should be for the screen and
> Joan slowed me down. Then the speed with which scenes are taken
> confused me. It is difficult to rise to a climax with no
> preliminaries, as we have on the stage.
>
> "I noted that whenever Joan loses the mood of a scene she stops and
>
> begins anew. Naturally, she'd be a mechanism if she did otherwise. I
>
> might expose my secret! On occasions when I realize I'm not getting
>
> the correct mood I pretend to forget a line. They have to stop. Only
>
> a star rates ceasing without some pretext!"
>
>
> Satin for formality, says Adrian. Joan Crawford wears this
> interesting gown with its highly original neck and sleeve
> arrangements in the new film. How do you like Joan's new coiffure in
>
> the portrait above? Those Victorian bangs give an entirely new
> expression, don't they?
> Joan's generosity towards her fellow actors was a revelation to him.
>
> He had been warned that every movie star was for self, and heaven
> rescue the rest of the cast.
>
> "Which is silly generalization," Franchot declares. "Joan is fair to
>
> everyone. She wants each person to do his best." She told him how to
>
> deal with these scene-stealers.
>
> "An actor may maneuver around so that you are 'backed up,' as they
> describe it. He emerges full-face to the camera and you have only a
>
> profile showing. Joan recommended that if such a situation arose I
> turn my back completely to the camera. Then the director would have
>
> to give me a close-up to see what the heck I was expressing on my
> face!
>
> "In a recent picture the leading lady tried to do me dirt exactly in
>
> this manner. I followed through quite successfully with Joan's
> advice!"
>
> On the stage the stars leave the wardrobe items to those who are
> paid to attend to the costuming. Franchot learned from watching Joan
>
> that a wise star wouldn't dream of overlooking his or her clothes.
>
> At first he was in a daze with the Hollywood custom of rushing one
> into a part without consulting the actor about it. Everyone knows
> before the player, in contrast to the legitimate where one may pick
>
> at leisure the suitable roles. That Joan has proffered opinions as
> to which are "building" parts is not to be doubted.
>
> And I'm going to quote Joan. Though she has been interviewed
> numberless times she is always vivid copy. That is because she is a
>
> thinker as well as a doer, because she is ever progressing, ever
> living.
>
> "From all appearances Franchot is the most indifferent person in the
>
> world," Joan began as we sat in her portable dressing room on
> the "Dancing Lady" set. She was adorable in a demure Swiss costume,
>
> topped by a flaxen wig. Patiently she braided the long yellow hair
> into two coy pigtails and tied on a bright blue bow as the finishing
>
> touch. The fancy effects were for a Broadway revue number in the
> picture.
>
> "Then you begin your scene with him and are astounded to find you
> are working with the keenest of actors. Technically, he is perfect.
>
> He knows how to express every kind of feeling -- instantly!
>
> "I have no technique at all for myself. I'm all emotion and when I
> cry, for instance, I keep on until I'm cried out. I'd give anything
>
> to be as skilled in acting as he is. But he learned his technique on
>
> the stage and you can't develop any in films.
>
> "Franchot has fascinated me with his accounts of the theatre. My
> greatest desire now is to act with the famous Group Theatre in New
> York, the organization with which he played. They take time to
> analyze every character, to study everything pertaining to drama."
>
> And speaking of analyzing reminded Joan that Franchot is the most
> logical man she has ever known.
>
> "He has taught me to curb relying upon my intuition. If someone
> hurts him he doesn't lose his temper. He sits in a corner quietly
> and reasons out why. When people have said sarcastic things to or
> about me I've cried. But he has shown me that they must have had a
> motive for being mean. And when you search for it you recognize
> their purpose and aren't hurt."
>
> I asked her what is his most foremost characteristic and she replied
>
> sincerity and honesty. It may be imagined that his wealth of
> academic and stage atmosphere strikes a hitherto untouched chord in
>
> Joan's heart. Doug Jr. thrilled her when she was impressed with
> superficial glory. Franchot stands for maturity, conservative
> achievement.
>
> "It's not true that I'm easily influenced," Joan added, denying the
>
> many articles which have painted her as swayed by her
> environment. "The friendship of people I trust and respect
> indirectly affects me -- for the better, I hope! But I have to like
>
> them a lot to value their prescriptions.
>
> "I have learned peace of mind from Franchot," Joan concluded as an
> assistant director called her to work. "He has taught me to have
> faith in my own judgement. And, oh yes -- he reads aloud to me! All
>
> the grandest plays -- and 'Alice in Wonderland.' I'd never read
> it!"
>
> "Maybe you are falling in love, Joan?"
>
> "Ah-ha!" she rallied back. "You want the lowdown, don't you? Well, I
>
> refer you to Carlyle who said something about love being the
> embroidery of the imagination upon the stuff of nature!"
>
> Joan may be ambitious, but she is the eternal woman at heart. She
> couldn't be so exciting if she led an ordinary life.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Hi Jo,
It's good to have you here. I don't mean to be rude but chould you go by another
name. My name is also Jo and I don't want to confuse anyone here. Thank you,Jo


