 Hollywood, California, Monday, January 11th. The Lux Radio Theatre presents Claudette Colbert and Fred McMurray in The Gilded Lily with David Niven and George Chandler. Lux presents Hollywood. Our stars, Claudette Colbert, Fred McMurray, David Niven and George Chandler. Our guests, Linton Wells, famous newspaper correspondents and Janet Riesenfeld Dancer, recently returned from war-torn Spain. Our producer, Cecil V. DeMille, our conductor, Louis Silvers. To you who crowd our theatre on Hollywood Boulevard tonight and to Lux listeners the nation over, the makers of Lux toilet soap extend a hearty welcome. Perhaps more so than anyone else, does the lovely screen star have to guard a beautiful complexion. Constantly before the public, she knows the camera will catch the slightest blemish should her skin reveal one. How significant it is then that nine out of ten screen stars use Lux toilet soap. The same beauty care so inexpensive that every girl can use it every day. Begin your Lux toilet soap beauty care tomorrow. The Lux Radio Theatre presents its distinguished producer. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Cecil V. DeMille. Greetings from Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen. Claudette Colbert has starred twice for me on the radio and three times on the screen. Highlights of our association run through my mind like sequences of film through a projector. Once I made her pass by a pair of leopards, rushing dangerously close to their fangs, but I protected her in that instance by pouring perfume on the cushions where the leopards crouched. Leopards don't care for stars if they can get perfume. Then there's the story of the centipede in Hawaii. After I had told Claudette that there was nothing in the Hawaiian jungle that could possibly harm her, she sat down to find a six inch centipede roosting in her chair. Jumping up, she forgot the fierce looking insect in her fury at me. And going across the studio lot one day, I met her on the way to lunch. How would you like to play the role of the wickedest woman in the world? I asked her. I'd love it, said Claudette. So I cast her as Papier in the sign of the cross. Later, she starred for me as history's most glamorous woman, Cleopatra. And someday, I hope to star her as the bravest woman in the world, a part I have in mind for her that she knows nothing about. But Claudette is something of a star maker herself. Three young men who have risen to prominence in the past year scored first as leading men for Miss Colbert. They are Melvin Douglas, Charles Boyer, and a frequent visitor to my set while I was shooting the Plainsman, Fred McMurray. When Paramount cast him as Claudette leading man in the gilded lulley, the effect of his charm was instantaneous. Everywhere people were suddenly talking about him. A ten letter man in high school, Fred now gets ten thousand letters a month. But he's just as regular as the man he plays tonight. Pete, a ship news reporter. Claudette Colbert, born with the name of Lily, resumes that name for the evening. David Niven will be heard in the role of Charles Gray and George Chandler as Eddie, a photographer. And this is the moment when we introduce them to the Lux Radio Theatre audience. Ladies and gentlemen, Claudette Colbert and Fred McMurray in a story based on the Paramount picture of the gilded lulley. 42nd and 5th Avenue, New York City. From a park bench not far from the steps of the public library, two young people are idly contemplating the surge of traffic at the busy intersection. They are Pete Dawes, a newspaper reporter who leans back against the bench his long legs stretched out before him and Lily David, a stenographer. They haven't been talking very much just watching and eating popcorn from a paper bag. Big stuff, eh? Watching the world go by? Right, big stuff. Of course, there's different ways of watching. How do you take the guy who eats peanuts? Every time he cracks a shell, he has to see that his thumb is in the right spot and then he has to take the penis out and then throw the shells away. A guy like that can't concentrate. See what I mean? Oh, sure. But popcorn? Ha-ha, popcorn was made for watching the world go by. Look, I stick my hand in the bag without taking my eyes off the street. I put popcorn in my craw, I chew, and I'm still looking. That's what I call class. Sure, peanut eaters don't know how to live. No. Tell me something, Lily. Do you love me? No. That's the way to talk. No worries, no jealousies, just meeting here every Thursday and eating our popcorn. Why don't you love me? Oh, I don't know. Maybe I don't know what love is, but I think I do. What do you think? About love? About love. Well, I think when it hits me, I'll start walking three feet off the ground and if the man has a mole on his nose, I won't be able to see it and I have a feeling that when I find him, he'll be flat broke. Right. When you're married, you won't be able to quit your job until you have to and there'll be plenty of reasons why you'll have to. Well, that's the fun of being married. Fun? You'll do your own cooking and washing, you'll lose your figure. Oh, you newspaper men know everything. Sure. What you're trying to be is a Lizzie Glutz. Lizzie Glutz? Yeah. The girl who runs her own little world to suit herself because she's too unimportant to have the world run her. Sounds great to me. Of course it does. The smarter you are, the harder you try for that kind of life. But Lizzie Glutz is Lizzie Glutz simply because she's too darn dumb to be anything else. And that's not you. Oh, Pete, you're talking through your nose again. There's a dame for you. I try to tell her she's got an inner to be big stuff and what does she do? She says let's go for a walk. Only as far as the subway, though, I got to work tonight. Hey, there are boat docking? Yeah. I got to get an interview with some visiting goof about what he thinks of our beautiful buildings and tall women. Oh, Pete, someday I'd like to go down and meet a boat with you just to see what celebrities are like, huh? People really knew there wouldn't be any celebrities. Well, let's go. I'll walk you to the subway. Wait a minute. Don't you think you'd better put your shoes on? Gosh, I forgot I took them off. You're just a grandpa at heart. Come on, hurry up. I don't want to miss the West Side Limited. Side train, West Side. Get them out, get