Elizabeth Ross - The Silver Blonde

Its only shadows on the wall.

Sam OSteen, film editor

STEP INTO A PICTURE house on a sunny afternoon, and you can suspend time. Popcorn-scattered carpet under rows of tired velvetthe movie theater is the same the world over. Berlin or Los Angeles, it doesnt matter.

Cigarette smoke unfurls into the projector light. The usherette leans against the wall and gazes up at the screen, a rerun of Casablanca. Ingrid Bergman is luminous; Bogart cuts a dash. This girl must have seen the movie a dozen times, but each time, shes swept awayshe slips into another life, shrugs off her own like an old coat.

In Casablanca, Victor Laszlo wants Rick to join the fight, and Ilsa is torn between her two lovers. The nitrate print is gorgeous: the highlights sparkle, the dark tones are deep and rich, all the detail in the textures. Up on-screen the characters are evading Nazis, still trapped in Vichy-controlled Morocco. Outside the theater, people are dancing in the streets.

May 8, 1945. Victory in Europe. The war is over.

CLARA RACED UPSTAIRS AS though pursued, taking the steps two at a time, grabbing the handrail without needing to look, one final leap to the landingshe could have been flying.

The corridor was lined with cutting rooms on either side. She could hear the whir and babble of competing film soundtracksgloriouslike an orchestra tuning up. Her heart hammered in her throat as she reached Sams door. Right before knocking, she caught herselftheres nothing more exquisite than wanting something when youre so close to getting it.

The editor was not alone in his cutting room. The head of postproduction, Mr. Thaler, and the screenwriter, Mr. Brackett, flanked him; dialogue crackled from the speaker. Clara paused in the doorway, ready to back out.

Sam turned. Clara, come in. With you in a moment.

Clara perched on a stool by the film bench, folding her long limbs over one another. She heard Gils teasing in her head: Tall and not worried about it. Clara pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. He had told her she was a shoo-in, he had told her shed nothing to worry about. She straightened, rolled her shoulders back, head upconfident, or feigning it at least. Had she made enough of an effort? Shed chosen her smartest skirt and decent shoes, the peach suede pumps. She should have worn lipstick, but makeup made her feel like a clown, and jewelry was discouraged. It could get caught on the film equipmentshed read that in the postproduction manual.

The men parted slightly, and Clara peered past Sams shoulder to the Moviola, a metal contraption for viewing film footage, like an industrial sewing machine operated with a foot treadle. There was a close-up of Barbara Bannon frozen on the small screen. Glamorous Miss Bannon was the star of Letter from Argentanfamous for her side-sweep of ash-blond hair and husky voice.

If Im going to sell it, we need more pieces, some close-ups, said Sam. Her hands pushing him off, her feet scrambling, she reaches for the letter openerthat kind of thing. Right now the struggle is too quick. We need to draw out the suspense.

Claras ears pricked up. Nothing studio people said when it came to filmmaking was irrelevant to her. She hoarded information like this.

I hear shes difficult, said Thaler. Hates her co-star. Gives Howard a hard time too. Changing lines, storming off set.

Mr. Brackett smoothed his mustache. She wants the widow character to be stronger. Less of a limp noodle. Impeccably dressed, he brushed a fleck off his dark navy suit. I believe that is the expression she used.

Thaler shook his head. Shes playing a war widow, not a femme fatale. Were not making Gilda.

Clara had read about these rumors in Hedda Hoppers gossip column.

Director Howard Hawks and leading lady Barbara Bannon reunite for Letter from Argentan, Bannons first role since the death of her husband and costar, Gregory Quinn. Hawks is also producing the picture for Silver Pacific, with principal photography under way. Sources tell me that the production is off to a bumpy start, with thesps clashing on set. Rumor has it that Bannons new costar, erstwhile matinee idol Randall Ford, resents being cast as the villain in the suspense drama. The stakes are high all around. In this test of her star power, will audiences respond to Babe Bannon without her leading man (and box-office draw), Gregory Quinn, by her side?