1
00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:14,560
The truth is that the only
since I'm happy,
2
00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:16,800
It's when I'm not doing it
absolutely nothing.
3
00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:21,200
I don't understand people who like
work and talk about it,
4
00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:23,600
as if it were some kind
of damned duty.
5
00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:28,160
For me, doing nothing is like
float in hot water.
6
00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:30,400
Delicious... perfect.
7
00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:41,520
She was the only actress in Hollywood,
8
00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:43,480
that didn't take
seriously.
9
00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:46,640
Who didn't care at all
the star system thing.
10
00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,160
She was portrayed as
a femme fatale,
11
00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:52,200
but in reality she
it was another...
12
00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:54,440
Bohemia... a species
of gypsy.
13
00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:04,857
The main directors
14
00:01:05,057 --> 00:01:08,030
appreciated what she
had to offer. She doesn't.
15
00:01:08,230 --> 00:01:11,620
But maybe that was part
Why she's so...
16
00:01:11,820 --> 00:01:14,759
attractive on the screen, you know,
17
00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:16,791
She didn't think much
in itself.
18
00:01:23,152 --> 00:01:27,960
Could you
create the Ava Gardner puzzle,
19
00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:30,280
on your own screen.
20
00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:35,201
You could put it all together and you
I could have a wonderful recipe...
21
00:01:35,401 --> 00:01:38,957
of a fascinating woman.
22
00:01:46,620 --> 00:01:48,580
I was born the day before
Christmas 1922,
23
00:01:48,900 --> 00:01:51,460
in Grabtown, Carolina
from the North.
24
00:01:51,540 --> 00:01:53,380
How about having to live
childhood,
25
00:01:53,900 --> 00:01:55,540
with my birthday
and Christmas Day,
26
00:01:55,620 --> 00:01:57,380
these are just celebrations
simultaneous?
27
00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,620
This meant that probably
I would be stuck with a gift,
28
00:02:02,820 --> 00:02:05,860
instead of the two that I simply
I knew I deserved it.
29
00:02:07,820 --> 00:02:11,436
And the news got worse. It seemed
that there was this other person,
30
00:02:11,620 --> 00:02:15,100
Jesus Christ, whose birthday many
people confuse it with mine.
31
00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:17,206
I was personally outraged.
32
00:02:17,512 --> 00:02:20,086
It's been a long time before
to forgive the Lord for this.
33
00:02:22,926 --> 00:02:25,358
The funny thing is that she was
a blonde child.
34
00:02:25,558 --> 00:02:27,725
The most beautiful brunette
of cinema,
35
00:02:27,925 --> 00:02:33,934
in a pageboy's cut
Italian quattrocento.
36
00:02:34,134 --> 00:02:35,532
She was the baby of the family,
37
00:02:35,732 --> 00:02:40,643
she was about sixteen or eighteen
years younger...
38
00:02:40,843 --> 00:02:42,880
than the next brother.
39
00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:46,463
So Ava was a child
very late,
40
00:02:46,663 --> 00:02:52,079
and she would have been the girl of
eyes of all her sisters.
41
00:02:52,279 --> 00:02:56,687
Then Ava had a...
very positive education.
42
00:02:56,887 --> 00:02:59,543
She and her brother Jack,
whom she adored,
43
00:02:59,743 --> 00:03:01,495
they ran wild together.
44
00:03:01,695 --> 00:03:02,595
They were country kids.
45
00:03:02,795 --> 00:03:04,795
They grew up in
a tobacco farm.
46
00:03:04,995 --> 00:03:05,780
He was the leader of the gang,
47
00:03:05,980 --> 00:03:08,107
and she always went out with
brother's friends.
48
00:03:08,307 --> 00:03:10,899
She was the only girl in the
his brother's gang.
49
00:03:12,254 --> 00:03:14,979
At a young age, young Ava,
in exchange for a small allowance,
50
00:03:15,179 --> 00:03:18,388
works in the field with his parents,
Molly and Jonas Gardner.
51
00:03:18,588 --> 00:03:20,500
She helps to harvest the precious
tobacco leaves
52
00:03:20,700 --> 00:03:22,443
that are tied, dried
and classified,
53
00:03:22,643 --> 00:03:25,764
before they are put up for sale
to tobacco companies.
54
00:03:25,964 --> 00:03:28,843
They were...
not rich,
55
00:03:29,043 --> 00:03:30,291
but they had money,
56
00:03:30,491 --> 00:03:32,428
until the Depression.