them out. Same bench. Same car. Come on, Lily. West Side train. Keep moving in there. Don't block the doors. All right, lady, if you're going in, go on. What do you think you're shoving? I know me job, lady. There's no wrong in a car. Well, then we'll make it. Go on, go on. Oh, stop it. Look here, you can't do that. You're fatally flattening this young lady. I shut up and turn around before somebody steps in your face. Let me out of here. Come on, get in. You let her alone, and I'll do a bit of pushing myself. Oh, yeah? I'd like to see you try it. I'm afraid I'll have to. Oh, my God! Oh, my God! You better get out of here, miss. Are you all right? You're not a wise guy, huh? Going around knocking people down. Well, I'm sorry you fell over, but this young lady's had difficulty, you know. Oh, so I fell over, huh? Maybe like you're going to fall over. Oh, let him alone. Before they arrest you. Arrest me, but I... Don't look back, but is anybody following us? I can't see without looking. Well, let's duck into a store. A store? A store here in this one. Oh, mister, whatever you do, never sock a subway guard. Not even for you? Well... What is it, please? No, what's what? Can I wait on you? Uh, well, no... Oh, no, we're just browsing around. Browsing? For an artificial leg? Artificial what? Well, that's all we sell in here, sir. Well... That's a lovely day, isn't it? I think so. Oh, quite well. Thanks very much. Come on, let's get out. Is this your house? Mine and about 20 other people. I've got the second floor front. Well... Well... Uh, did I thank you for the dinner? Three times. Am I going to see you again? Why not? Of course. Why not? Did anyone ever tell you that you talked like an Englishman? I was born in England. Oh, maybe that's why. Yes, maybe that's why. Well, I don't know what I'm talking about, do you? Well, I feel as though I just come out of ether. Well... May I see you tomorrow? For what? For fun. What's your name? Gray. Uh, Charles Gray. Shall I say about two? Tomorrow's Friday. Don't you work on Friday? No. Do you work on Thursday? No. Do you work any day? No. Oh... Why don't you go out and look for a job tomorrow? But tomorrow I want to be with you. Well, not at two o'clock. I work until 5.30. Oh, I can wait. Better still, I'll meet you in the morning and take it to your office. Will you look for a job Monday? If you'll let me see you on Saturday and Sunday too. Well, why should I care if you find a job? Of course. Why should you care? Well, good night. Um, thanks for talking in the garden. No trouble. Oh, my name's Lily. Lily Davis. I forgot to tell you. Thank you. Good night. Good night. Well, that's all there is to tell about me. I make $20 a week. It was 35 a few years ago, but I don't mind. I haven't met any friends, and I don't mind that either. Now, do you want to dance? I'd rather just sit and talk if you don't mind. Sure. Isn't it funny? We've known each other almost a week now, and this is the first time we've let down our hair and talked seriously. What about you? Me? All I know about you is your name so far. Well, it's very little else. My life story's very dull, and I wouldn't bore you with it. Are you going to keep your promise about finding a job? Why are you so interested in a job for me? Well, it's the right way to live now, isn't it? Instead of going along from day to day, just trusting that something will come along to keep you going? That's true, I suppose. And we're going to see each other again, aren't we? So often that you'll become annoyed with me. Do you think so? No, not really. Do you want to hear a secret? About you? No, about both of us. If I were ever to become annoyed with you, it would have happened years ago. What? That's when I first started thinking about you. How you'd look. Oh. The way you'd have what you'd say when we were together. Do I live up to the picture? Perfectly. Even to being without a job. But that's the way I wanted you to be, so that when I met you, actually, I could help you. There's not much I can say after that. If I simply told you I loved you, it would sound rather flat, wouldn't it? I don't think so. Shall I try it just to see how it sounds? Will you mean it? How could I help but mean it? Then try it. I love you so much. Happy? Oh, gloriously. But we shouldn't have taken a cab. We had to celebrate. Isn't every night I tell a girl that I love her? I hope not. I'll pay half the bills. All right. And what about tomorrow? Will I see you? Oh, tomorrow and the day after and the day after that. Oh, no, wait a minute. No, tomorrow's Thursday, isn't it? Yes, why? Oh, I can't see you tomorrow. Night, I have a day. Oh. You don't mind, do you? It's been every Thursday for such a long time. More popcorn, Lily? No. What's the matter? Sick? No. You know something? There's no reason why we shouldn't force the city to put a water bottle beside this bench. A man can eat popcorn all night without drinking something. I said a man can eat popcorn all night without drinking something. Hmm? Oh, yes. Hey, look at me. What's the matter with you tonight? Pete, I want you to shake hands with Lizzie Glutz. Lizzie Glutz? Yeah, Lizzie Glutz. The girl we talked about, the girl you said I wasn't. Remember? The girl who was going to meet some man who'd sweep her right off the ground, and he'd be broke, and neither of them would care, and all at once they'd be living in their own little world. Oh, so what happened there? Yep. Just like I said it would. You see you were wrong. Yeah. Who is he? Just a nobody, but you'd like him. Would I? Oh, beat it to the smell of ceiling. All at once, you're face to face. You don't know how it happened, but there you are. And from then on, it's just one roller coaster ride after another. Wait till it happens to you. You think it will? It's bound to. What'll I do? Well? I know what I'll do. Just sit on the bench and eat my popcorn and watch the world go by. And then all at once there won't be any more popcorn, and the man can't watch the world go by without popcorn, can he? Pete. Can he? I bet he's a darn nice guy. Yeah, he is a darn nice guy. I was nuts about this bench, weren't you? I still am. Well, I'll put a forehand sign on it tomorrow. But Pete, you're still the best friend I've got. What I do with him won't make any difference with us. No? No, you don't understand about him. I want you to meet him right