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Jo!

I"ve only seen him in a few ,

Joined the group to learn more about him.

Again,welcome!

Rosella



On Sat, 22 Apr 2006 23:24:25 -0000 "Jo" <classicmovienut1@...>
writes:
> Hello everyone,
>    Franchot Tone is one of my favorite actors. I didn't know he had
> a
> group until today. What is everyone's favorite movie of his? It is
> too
> hard for me to name just one. lol
>
> take care,
> Jo
>

Hello everyone,
    Franchot Tone is one of my favorite actors. I didn't know he had a
group until today. What is everyone's favorite movie of his? It is too
hard for me to name just one. lol

take care,
Jo

Here are four articles that have Franchot in them.

http://www.joancrawfordbest.com/articlelife37.htm

http://www.joancrawfordbest.com/magmoviemir1238.htm

http://www.joancrawfordbest.com/magmotionpic0650.htm

http://www.joancrawfordbest.com/magmovieworld71.htm

link: http://www.joancrawfordbest.com/articlescreenland1233.htm

Joan Unmasks Hollywood for Franchot Tone

A beautiful star proves that Hollywood can be friendly!
One of the most refreshing stories you have ever read!

originally appeared in Screenland, December 1933

Your guess is as good as Hollywood's as to the status of the Joan
Crawford-Franchot Tone "romance." Their scenes together in "Dancing
Lady" are intense and torrid. On the other hand, both deny
emphatically any serious off-screen interest. After talking to them
both, I can only report that I thought I saw "Maybe" in their eyes.

But whether they fall in love depends on -- oh, a lot of things.
Joan won't be legally free until next May. She wants to see her way
clearly. Which, at that, is a typical Crawford trait. No girl has
ever tried so hard to do what is right and been so misjudged as the
earnest, radiant Joan.

As for Franchot?

That he admires Joan tremendously, that to him she symbolizes all
that is splendid and fine is evident to their friends. Does he
aspire to win her? A pretty strong mebbe to that!

Meanwhile, Hollywood lies before him like a world set out expressly
for him to conquer. Certainly Joan interest has helped him both
professionally and personally. Three months ago SCREENLAND presented
him to you as a brilliant but constrained newcomer. In bringing him
up-to-date Joan's influence must be credited for much of his advance.

"When I started West from New York I expected to land in the most
fantastic of places," he confesses now. "I thought every actress of
importance would conduct herself in the fashion of the movie queens
in "Once in a Lifetime." I visualized studio contacts as a moral and
mental hazard, to be approached with great caution!"

Then, break of breaks, he met Joan Crawford!

Though he had an impressive cultural and stage background, Franchot
was untested material to Hollywood. Being seen with Joan immediately
focussed attention upon him. If she liked him, there must be
something swell about the lad.


Ever since they played together in "Today We Live" you have been
clamoring to see Joan and Franchot together again. Your wish will be
gratified in "Dancing Lady," from which the scene above is an
exciting sample of what you'll see on the screen!
Had he come into her life at any other time his luck might not have
been the same. She would have been too busy. But Joan, at the end of
her heartbreaking struggle to preserve her marriage, was tired and a
little too lonely and discouraged. Franchot, so talented and good-
looking, happened along at the psychological moment.

"What Joan has done," he confided to me, "is to explain Hollywood.
When you understand a thing you can plan your course accordingly and
avoid the unnecessary mistakes."

To realize just how he has benefited from his association with her,
think back a minute to his past and his attitude when he arrived at
M-G-M.

The son of a wealthy business man, Franchot had no youthful
struggles. He was sent to a boys' private school and later to
Cornell. At college he was preeminent in dramatics and scholarship,
being president of the dramatic club and a Phi Bete.

