He Kisses And Tells
(Editor's note: For several years now the "Church of Christ" people have taken huge pride in Pat Boone, singer, night-club entertainer, and movie star. He has been widely sought for in meetings, youth rallies, college lectureships, and other "Church of Christ" promotions. He has been paraded as the supreme example of how a man can be "of the world" and still remain a true and faithful follower of Christ. We thought the following two columnists might give readers some idea of how people who are NOT "Church of Christ" people regard our hero. The first is by Louella Parsons as syndicated in a number of newspapers; the second Is by "Adeline" who writes a love-lorn column for the Sacramento Bee.)
Pat Boone left for London some months ago to make "The Main Attraction," the most widely UNKISSED screen hero of motion picture history. And, from what I've heard about this picture of MGM's, he returns one of the most thoroughly KISSED on record — a switch in his public image which amuses me no end.
I've been a friend of Pat's since he first moved to Hollywood with Shirley and his adorable family of four little girls — and at that time he was one of the most adamant young men I've ever interviewed about movie love scenes.
Smooching scenes were against his religious beliefs and his natural bent. I could hardly blame him. Sex had become smut on the screen. So I couldn't help being curious about what had come about to change Pat's mind. On a particularly bright and sunshiny day I decided to invite him over to my garden and ask him first-hand.
After we had caught up at least momentarily on what had been happening to each other since last we met, I said: "I understand you did a complete change of character in 'Main Attraction.' Is it true that you kiss not one but both leading ladies, Nancy Kwan and Mai Zetterling?"
Pat grinned, pulled out a pipe, settled back, and said: I did a lot of soul searching before I signed for 'Main Attraction.' "You see, Louella, I have been trying to round myself out as an actor, and in this movie I play a circus performer with questionable morals, no roots in life, and a harrowed young man who becomes involved with an older woman (Mai Zetterling). But there IS a moral to the story, and I eventually come to my senses, and lead a better life.
"The role is one I thought Jimmy Dean would have played very well," Pat went on, "and it was a challenge for me. But I do hope my fans will understand that my morals and religious beliefs haven't changed one bit.
"I think you will agree when you see the picture, and I hope you like it. By the way, I did all my own stunt work as Eddie Philips, circus performer."
He had been fondling his pipe while he talked and finally asked: "Do you mind If I smoke?"
"Not at all," I said, "but isn't, this another change you have made? thought you and Shirley both were against smoking."
"It's a kind of symbol to me — like going into a more adult picture was a symbol. Shirley is fighting it a little, but does admit it's sort of manly," he grinned.
"I just puff on it now and then — my voice you know. In fact, I'm making some new recordings before I start on a personal appearance tour throughout the country."
Dear Adeline:
I am just furious and have to announce it to the world. I don't know just where to sound off, so I'm writing to you about it.
If the Communists were influencing our movies and television so that the youth of our country would completely forget all moral values, they couldn't do a better job than they are right now.
I'm speaking of a television program I saw a few Sunday nights ago in which a film clip of a new picture was shown which featured Pat Boone and some young singing actress.
Now Pat Boone, of all the people in the entertainment business, is supposed to be the CLEAN CUT YOUNG AMERICAN BOY, with his white buck shoes, etc. Anyway, in this scene, they had him standing so that he was by an open window. He was bare from the waist up. There was some suggestion of a waist band evident on the level of the window sill, but that was only slightly visible and they might as well have forgotten it.
Standing with him at the window was a young girl with her hair down, wearing a night gown. In the background was a bed, with a bedside table and lamp. The two of them were singing some new song entitled "Ready, Willing and Able."
Now if that isn't something to take the cake.
Even if they'd had a couple of crumbs doing this scene, it would have been bad enough. But it was AMERICA'S NICE BOY and a nice looking girl. In other words, according to this impression on I3-year-olds, this sort of thing is strictly okay.
Not only was it, according to the producers, "okay" but it was on a family program that everybody watches. It was in the family room, with Mother and Dad and therefore acceptable.
Deliver me.
If they want to team up Bob Mitchum and Yvonne DeCarlo in a scene like that, with a leopard skin couch in the background and black chiffon drapes, and in a movie theater where you have a freedom of choice, that's their affair.
And Old Smiley's only comment was, "Weren't they great?"
The only thing that pleased me was that Pat Boone looked lousy with his shirt off.
Disgusted Touche'
Adeline