away. There's no reason why. There's three of us. You don't know your guys. But I don't want to lose you. I won't. I know. Just all reliable. That's how I stack up with you. All right, forget about the forehand sign. If you're ever in a spot, or if you feel like you want to talk it over with somebody on a Thursday night, you'll know where to find me. I'll be here. But don't come unless you have to, because it can never be the same anymore, see? You understand that, don't you? I guess so. Well, I gotta beat it. Oh, no, no. Yeah, I got some stuff to finish up over at the office. I'll be working pretty late, I guess, so... Well, so long, Lily. So long. In just a moment, we will continue with the Lux Radio Theatre presentation of the Gilded Lily, starring Claudette Colbert and Fred McMurray. For the moment, we want to tell you a little inside story about Mr. DeMille's own studio, Paramount. Yesterday there was a story conference. Now as we tune in, some of the girls are still typing away at the script. Madge is particularly rushed. She and Virginia have a special date tonight with two special gentlemen, and Virginia's all ready to go. Are that mad? Come on. Oh, Virginia, is it that late? Oh, I'm tired. Honestly, I don't know how I can go out tonight. I've been digging in my files and typing like mad all day long. Couldn't we go tomorrow night? Oh, no. I'm tired, too, but I know what to do about it. I just pop into a nice, warm, Lux toilet soap bath. Haven't you tried that? It makes you feel swell round the go. Thousands of popular girls all over the country are in on the Lux toilet soap beauty bath secret. Famous screen stars like Betty Davis and Carol Lombard find it a wonderful pick-me-up after a hard studio day. And most important of all, you can depend on Lux toilet soaps active lather to protect daintiness, keep your skin sweet. You'll love the delicate, expensive fragrance of this fine white soap. Once again, Mr. DeMille. We continue with the Gilded Lily, starring Claudette Colbert and Fred McMurray with David Niven. A few days have passed since Lily said goodbye to the easygoing newshawk. We're in a richly furnished apartment of a Park Avenue hotel where two men stand facing each other across a table. The older man is the Duke of Loamshire, visiting America in Cognito. The younger is his son, down to us is Charles Gray, known in England as Lord Grandville. The Duke of Loamshire breaks a long silence. So, it's actually that serious, Charles? Yes, Father. Well, and now what? First I'll have to cable Helen and ask her to break the engagement. You're rather difficult. I know. And this, this Lily? Well, I'll have to tell her that fate takes care of idiots and supplies them well with money and I'll take her back to England and we'll be married. And that's that. Well, I... Gray, why did you lie about yourself to this girl? Tell her that you were a nobody, that you had no money. I didn't. She told me that about myself. Not that. I was afraid to tell her the truth because... Because you wanted to be what she thought you were. Yes. Oh, that's human, I suppose. But he'll forgive me, of course, if my mouth seems to hang open at times. Why, back home, you were so enthused about social things. Parties, clubs and all that. And here, all at once, you plunge yourself into a terrible serious romance with this shop girl. She's not a shop girl. She works in an office. Oh, forgive me. But I... I still can't understand it. But don't you see, I asked to make this trip to America secret, just to get away from all that social nonsense. Well, for how long? I'm sincere about this, Father. Of course you are. You're sincere about everything for the moment. But that's your way of objecting to Lily. I don't object to her, Gray. If you're set on marrying Lily, I'll accept her. And so will Mother. But there are various ways of handling a delicate situation, and you're diving into it headlong. Lies, cables. Oh, it's all so crude, my boy. But what should I do? Go back to England. See Helen. Give her an opportunity to call off the engagement decently. And talk to your mother. As a son, you should talk to her. And then, with your house and order, come back here and ask Lily to marry you. You will have the right to ask her after that. I wonder what Lily would say if I told her the truth. Oh, my boy, it would be easy enough to find out. No, no, no, not yet. I'll just tell her I'm going away and that I've got a job. In heaven knows that's no lie. Hey, Pete. Yeah, what do you want, Eddie? The boss is looking for you. You better put your shoes on and get on him there. Okay, take it easy. Well, it sounds important. Sure, it's always important. Oh, Jack, you want to see me? Well, old Pete does. The demon reporter. Say, why don't you wake up and notice what's going on in front of those St. Bernard eyes? What? Well, would it interest you at all on this beautiful, sun-shiny day? To know that the Duke of Lomashier and his son have been playing around town here for six weeks without a line of print? Well, how'd they get here? Phony names. But where were you? They run pictures of the kid when he got engaged to some English dame. Can't you use your eyes? Well, what am I supposed to be? Secret service operator number 13? I don't know what you're supposed to be. And while you're walking around here in a trance, we have to pay a smart little hotel bellhop five bucks for the tip. Okay, where are they? They're selling today at noon. Noon? I'll get them at the boat. Hey, wait a minute. Take these pictures and clips along so you can at least tell them from Adam. And keep your mouth shut. But the only sheet in town that's got anything. Ha-ha, you hope. What are we supposed to do? You ought to tell her, God. I'm getting a story. You're here to get some pictures, see? Yeah, but who? Well, what's the difference? I'll point them out and you snap them. Try to get them with their mouths open, Eddie. It's funny of that way. Put their mouths open? But gee, Pete, that's... Ah, don't be artistic. Hey, there they are, up there on the deck. Come on, Eddie. Hello, James. I beg your pardon? Hey, what's the idea of visiting our little city without letting the papers in on it? Papers? Yeah, don't you think New York would like to know that it's been visited by the Duke of Loamshire and his son? What? All right, Eddie, snap them. Perfect, Pete, just like you said. But