Hollywood: Sent for One

Time after time, the TV cameras in Hollywood zoomed in on Natalie Wood in her aisle seat, the betting-odds favorite for the best actress of 1961 for her performance in Splendor in the Grass. But the best actress of the year was sitting in Rome smoking Viceroys.

Sophia Loren's absence from last week's Academy Award ceremonies was unvarnished nervousness. The Hollywood correspondent of Rome's Il Messaggero had written a convincing argument that the "xenophobes" of Hollywood were not about to ''dig their graves with their own hands" by honoring furriners. Sophia canceled her plane reservations at the last moment, feeling...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!