57
00:03:32,628 --> 00:03:35,132
She was about 8 years old,
58
00:03:35,332 --> 00:03:36,966
and then everything changed.
59
00:03:37,166 --> 00:03:38,803
So they were in...
60
00:03:39,003 --> 00:03:43,248
in financial trouble.
61
00:03:43,448 --> 00:03:44,960
They were
extremely poor.
62
00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:48,248
They moved from town to
city, from port to port,
63
00:03:48,448 --> 00:03:50,213
and is Ava's mother,
Molly Gardner,
64
00:03:50,413 --> 00:03:51,952
who was a very strong woman,
65
00:03:52,152 --> 00:03:55,040
who took care of the children
and supported the family,
66
00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:59,528
because the father wasn't really
prepared for it.
67
00:03:59,728 --> 00:04:01,776
When you are
poor, very poor,
68
00:04:01,976 --> 00:04:05,032
and there's no hiding,
life is hell.
69
00:04:08,096 --> 00:04:11,808
When you live in the branches, there's always
some work and enough food,
70
00:04:12,008 --> 00:04:14,312
and you with friends of the same
age and training,
71
00:04:14,512 --> 00:04:15,865
you may never know
who is poor.
72
00:04:16,065 --> 00:04:18,023
But when you start again
life in a big city,
73
00:04:18,223 --> 00:04:22,633
oh, baby, this condition
it starts to hurt!
74
00:04:22,833 --> 00:04:25,352
Molly now widowed,
and his daughters Beatrice and Ava,
75
00:04:25,552 --> 00:04:27,240
settle in
NewportNews.
76
00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:29,144
Ava attends secretarial classes,
77
00:04:29,344 --> 00:04:32,206
learn to write in shorthand.
78
00:04:33,848 --> 00:04:35,752
Like all
girls of your generation,
79
00:04:35,952 --> 00:04:37,656
she was fascinated
by films.
80
00:04:37,856 --> 00:04:41,512
She went to see the movies. "And the Wind
Took" and Greta Garbo,
81
00:04:41,712 --> 00:04:44,393
but she didn't see herself as
a movie star.
82
00:04:44,593 --> 00:04:47,105
Your older sister, Bappie
Beatrice, on the other hand,
83
00:04:47,305 --> 00:04:52,456
really want to be part of this
world, by proxy.
84
00:04:53,991 --> 00:04:55,783
The independent Bappie
moved to New York
85
00:04:55,983 --> 00:04:59,368
and married Larry Tarr,
a professional photographer.
86
00:04:59,568 --> 00:05:04,129
He soon realizes the extraordinary
photogenic potential of young Ava.
87
00:05:04,329 --> 00:05:07,128
When Ava Gardner went to
New York to be with your sister,
88
00:05:07,328 --> 00:05:10,024
your brother-in-law did a series
of portraits of her.
89
00:05:10,224 --> 00:05:11,543
She was a sweet young lady,
90
00:05:11,743 --> 00:05:12,816
not at all attractive.
91
00:05:13,016 --> 00:05:14,761
Except she already
she was very beautiful,
92
00:05:14,961 --> 00:05:17,288
she already had those amazing eyes
large and shadowy,
93
00:05:17,488 --> 00:05:20,176
with your hypnotic gaze.
94
00:05:20,376 --> 00:05:24,105
Those first photos
her, she was so natural,
95
00:05:24,305 --> 00:05:30,113
really beautiful features, cheekbones
lovely, lovely structure.
96
00:05:30,313 --> 00:05:33,535
When he displayed a portrait
of Ava in the window of her studio,
97
00:05:33,735 --> 00:05:36,583
soon caught people's attention
from Metro Goldwyn Mayer,
98
00:05:36,783 --> 00:05:38,608
who wanted to give this
unknown young woman
99
00:05:38,808 --> 00:05:40,232
in a straw hat,
a screen test.
100
00:05:40,432 --> 00:05:43,256
And that's how the story
fairy tale began.
101
00:05:43,456 --> 00:05:45,800
So thanks to Larry Tarr
102
00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:49,104
taking a photo
from Ava,
103
00:05:49,304 --> 00:05:51,264
and the messenger boy,
104
00:05:51,464 --> 00:05:54,768
of Loews Incorporated, MGM,
105
00:05:54,968 --> 00:05:59,953
he took the photos for the person
proper at MGM in New York,
106
00:06:00,153 --> 00:06:02,904
and the person was interested.
107
00:06:03,104 --> 00:06:06,144
The screen test
Ava at 18,
108
00:06:06,344 --> 00:06:11,416
for MGM in New York
... is catastrophic.