my good man, you must be mistaken. Oh, not at all. How about a little statement as to why you were here, what you were doing? Look, couldn't you be a good sport and forget that you saw us? We'd appreciate it tremendously. Is it that important to you? We can assure you there's no significance to the visit. We simply came here to enjoy ourselves quietly. And a report of the trip in the papers might call personal embarrassment. To your fiancée, for instance, Miss Helen Pergus? Well, yes. You're still engaged, aren't you? Yes, of course. We'd be glad to make it worth your while. Ah, don't bother. If it's that important, well, as far as I'm concerned, I've never seen you. You promise that? Sure. Come on, Eddie. Hey, what do you mean? I'm promising those guys you didn't see them. What of it? You saw them, didn't you? Sure. I got their... Oh. Pete Dawson speaking. Oh, hello, Mac. Yeah. I thought I was swallowing myself. Hey, did you see that picture all the grand deal with his mouth open? Was that a laugh? Hey. Well, for... Hey, I'll call you back, Mac. What are you doing here, Lily? I've got to see you alone now. Okay, we'll find an empty office. Pete, this picture in the paper. Did you do it? Sure. Why? Did you see these people talk to them? Of course. Why all the excitement? Why? Because Lord Granville, this man engaged to a girl in England. That's Charles Gray. Charles Gray? Yes, Charles Gray, the nobody I was telling you about. Charles Gray Granville. So that's it. That's why I got the run around. He said he was going out of town for a couple of weeks to get a job. Pete, what did he say? What did he talk about? He just... Well, go ahead. I'm asking for it. Well, he said he'd just been fooling around in America and the quiet, and said he was going back to marry that English name. His father tried to bribe me to keep the whole thing quiet. Oh, that swell, isn't it? Well, Lizzie got it all right by herself, didn't she? He was broke. A nobody. He said he loved me now. What did he think I was? Don't get all worked up about him. If he ever comes back here, I'll break his neck. He won't come back. All right, what are you going to do about it? What can you do? I'd like to do to him what he's done to me. Make him something to laugh at. Yeah, why not? Oh, no. When you're the sap, you're the sap. Anything you do makes you even more the sap. Well, there's a story for your paper. Lord Granville walks out on poor working girl. Can't you see the headlines? Yeah, I can see the headlines. Listen, I want to speak to Pete Dawes. It's Miss David calling Lily Day... What? He is so in. You tell that big gorilla if he doesn't speak to me. Hello? Hello? Oh. Poor little Arthur's girl, discarded the love of Lord Charles. He nuns Shakespeare. He's a great man. He's a great man. He's a great man. He's a great man. He's a great man. He's a great man. The love of Lord Charles in unshaken belief that romance would eventually be hers. Lord Charles' now-returning home is half heavy with grief at the thought... Oh, stop it, Father. Well, there you are. The latest radio bulletin. The captain has kept it out of the ship's paper, but it's all over England. I can't understand this. What's her idea? What's she after? A girl of herd type. You'll hear from her later. Ask for money to stop further publicity. Well, I have to admit, she had me fooled completely. to be very careful of course the harm has already been done with Helen oh it's a shame she was drawn into this mess oh that's over but if there are going to be reporters at Southampton waiting for you asking for statements I'll give them a statement no you won't oh if I'd known I was gonna drag you and mother into chief scandal my boy all we have to do is be sure that nothing is done to encourage it if there was only some way of stopping her without resorting to the courts that won't be difficult now that I know her language oh hello Lily I thought maybe I'd find you here did you I've been waiting an hour and a half sit down yeah thanks a popcorn aren't you gonna take off your shoes I don't know I may not be seeing very long all right why why what you know what why did you print those fake stories all that go ahead okay I did it because I love you and that guy gray hurt you and nobody's gonna hurt you while I'm around and get away with it that's what I thought oh you're a windmill please nobody'll ever walk out on you again you're somebody now yeah somebody is right people pointing at me in the subway on the street photographers trying to break into my house sure you're a celebrity now one of those peculiar people made strangely important by ordinary newspaper print strangely important a busted romance no job you lost your job I didn't lose it I quit what for I got tired of answering questions and look at this inside a cable that reading how much would it cause for poor little working girl to forget she ever met me Charles Gray well there's a sweet boyfriend for you yep sweet and to the point well if he wants to be forgotten here's the one who can do it that's a stuff Pete you're a smart fellow what a poor little working girls usually do next well they usually drown themselves one way or the other I'll take the other let's go nice joiner not classy but it's comfortable hey I'm sorry I was thinking yeah I noticed you know there's one thing about great Pete he gave me the swellest moment I ever had in my life how much will it cost for poor little working girl to forget all right I'm quiet if you ever pull another crack about that guy oh hello where you been I expected to see you we had that pip murder here last month I'm handling ship news now Nate byline and everything don't you read it no who is a girlfriend oh Nate I want you to meet Lily David Lily this is Nate's talking to popless the smartest cafe man in the business I love how are you hi Lily David huh yeah I read about you kicking Lord who's is back to England that's what I say send all these foreigners back where it's supposed to be and they need house business not terrible too many nightclubs you haven't got something to drag them in you start what I need is a first-class a number one attraction a name that helped me sure but where do you find them when they don't ask for a million dollars hey wait a minute listen Nate I've got just the thing you're looking for not too expensive but a big attraction should jam the