Ex-Partners

When Hollywood partners part, they often do it with a bang. Author Ben Hecht and Cinemactor Bob Hope were partners in MGM's The Iron Petticoat, a Ninotchka-type farce co-starring Hope and Katharine Hepburn. The script by Hecht tells of a Russian aviatrix who flees the Soviet Union in a MIG and is piloted about Europe by a U.S. Air Force officer. Now that The Iron Petticoat is ready to be publicized, Scripter Hecht last week washed his hands of the whole project in a paid ad ($275) on the back page of the Hollywood Reporter. It read:

"My dear Partner Bob Hope:

"This is to notify you that I have removed my name as author from our mutilated venture, The Iron Petticoat.

"Unfortunately your other partner, Katharine Hepburn, can't shy out of the fractured picture with me.

"Although her magnificent comic performance has been blowtorched out of the film, there is enough left of the Hepburn footage to identify her for her sharpshooters.

"I am assured by my hopeful predators that The Iron Petticoat will go over big with people 'who can't get enough of Bob Hope.'

"Let us hope this swooning contingent is not confined to yourself and your euphoric agent, Louis Shurr.

[Signed] BEN HECHT"

Replied Hope in another full-page Reporter ad:

"My dear Ex-Partner Ben:

"You once wrote The Front Page, and now you've followed it up with the back page.

"The first thing I did on hearing of your withdrawal from The Iron Petticoat was to seek out my other fan, Dr. Shurr.

"I went down to the tank* and handed him your ad. He read it under water and came up with this comment: 'The billing is now strengthened.'

"I am most understanding. The way things are going you simply can't afford to be associated with a hit.

"As for Kate Hepburn, I don't think she was depressed with the preview audience rave about her performance.

"Let's do all our correspondence this way in print. It lifts The Iron Petticoat.

BOB (BlowTorch) HOPE"

-Shurr was tossed into a pool with British Cinemactress Diana Dors at her recent party (TIME, Sept. 3).

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.