Yet being elected to Phi Beta Kappa for his heavy studying didn't
dampen his zest for extracting the utmost from each passing day. He
is high-spirited and perhaps that is why he was intrigued by the
exhilarating life of the theatre. To his staid parents' astonishment
he accepted a job as the juvenile in a Buffalo stock company as soon
as he had graduated.

"I made forty a week -- while it lasted!" he recounts. "I headed for
Broadway and fame when that 'tryout' was over. Only -- fame kept at
a respectful distance from me. For weeks I pounded the pavements! At
last I persuaded a little theatre organization in Greenwich Village
to allow me to illustrate how well I could enact the lead in the
first production. I read the part with profound confidence. They
rewarded me with a supporting role.

"It was a hectic but stimulating existence from then on. Good plays
and bad ones, strong parts and poor ones. Finally I got into
Katharine Cornell's 'The Age of Innocence.' " This success launched
him into a series of juvenile leads and the highbrow critics
proclaimed him the white hope of the legitimate. That brought the
Hollywood bid.


Director Robert Leonard talks over the scene about to be "shot" with
the star and her leading man. This story tells you how Joan has
helped Franchot Tone to win screen success. The Crawford-Tone team
will delight you in "Dancing Lady."
Franchot was anxious to oblige when he reported to M-G-M. But he had
no suspicion that movie-making was going to be complex. Everything
had been comparatively smooth sailing. Despite the pavement pounding
he was never broke. He soon found that there are all sorts of
problems in Hollywood and that signing a contract is only half the
battle.

He determined to play a lone hand. Silence couldn't get him in to
trouble. And so our first conception of him was that he was aloof.

The advice of one who is at the top, of one who has learned the
ropes by often bitter experiences, has been an invaluable aid.
Ability can mean nothing in pictures if you don't know the tricks of
the trade. Unless it is properly explained.

"This is where Joan's counsel comes in," Franchot said to me. (We
were introduced over the telephone, by the way! I'd called Joan and
he happened to be at her house. So she did the honors by remote
control. Later I took to visiting them on the sets.)

"In every business there are people who must be pleased if one
wishes to be looked up with favor. Powers behind the thrones, too.
Joan intimated who was who in Hollywood." And, of course, she
sponsored him socially.

Probably the most noticeable change she affected on him was in his
viewpoint towards publicity.


Sensational chapeau! Joan Crawford sponsors the satin "sailor" -- to
be worn with formal frocks, my dear! Of course this type of hat
should only be worn by girls with poise and sophistication. Speaking
of luscious lines, this hat has 'em!
"On the stage it is a negligible factor. I felt that posing for
portraits and autographing books for fans was a form of
exhibitionism. At premieres I used to blush violently when noticed
and I'd scribble my name in the fans' books so fast I scarcely knew
what I was doing.

"Joan showed me how wrong I was. She convinced me that a picture
player is not making a fool of himself when he acknowledges the
public's curiosity. She believes one should be very grateful to the
fans for their approval. I agree now that I've reasoned it out.

"I remember my first Mayfair Club party at the Biltmore. A news
photographer snapped a group shot of Joan and Doug, Jr., the Irving
Thalbergs and the Leslie Howards and myself. I carefully stood so
that my head would be completely hidden by Leslie's!"

The lessons in showmanship have modulated his reserve. He still
lacks the spectacular quality which big stars have, but it can be
developed since he is no longer inhibited by self-consciousness. He
is endeavoring to discover just what kind of publicity is best.

"When I see how writers have badgered Joan, particularly when she
announced her separation from Doug, I shudder at the dangers one can
encounter by being too kind to the press!"

Franchot has moved in from the beach to Brentwood, a few blocks from
Joan. The set decorator who fixed that delightful barn-house for
Alice Brady in "When Ladies Meet" supervised the furnishing of the
new Tone home. (With some suggestions from Joan!) The chief feature
is a beautiful all-white bedroom, designed for his mother. Franchot
anticipates a visit from her shortly, having forwarded pictures of
the room to Niagara Falls.

There are many details of the actual camera work which he has had to
master, and on which Joan helped him.

"My gestures were quicker than they should be for the screen and
Joan slowed me down. Then the speed with which scenes are taken
confused me. It is difficult to rise to a climax with no
preliminaries, as we have on the stage.