place for months ah who is Lily David wait a minute I'm getting out of here Nate this is it maybe all right listen if you think I'm going to turn myself into a nightclub shut up I tell you it's a cinch Nate publicity that's all it takes this brother name over every bill boredom town you've read about it you've talked about it you've wondered about it now see you're at the gingham cafe well it sounds good to me it doesn't sound so good to me we'll get a singing teacher boy we'll teach you to fake a song I can see it all now Nate enlarge the place redecorate the whole business wait that's a span to pay what's the difference listen well I want to know make it all back in a couple of weeks I tell you she'll pack him in like sorry I have to get an orchestra that's an idea 20 pieces or no 25 pieces drought on her boy I can hear it now 25 pieces swinging like mad well go jump in the leg hello what do you think the stressing room is a public thoroughfare say you ought to see the crowd out there it's packed I told you we do it they're waiting to see you Lily David the little office girl who thought you was Lizzie Glatt waiting to see me huh probably don't have to get a circle about it oh he can't you see how silly this is let's pretend we're sane again and call the whole thing off no why do that why look at me I'm supposed to go out there and try to sing try to dance dance and else but like this I can't even walk oh you'll come all right just sing your song and do your dance that's all they all they want to do is that you all they want is a chance to see you yeah I'd like to see you go out there and this let him look you over I feel like a fancy porch swing Lily I'll shut up Lily look I brought you see a bracelet like it lovely but you shouldn't have done that's all right I got a lot of other stuff to hear look a necklace diamond earrings a couple of broaches and ankle it and six brewery rings well where did you get this the whole layout cost me 15 bucks from five feet away nobody can tell the difference and this is your little present to me now look we don't know where this stuff came from there'll be rumors of course that this necklace was given to you by the Prince of someplace or other and the earrings are a little token of steam from the Duke of Wachimacala and the anklet from some king of some little country I work at a good gag on that oh sure of course we'll pay no attention to the rumors we'll just wear our jewelry and let people talk say Pete isn't that something missing missing where's that little gadget I got from Napoleon wouldn't be a bad idea at that yeah but don't worry I'll have your name and headlines every day Lily David the famous no girl the glamour girl I'll have you ditching everybody from a count to a oh could you buy any chance to be living my life for me she's coming ready Lily oh come on come on come on Buck up you know just to show me that everything's all right you're such a fool I don't know whether to kiss you or kick you kiss it'd be easy to take but I guess the kick would be easy to give me and a girl on say Lily that first little bracelet I gave you it's personal for me it's on the level no kidding no kidding now go out there and murder them bird of them you realize you're talking to the court go ahead Lily not to like oh famous no what's she going out hello get my coat will you Dora yeah going out huh yes why do you realize I've hardly seen you in three weeks I know it was my idea to have you step out now and it was your idea all right I must be seen in the right places with the right people correct but look I didn't mean all the time I should feel like it's kind of lonely I'm sitting around talking to myself what are you doing tonight a day the old guy with the 43 creamries I suppose you forgot you've introduced me to him can't you call it off just this once you know tell him you're sick you had your throat cut or something why well all right tonight you and I as well we'll go out and get some popcorn huh Dora never mind the coat and you'll find Mr. Decker's phone number in a little book tell him I'm staying home tonight at a girl with a headache nice crack all right what do we talk about the weather listen I gotta talk to you seriously tonight excuse me hello oh hello mr. Randall it's the millionaire from the uncle hang up on him how are you mr. Randall oh just fine well oh mr. Randall hey what's he saying no I can't no I said I can't you can't watch no it's about the time Mr. Randall of course I do hey give me that phone Pete hello listen you hang up that phone and don't call back again miss David isn't in huh this is her father the pop is getting burned up now the way those mugs talk you think they owned you how do you think I feel about it do you think I asked for this no time for myself working most of the night reporters hounding me all the time people expecting me to do something crazy every time I step outside why haven't you thought of having me pushed over Niagara Falls in a kiddie car let's drop the whole thing it was my idea and I'm admitting it's wrong we could go away to the mountains maybe where you could get some rest and then maybe we could oh Lily I know I'm just a mug no class not even a crease in my pants but you know what I'm trying to say I think so oh how do you feel about it oh pee I'd marry you in a minute if it would make either of us any happier but something happened to me once and I'm not going to be satisfied until I find out why are you going to let that guy body her for the rest of your life Pete I can tell you this because I know you'll understand I feel like a kid must feel when someone he loves slaps him in the face he's hurt he's angry but he still loves same old Lily I have to see him sure you do I wonder what would happen if I took one of those London nightclub offices then if you really wanted to see me you do that and you'll be camping on the doorstep say how many times do I have to tell you you developed into a mighty swell dish Pete I'm going to London and what's going to happen you'll see Gray find out in 10 minutes he's still a lug and come tearing back home at least I'd know right I'm just blabbing sure you go ahead and I'll sort of stay here to keep things rolling well you're coming along me yes you what do you think you do while I'm barging around in a strange country stay here and write fan letters oh I say you're