109
00:06:11,616 --> 00:06:13,319
She doesn't know
how to act,
110
00:06:13,519 --> 00:06:16,792
and she doesn't know how to pose.
111
00:06:16,992 --> 00:06:19,593
They said, "Sit down"
and I sat down.
112
00:06:19,793 --> 00:06:21,904
"Look at your
right. Good.
113
00:06:22,104 --> 00:06:24,289
Now, on your left, great.
114
00:06:24,489 --> 00:06:27,050
Stand up straight. Good.
115
00:06:27,250 --> 00:06:29,873
Go to the piano, take it
the flower vase,
116
00:06:30,073 --> 00:06:33,663
come back here and put it
on the table. Good."
117
00:06:33,863 --> 00:06:35,679
I couldn't see what
there was good in that.
118
00:06:35,879 --> 00:06:37,760
I thought it was a loss
of time and...
119
00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,864
I hoped they knew
what they were doing.
120
00:06:41,064 --> 00:06:45,538
Then they filmed what they called
"screen test" interview template.
121
00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:50,216
"Your name?"
122
00:06:50,416 --> 00:06:55,776
That's when my southern accent
came out... "Ava Gardner."
123
00:06:55,976 --> 00:06:58,128
He was sure that
it wouldn't lead to anything,
124
00:06:58,328 --> 00:07:00,656
because it didn't seem like she
was speaking English.
125
00:07:00,856 --> 00:07:03,138
Your southern accent
it was so strong.
126
00:07:03,338 --> 00:07:06,616
To the point that man gives a
look at the screen test,
127
00:07:06,816 --> 00:07:10,672
and says, "We'll send a test
silent to Los Angeles,
128
00:07:10,872 --> 00:07:12,320
let's cut the sound."
129
00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:16,625
Then Ava's career begins
in a silent film!
130
00:07:17,112 --> 00:07:20,104
The visionary, Louis B. Mayer,
head of the Los Angeles studios,
131
00:07:20,304 --> 00:07:22,856
summarizes the impression
general when he says:
132
00:07:23,056 --> 00:07:27,937
"She can't talk. She can't
can act. She's great!"
133
00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:34,768
When Ava's face
appeared on the screen,
134
00:07:34,968 --> 00:07:38,408
every man in the room fell in love
lost for her.
135
00:07:38,608 --> 00:07:42,784
So obviously there was
something there from the beginning.
136
00:07:42,984 --> 00:07:44,792
They signed.
137
00:07:44,992 --> 00:07:47,536
And she barely left to
to California,
138
00:07:47,736 --> 00:07:51,832
when one of the publicists took her
for a tour of the sound stages,
139
00:07:52,032 --> 00:07:55,360
you know, this is where you
go to work, etc., etc.
140
00:07:57,024 --> 00:08:00,056
His beginnings in Hollywood
are quite traumatic for her.
141
00:08:00,256 --> 00:08:03,279
She doesn't act, she spends her time
time being prepared,
142
00:08:03,479 --> 00:08:06,911
with great efforts made to hide the
lovely dimple she had in her chin,
143
00:08:07,111 --> 00:08:10,393
which was part of his charm
and that his father loved so much.
144
00:08:10,593 --> 00:08:14,112
She cries the day they fill
your dimple with foundation cream.
145
00:08:14,312 --> 00:08:17,952
They pluck your eyebrows, which are
incredible, a bit like Liz Taylor's.
146
00:08:18,152 --> 00:08:22,152
They really tried to moderate it
and they were successful.
147
00:08:22,352 --> 00:08:25,304
She was very
natural,
148
00:08:25,504 --> 00:08:28,159
and... the type of
natural beauty
149
00:08:28,359 --> 00:08:31,752
that if you highlight with
lots of makeup,
150
00:08:31,952 --> 00:08:35,320
that would... kill
151
00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:39,360
that wonderful...
natural... quality.
152
00:08:39,560 --> 00:08:41,328
Very few like it.
153
00:08:41,528 --> 00:08:45,168
By the time Ava Gardner was
under contract with MGM,
154
00:08:45,368 --> 00:08:47,744
the studio is going through
a period of transition.
155
00:08:47,944 --> 00:08:49,224
It's not the big MGM anymore
156
00:08:49,424 --> 00:08:51,456
who produced Garbo or
even Lana Turner.
157
00:08:51,656 --> 00:08:54,048
Now it's an MGM in decline,
158
00:08:54,248 --> 00:08:56,513
with a Louis B. Mayer on
end of his career,
159
00:08:56,713 --> 00:08:59,712
now having to compete
with television.