"I noted that whenever Joan loses the mood of a scene she stops and
begins anew. Naturally, she'd be a mechanism if she did otherwise. I
might expose my secret! On occasions when I realize I'm not getting
the correct mood I pretend to forget a line. They have to stop. Only
a star rates ceasing without some pretext!"


Satin for formality, says Adrian. Joan Crawford wears this
interesting gown with its highly original neck and sleeve
arrangements in the new film. How do you like Joan's new coiffure in
the portrait above? Those Victorian bangs give an entirely new
expression, don't they?
Joan's generosity towards her fellow actors was a revelation to him.
He had been warned that every movie star was for self, and heaven
rescue the rest of the cast.

"Which is silly generalization," Franchot declares. "Joan is fair to
everyone. She wants each person to do his best." She told him how to
deal with these scene-stealers.

"An actor may maneuver around so that you are 'backed up,' as they
describe it. He emerges full-face to the camera and you have only a
profile showing. Joan recommended that if such a situation arose I
turn my back completely to the camera. Then the director would have
to give me a close-up to see what the heck I was expressing on my
face!

"In a recent picture the leading lady tried to do me dirt exactly in
this manner. I followed through quite successfully with Joan's
advice!"

On the stage the stars leave the wardrobe items to those who are
paid to attend to the costuming. Franchot learned from watching Joan
that a wise star wouldn't dream of overlooking his or her clothes.

At first he was in a daze with the Hollywood custom of rushing one
into a part without consulting the actor about it. Everyone knows
before the player, in contrast to the legitimate where one may pick
at leisure the suitable roles. That Joan has proffered opinions as
to which are "building" parts is not to be doubted.

And I'm going to quote Joan. Though she has been interviewed
numberless times she is always vivid copy. That is because she is a
thinker as well as a doer, because she is ever progressing, ever
living.

"From all appearances Franchot is the most indifferent person in the
world," Joan began as we sat in her portable dressing room on
the "Dancing Lady" set. She was adorable in a demure Swiss costume,
topped by a flaxen wig. Patiently she braided the long yellow hair
into two coy pigtails and tied on a bright blue bow as the finishing
touch. The fancy effects were for a Broadway revue number in the
picture.

"Then you begin your scene with him and are astounded to find you
are working with the keenest of actors. Technically, he is perfect.
He knows how to express every kind of feeling -- instantly!

"I have no technique at all for myself. I'm all emotion and when I
cry, for instance, I keep on until I'm cried out. I'd give anything
to be as skilled in acting as he is. But he learned his technique on
the stage and you can't develop any in films.

"Franchot has fascinated me with his accounts of the theatre. My
greatest desire now is to act with the famous Group Theatre in New
York, the organization with which he played. They take time to
analyze every character, to study everything pertaining to drama."

And speaking of analyzing reminded Joan that Franchot is the most
logical man she has ever known.

"He has taught me to curb relying upon my intuition. If someone
hurts him he doesn't lose his temper. He sits in a corner quietly
and reasons out why. When people have said sarcastic things to or
about me I've cried. But he has shown me that they must have had a
motive for being mean. And when you search for it you recognize
their purpose and aren't hurt."

I asked her what is his most foremost characteristic and she replied
sincerity and honesty. It may be imagined that his wealth of
academic and stage atmosphere strikes a hitherto untouched chord in
Joan's heart. Doug Jr. thrilled her when she was impressed with
superficial glory. Franchot stands for maturity, conservative
achievement.

"It's not true that I'm easily influenced," Joan added, denying the
many articles which have painted her as swayed by her
environment. "The friendship of people I trust and respect
indirectly affects me -- for the better, I hope! But I have to like
them a lot to value their prescriptions.

"I have learned peace of mind from Franchot," Joan concluded as an
assistant director called her to work. "He has taught me to have
faith in my own judgement. And, oh yes -- he reads aloud to me! All
the grandest plays -- and 'Alice in Wonderland.' I'd never read it!"

"Maybe you are falling in love, Joan?"

"Ah-ha!" she rallied back. "You want the lowdown, don't you? Well, I
refer you to Carlyle who said something about love being the
embroidery of the imagination upon the stuff of nature!"

Joan may be ambitious, but she is the eternal woman at heart. She
couldn't be so exciting if she led an ordinary life.