coming with me all right I will but but get this I don't like that guy and I never will and if he tries to pull any more of his fancy tricks I'll pop him right in the nose oh Pete you've got the soul of a poet for station identification this is the Columbia Broadcasting System K. N. X. Los Angeles the voice of Hollywood in a few minutes we resume the Gilded Lily starring Claudette Colbert and Fred McMurray with David Niven we left Miss Colbert rapidly gaining fame in our play as a dancer and it's a dancer whom we hear from now Miss Janet Riesenfeld daughter of the distinguished conductor Dr. Hugo Riesenfeld I met her first as a child when she came to my office with her father who scored many de mille pictures known professionally as Raquel Rojas Mr. Riesenfeld left this summer for Spain where she was to meet a new dancing partner she found him in the army and herself in the midst of the fierce siege of Madrid ladies and gentlemen Miss Janet Riesenfeld thank you Mr. de mill yes I went to Spain to dance and learned all sorts of new steps dodging bombs and bullets and we're fighting going on Janet how were you able to enter Madrid I met a newspaper correspondent who had a passport but no knowledge of Spanish so I got through posing as his assistant once there I stayed thinking that rebellion would be over in a few days when I changed my mind I couldn't leave after six terrifying weeks the American Embassy left Madrid for Valencia on Thanksgiving Day and I went along did you see much actual fighting you couldn't live in Madrid and not see it Mr. de mill Madrid is a city of death and ruin but the spirit of the people is incredibly magnificent I was only half a block away when the first rebel bomb struck from then on the gunfire and canada dating was ceaseless I spent my time in Madrid dancing at benefits for soldiers searching for food and avoiding shell we managed to get by on a scant supply of rice lentils and bread when one is in the midst of a siege without light warmth or sufficient food with the death raining down in bombs and shrapnel one doesn't exactly look for the luxuries of life but nonetheless I was able to secure a few of the minor comforts during my stay in Madrid one of these you will be especially interested in Mr. de mill it was lux toilet soap although I would have rather had a nice juicy steak at least I was able to keep a whole skin and keep it clean I bought lux soap in sections of the city where no other foreign product was displayed Madrid of course had no hot water but that didn't bother bother lux toilet soap very much I found it rather just as beautifully in cold water are the reports true that women are fighting with their men at the front yes they're just as heroic and brave as their soldiers but principally they have taken over the civilian work of the men being an American nothing moved me as much as when the word came that president Roosevelt had been reelected in the midst of all the suffering and bloodshed Madrid welcomed that news enthusiastically president Roosevelt's picture appeared everywhere and I soon realized that next to their own our flag is closest to the heart the marrillinos the hardship of my few months were nothing compared to the suffering of the Spanish people more than anything else the experience has made me grateful that I'm an American thanks and good night good night for three once again Claudette Colbert Fred McMurray and David Niven and the gilded Lily a figure of international reputation Lily went to London where she quickly became the toast of Mayfair she's been seeing Lord Granville regularly for almost a month and Pete is convinced that his own case is quite hopeless it's 11 o'clock in the morning as he knocks at the door of Lily's hotel suite Pete hello you almost missed me I was just going out with Granville I was going to leave word downstairs that I'd be back tonight you didn't mention it yesterday was just a little trip into the country for a rest this is Sunday you know and I don't work tonight yeah say Lily I I just dropped in to tell you I'm sailing today sailing why well I can't express it exactly but you've been going right along so swell and I seem to be in the way more and more that's not true oh it is true I'm just something you needed when everything was new to you can't you see that well that you've reached a point where I can't help you anymore well the best thing for both of us is for me to bow out in a hurry Pete I can't stay here without you what about gray don't you intend to keep on seeing him yes you know what's going to happen I know he seems to be a nice guy and he's crazy about you and all I want you to be married to him that's what's in your heart isn't it honestly yes it's all great with me I'm glad to see you get what you wanted and now that my job's finished I'm going home well if you decided on going back I can't stop you Pete have I hurt you no I'm the one that you'd be asking man you'll never be sore will you Lily about the crazy way I shoved you into this racket of course no you know now that it's made certain things possible things that couldn't have happened any other way yes it did oh Pete couldn't you please stay I'll get my old job back and everything will be J and every Thursday night I'll show up at the bench and eat a bag of popcorn for both of us yes we're a gag sort of but you're leaving so suddenly if things don't go so well with you oh but they will I know they will goodbye Lily Pete so long like it oh it's heavenly I'd almost forgotten what the country was like and now this place I can't understand what that old inkeeper meant now and what was that didn't you hear him oh yeah something about this being the very place where his wife said she's married never said wasn't it yes 30 years ago right here he's a queer old bird he must be very funny really oh I'd love to have seen them Hugo and losing blood glad who told you that was her name it had to be I'll bet she sat right here where I'm sitting and Hugo stood up of course because he had on his Sunday pants it's rather pathetic isn't it look there he is now with his broom and the drudgery that he hates and that little aging into a bitter old woman I don't feel that way about them you have everything that matters when you're just Hugo and losing blood too happy nobody's you wouldn't be able to stand that sort of existence along it's what