160
00:08:59,912 --> 00:09:02,144
Therefore, there is a tendency to make
historical costume dramas,
161
00:09:02,344 --> 00:09:04,183
where women do not
have a central role.
162
00:09:04,383 --> 00:09:10,411
Therefore, it is in this MGM that Ava
Gardner makes his debut.
163
00:09:10,611 --> 00:09:13,436
Ava Gardner is quickly
labeled
164
00:09:13,636 --> 00:09:19,069
at MGM as a very
beautiful, but not an actress.
165
00:09:19,269 --> 00:09:21,547
She was the girl they had
readily available,
166
00:09:21,747 --> 00:09:24,267
whenever they needed
an attractive female figure
167
00:09:24,467 --> 00:09:25,252
in the background,
168
00:09:25,452 --> 00:09:28,019
or for a cutting socket.
169
00:09:33,179 --> 00:09:36,739
I spent most of my time
in what they call Leg Art Alley,
170
00:09:36,939 --> 00:09:39,981
where photographers don't
they did nothing but take away
171
00:09:40,181 --> 00:09:43,094
advertising photos
for newspapers and magazines.
172
00:09:43,891 --> 00:09:45,283
I didn't like it one bit.
173
00:09:45,483 --> 00:09:47,940
I especially remember one day
of record heat in Los Angeles,
174
00:09:48,140 --> 00:09:49,387
when someone said OK,
175
00:09:49,587 --> 00:09:51,787
let's get someone who has
good legs and knees,
176
00:09:51,987 --> 00:09:55,795
and put her in a swimsuit, on top
of this huge block of ice.
177
00:09:55,995 --> 00:10:01,348
And who was chosen for the
tribute... Ava Gardner.
178
00:10:01,548 --> 00:10:03,651
I wore a red swimsuit
striped,
179
00:10:03,851 --> 00:10:05,387
I held an ice cream cone,
180
00:10:05,587 --> 00:10:08,307
and smile happily when
my ass froze.
181
00:10:08,507 --> 00:10:11,661
Nobody ever called it that
of intellectual profession.
182
00:10:17,299 --> 00:10:19,227
From 1941 to 1946,
183
00:10:19,427 --> 00:10:21,179
Ava appears on fence
of twenty films,
184
00:10:21,379 --> 00:10:23,978
why she doesn't even appear
in the credits.
185
00:10:24,178 --> 00:10:25,776
She performs functions
useful, as
186
00:10:25,976 --> 00:10:28,137
telephone operator, student
or waitress,
187
00:10:28,337 --> 00:10:31,448
among hundreds of others
Hollywood extras.
188
00:10:33,417 --> 00:10:36,351
And on one of the sound stages,
Mickey Rooney filming
189
00:10:36,551 --> 00:10:37,842
"Freshman on Broadway",
190
00:10:38,042 --> 00:10:42,006
a movie with Judy Garland.
He was only 21 years old.
191
00:10:42,206 --> 00:10:43,815
He was already a teen idol,
192
00:10:44,015 --> 00:10:45,524
famous for his roles in series,
193
00:10:45,724 --> 00:10:48,509
which were great
successes in Hollywood.
194
00:10:50,330 --> 00:10:54,259
And she sees this little boy painted,
dressed like Carmen Miranda,
195
00:10:54,459 --> 00:10:56,338
wearing wedge heel shoes,
196
00:10:56,538 --> 00:11:00,162
Ruffled skirts, bandana,
banana shaped earrings.
197
00:11:00,362 --> 00:11:02,872
Not exactly your idea
of a sexy man!
198
00:11:03,072 --> 00:11:06,865
She even wonders if he doesn't
It's a dwarf dressed as a woman.
199
00:11:07,065 --> 00:11:11,042
Mickey gave a
look at this new one,
200
00:11:11,242 --> 00:11:17,353
absolutely no experience
some, nothing,
201
00:11:17,553 --> 00:11:20,401
and he played his game for her
202
00:11:20,601 --> 00:11:23,241
and she didn't respond.
203
00:11:23,441 --> 00:11:25,265
She immediately
push him away,
204
00:11:25,465 --> 00:11:28,825
and then follows a series of encounters,
where she puts him standing,
205
00:11:29,025 --> 00:11:32,914
because she has absolutely none
I want to go out with a cross-dressed dwarf.
206
00:11:33,114 --> 00:11:35,418
Even though he is a
big MGM star.