I've wanted all my life great what possible pleasure is there in parading ourselves before crowd as though we're trying to let the whole world see that we're actually in love is it so terrible that I'm proud of you Lily do you realize what's happened to you you're known all over the world men everywhere talked about you wanted you now all those people who laughed at me when they thought I'd lost you now they're going to see that you belong to me that you always did belong to me great yes what is it oh nothing nothing hey buddy yeah this bench private no sit down thanks can you spare a cigarette buddy yeah here you are thanks oh what's the matter it ain't my brand it's too bad yeah but it'll do that's the worst of being broke you can never get your own brand no girl may say yes boy that gal come up from nowhere I wonder how much dough the Englishman's got she doesn't care no how do you figure oh it's just my guess maybe so but a couple of million bucks had come in handy for a cold winter two million bucks or two cents doesn't make any difference to that girl she's got an idea in the back of her head about what the perfect life should be she's not going to stop hunting until she finds it yeah I suppose you got all this straight from her you're done right you were sitting right here on this bench yeah yeah say um you you ain't Napoleon are you no are you me no I ain't I think I'll be going hey wait a minute how do you mail a bag of popcorn huh I don't know ask your keeper popcorn all the way from America look like mr pizza on another tail no he knows what he's doing he'll card with it honey listen I just remembered how tough it is to get popcorn in London have you and grave found a bench yeah now what do you mean by that miss lily oh funny face can't you see him nor draped all over that bench his shoes off that popcorn bag in his hand you know Pete never would touch peanuts no he says peanut you just don't know how to relax well excuse me miss lily but it wouldn't hurt you none to sort of well rest up don't I know it oh now honey couldn't you stay in this afternoon Lord grand or probably has something planned but why can't six nights a week at the club and never in a single day well if mr Pete was here he'd show put a stop to it he would never mind yes I'll answer yes hello hello gray right on the eye that's right well no kiss what's the matter Lily I'm tired that's all gray you haven't anything arranged for this afternoon have you oh nothing much just tea at the Clydes you'll have to know them sooner or later I have to know them how many more hundreds of people must I meet before before what nothing I had no idea my friends were annoying to you great listen we'll have to decide something right now I came to England because I loved you and because I thought that you still loved me but something's wrong something have you ever forgiven me for what happened in America I told you I was as much to blame as you then why can't we be satisfied with each other why do you insist that we spend day and night putting ourselves on display is that the only thrill you get out of being with me oh I've been selfish I know but why don't you take a week from the nightclub it could be arranged and you remember that little inn hugos we could spend the week there the week at the inn then what well back to London as though we had never been away is that it well Lily you make it sound so so shall I answer it Lily yes who photographers from the American syndicate photographer give me that phone Lily you don't want hello hello send them right up we don't want to see them here I'll handle this you just entertain them until I'm ready but this isn't exactly the place Lily Lily come out here Lily listen to me you wanted to show the world isn't you all right we will Lily come out all right come on how do you do it David how do you do sir set up the camera boys where's my place boy gentlemen we're the photographer Lord Grandville I'll get one here first the fireplace shot what's the meaning of this we have to be prepared you know in case of a surprise wedding our papers will already have honeymoon picture haven't I anything to say about that Lily you can make your statement after I make mine what are you doing with that grip get your cameras ready boys I haven't seen so you've been playing around with a celebrity okay I'll show you how the celebrity racket is really works the way Pete taught me no matter what you do surprises Lily don't I'll admit I was wrong you bet you were boys the whole thing's off I'm walking out yeah here's a swell picture for you grip in hand by the open door come on snap Lily wait tell your papers are going home to sit on a bench and eat popcorn maybe he'll show up maybe he won't but if he does I'm going to sit back and watch the world go by with the greatest mug on earth are you sure you didn't see a man here he'd be waiting right at this bench listen lady I've seen lots of men here right up there's the public library men go in and out all the day and half the night I can't remember all of them now go away and let me sleep listen he's tall see about that high with big feet and a bag of popcorn on I'll try to think you know there's something funny about this bench it's haunted by crackpots oh but I'll go away no I won't I've got as much right here as you what time is it you know I said what time is it hello Lily oh I try to catch it the boat but I missed it here looking swell oh I'm so glad to see you if you ever get away from me again say what goes on here oh I don't know all the way across the Atlantic and I find that on our bench oh I know him what hey you wake up you remember me oh yeah I want you to meet the girlfriend Lily David Lily say oh oh let me out of here let me out of here well I I got some popcorn so I see you want to sit down all right have something really thanks you know this is what I call living yes they're just sitting tight and watching the world go by is that all oh what else is it can't you guess yeah but I'm afraid to say oh you old mug take off your shoes and kiss me from Claudette Colbert and Fred McMurray we'll hear again a little later our hero tonight was a newspaper man so I thought I'd ask one of the most famous reporters in the world Mr. Linton Wells to be our guest his record reads like page of Richard Harding Davis fiction during 20 years in foreign fields he's been