207
00:11:35,618 --> 00:11:36,761
Your sister, Bappie,
208
00:11:36,961 --> 00:11:39,945
will play the role of advisor,
almost like a madam.
209
00:11:40,145 --> 00:11:41,625
Telling her, "Listen, darling,
210
00:11:41,825 --> 00:11:46,185
he's not very handsome, but he is
powerful, make an effort."
211
00:11:46,385 --> 00:11:48,578
So she decides to give
give him a chance.
212
00:11:48,778 --> 00:11:50,593
They have dinner...
213
00:11:50,793 --> 00:11:53,217
and after 27
proposals,
214
00:11:53,417 --> 00:11:55,897
for the 28th time, for
pure exhaustion,
215
00:11:56,097 --> 00:12:01,306
she tells him: Ok, I will get married
with you, Mickey Rooney.
216
00:12:01,506 --> 00:12:04,849
Ava and I would like to thank
everyone for your good wishes,
217
00:12:05,049 --> 00:12:08,153
especially our boss,
Mr. Louis B. Mayer,
218
00:12:08,353 --> 00:12:09,809
Thank you very much.
219
00:12:10,009 --> 00:12:12,913
She was the only one
virgin in Hollywood.
220
00:12:13,113 --> 00:12:15,185
This is a pseudo joke,
221
00:12:15,385 --> 00:12:18,906
but it might have been true
that she was.
222
00:12:19,106 --> 00:12:22,753
She was in fact a virgin. And in
your honeymoon night,
223
00:12:22,953 --> 00:12:25,833
when she did her duty
like Mrs. Rooney,
224
00:12:26,033 --> 00:12:29,090
she admits that the little
dwarf did not disappoint her.
225
00:12:29,290 --> 00:12:32,225
She reports in her memoirs with
his usual frankness,
226
00:12:32,425 --> 00:12:37,978
that once she got into it, it was
quite pleasant, actually.
227
00:12:38,178 --> 00:12:40,954
What does marriage with Rooney
did was make it,
228
00:12:41,154 --> 00:12:44,841
That is to say, in terms of
today, she would be on TMZ.
229
00:12:45,041 --> 00:12:48,560
she would be in the tabloids because
it was Mrs. Mickey Rooney.
230
00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:50,809
In fact, she signed
your autograph
231
00:12:51,009 --> 00:12:54,081
at that time as Mrs.
Mickey Rooney.
232
00:12:54,281 --> 00:12:59,769
And looking back she said that
that's where his self-esteem was.
233
00:12:59,969 --> 00:13:05,841
I think that's how she
gained fame to begin with,
234
00:13:06,041 --> 00:13:09,753
and of course she was very
beautiful to look at.
235
00:13:09,953 --> 00:13:12,858
Mickey and Ava's wedding
it will only last 16 months.
236
00:13:13,058 --> 00:13:17,977
It is at this time that Ava meets the eccentric
billionaire Howard Hughes.
237
00:13:18,177 --> 00:13:19,706
Hughes is a manufacturer
of aircraft,
238
00:13:19,906 --> 00:13:22,289
an aviator who is also a
independent filmmaker,
239
00:13:22,489 --> 00:13:25,513
film production and direction
big budget.
240
00:13:25,713 --> 00:13:28,586
He is one of the richest men and
powerful people in the United States,
241
00:13:28,786 --> 00:13:31,529
and a womanizer
psychotic.
242
00:13:31,729 --> 00:13:34,081
This man
was phobic, paranoid
243
00:13:34,281 --> 00:13:35,793
and sink into
schizophrenia,
244
00:13:35,993 --> 00:13:38,418
a few years later.
245
00:13:38,618 --> 00:13:42,033
but at that time, he still
maintained its position.
246
00:13:42,233 --> 00:13:45,905
Howard Hughes
he was crazy about her.
247
00:13:46,105 --> 00:13:48,521
He wanted her in his
bed and in your life.
248
00:13:48,721 --> 00:13:50,105
He already had a dozen girls.
249
00:13:50,305 --> 00:13:52,827
He slept with almost everyone
Hollywood actresses.
250
00:13:53,027 --> 00:13:55,153
Among his achievements,
was Lana Turner,
251
00:13:55,353 --> 00:13:59,465
the blonde bombshell and vampire
number one at the time.
252
00:13:59,665 --> 00:14:02,794
and Ava would have done well
addition to your collection.
253
00:14:02,994 --> 00:14:04,553
She doesn't sleep with him.