war correspondent in Mexico China Asia Minor Siberia Morocco Syria Nicaragua and more recently Ethiopia he was a lieutenant in the Chinese army and a major in the Mexican army a colonel in the Nicaraguan air forces and holds decorations from 12 foreign governments he's in Hollywood now completing his autobiography blood on the moon and recuperating from wounds and illness acquired in Ethiopia while correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune ladies and gentlemen Linton Wells thank you Mr. DeMille you know the last time I encountered you and Claudette Colbert was in Cairo Egypt indirectly of course there in the shadow of the pyramids I went to the movies and saw your production of Cleopatra tell me the worst what did the Egyptians think of the way I handled their history well I heard a couple of dark-skinned natives wishing Cleopatra were running Egypt again Colbert fashion you know Egypt certainly movie conscious in Cairo all society turns out one night each week and goes to the cinema it's a ceremonial occasion with a display of evening dress and jewelry rivaling an opening of the metropolitan opera well you've seen pictures in about every corner in the world Linton how do other countries like Hollywood well the stars Charlie Chaplin being human in any language is most universally beloved I've seen his antics roared out by the nose pierced savages of the Belgian Congo by Chinese and the Indians of the Peruvian Andes next in line there's Mickey Mouse just as popular in Brazil Manchukuo and Finland as he is here all the world loves American musical and believe me there's nothing so strange as hearing a native singing a hot shot tune in the depths of fever-ridden jungle but I've heard it in French east Africa you go to the movies in the open air and are bitten to death by mosquitoes or drenched by a sudden torn of rain a huge native who ran a projection machine there wore a charm given him by the local medicine man as a guarantee to prevent the film from breaking and in Japan where most kissing sequences are cut out the picture is explained by an interlocutor as the mood strikes I read your war dispatches from Ethiopia and noticed you occasionally had time to see a movie yes and at a salvo there were three ramshackle theaters infested with fleas and ancient pictures these natives were enthusiastic over American films though and I saw them roll in the aisles of the Laurel and hearty comedy while their friends were fighting only a few miles away by the way my wife was also a reporter for the Harold Tribune went with me to Ethiopia and insisted on taking her case of lux toilet soap along thought for a woman that's what we figured out until we got there you can believe this or not mr. de mille but after bringing that soap from New York to Egypt from Egypt to French Somaliland and then 500 miles inland by rail at 14 cents a pound after worrying about carriers and customs collectors I saw five different shops in Addis Ababa selling lux toilet soap and charging much less for it than I paid for transportation costs alone and I said then what I'm saying now good night good night since starring on the lux radio theater last summer Claudette Colbert has observed her first wedding anniversary with Dr. Joel Pressman established a lovely new home in Brentwood and made what will undoubtedly prove another hit film made of Salem Fred McMurray not to be outdone has completed champagne waltz his co-starring in made of Salem and has taken to himself a wife but from this point on they'll have to report for themselves ladies and gentlemen Claudette Colbert and Fred McMurray mr. de mille after nearly an hour on the air I'm afraid I'm all talked out however I do want to thank you again for the top productions you give us every Monday night and before I go just a word of praise for the product responsible for this program I could say many fine things about it but the best indication of what I think of lux toilet soap is the fact that I've used nothing else for years all right Fred your turn thanks for that and hopes of being neatly left out of this mr. de mille you and Claudette know me well enough to realize that I'm not wanting to get up in front of the microphone and make clever speeches don't say anything oh thanks that suits me fine just a minute just a minute don't go either I've heard a lot of music coming from the sets of your two pictures made of Salem and champagne waltz since you'd rather not talk suppose you sing I thought you were a friend of mine well since I'm on a spot I'll try a course of a tune from the picture champagne waltz the name of it is called the when is a kiss not a kiss whenever I'm not kissing you when my two arms are missing you nothing means a thing I do when is a hug not a hug whenever I'm not hugging you if you'd allow me egg about then I'd have something that I could brag about when is a kiss not a kiss when I can thank you miss colbert and mr. McMurray this is your announcer ladies and gentlemen melville roig the luxe radio theater program for next monday night will be told shortly by mr. de mille in our cast tonight where george chandler as eddie c martigue shaw as the duke of loncher chester clute as the editor john gibson as the bum georgia simons as dora lou merrill as nate frank nelson as the man william royal as subway guard mary arden as the woman and warren mccollum and ross forrester as newspaper reporters and newsboys miss colbert mr. McMurray and mr. de mille appeared through courtesy of paramount studios mr. niven through samuel golden mr. niven is now working in the universal picture we have our moments and louis silvers 20th century fox where he was in charge of music for the new film one in a million and now mr. de mille to the luxe radio theater next monday night comes one of the most accomplished actors the screen has won from the stage edward g robinson with him bevelly robits and paul guilfoyle recently returned to hollywood from abroad mr. robinson's stars for us as warden brady in martin flavin's tense melodrama criminal code our sponsors the makers of luxe toilet soap join me in inviting you to be with us again next monday night when the luxe radio theater presents edward g robinson paul guilfoyle and bevelly robits in criminal code this is sessel b de mille saying good night to you from hollywood this is the columbia broadcasting system