254
00:14:04,753 --> 00:14:07,186
She has that kind of talent
innate to resist,
255
00:14:07,386 --> 00:14:09,250
when the resistance
is necessary.
256
00:14:09,450 --> 00:14:12,865
It's not that she's a prude, she
you just feel like you need to resist.
257
00:14:13,065 --> 00:14:14,321
Get out of my room!
258
00:14:14,521 --> 00:14:17,857
He was very possessive.
259
00:14:18,057 --> 00:14:20,033
Do you know if... If you were
involved with Howard Hughes,
260
00:14:20,233 --> 00:14:22,745
he put you in a house,
he gave you a car,
261
00:14:22,945 --> 00:14:24,858
he had private detectives
following you.
262
00:14:25,058 --> 00:14:27,256
That wasn't...Ava.
263
00:14:27,456 --> 00:14:28,482
How paranoid he is,
264
00:14:28,682 --> 00:14:30,088
he hides microphones
at Ava's house,
265
00:14:30,288 --> 00:14:31,977
and he thinks he hears the
voice of Mickey Rooney,
266
00:14:32,177 --> 00:14:34,433
who reappeared on the scene.
267
00:14:34,633 --> 00:14:39,152
Come on, I'm with mine
Oldsmobile out there.
268
00:14:39,352 --> 00:14:41,809
He bursts into
your house like crazy,
269
00:14:42,009 --> 00:14:44,425
run up the stairs...
270
00:14:44,625 --> 00:14:46,773
and slaps Ava.
271
00:14:46,973 --> 00:14:49,709
I groped around the bar in
looking for something to throw at him,
272
00:14:49,909 --> 00:14:51,406
and my hand closed in
turn of the handle
273
00:14:51,606 --> 00:14:52,988
of a big and heavy
brass bell.
274
00:14:53,188 --> 00:14:55,133
She grabs and throws
in Howard,
275
00:14:55,333 --> 00:14:56,677
and hits him in the face.
276
00:14:56,877 --> 00:14:58,541
He passes out on the floor.
277
00:14:58,741 --> 00:15:00,699
Bang! Right between the
temple and cheek!
278
00:15:00,899 --> 00:15:02,549
The two
they are stunned.
279
00:15:02,749 --> 00:15:05,149
This 24 year old girl
really knocked out,
280
00:15:05,349 --> 00:15:08,722
Hollywood's biggest mogul
and the richest man!
281
00:15:12,429 --> 00:15:14,949
Despite a cheekbone
fractured and some broken teeth,
282
00:15:15,149 --> 00:15:16,589
Hughes will not use
this against her,
283
00:15:16,789 --> 00:15:18,893
and continues to court her
relentlessly.
284
00:15:19,093 --> 00:15:21,901
As for Ava, her career in
Hollywood finally took off,
285
00:15:22,101 --> 00:15:24,716
with some roles in films
low budget.
286
00:15:31,521 --> 00:15:34,050
Thanks to
MGM acting classes,
287
00:15:34,250 --> 00:15:36,785
Ava Gardner will get better
progressively as an actress,
288
00:15:36,985 --> 00:15:42,010
and will begin to be considered for
more substantial functions.
289
00:15:42,210 --> 00:15:44,402
Well, the movie that
brought it out of the shadows,
290
00:15:44,602 --> 00:15:45,722
Well, there are two of them.
291
00:15:45,922 --> 00:15:48,378
There was a calling
"Because of a Woman".
292
00:15:53,626 --> 00:15:56,722
that wasn't a movie
big budget,
293
00:15:56,922 --> 00:15:59,852
had a big star
male, George Raft.
294
00:16:08,290 --> 00:16:09,521
The initial script
from "For a Woman's Sake"
295
00:16:09,721 --> 00:16:11,402
contained a dialogue
quite complex
296
00:16:11,602 --> 00:16:14,954
and Phillip Jordan,
the screenwriter will say:
297
00:16:15,154 --> 00:16:19,274
"No, no, I have George Raft from
one side, who is not a great actor,
298
00:16:19,474 --> 00:16:22,674
and Ava Gardner on the other, who
has not yet mastered acting,
299
00:16:22,874 --> 00:16:26,426
so we will use dialogues
much simpler. "
300
00:16:26,626 --> 00:16:28,562
So in the movie, you
see them saying lines
301
00:16:28,762 --> 00:16:31,802
like yes, no, hello,
how are you.
302
00:16:32,002 --> 00:16:35,522
Quite simply, because dialogue
was adapted to these two actors,
303
00:16:35,722 --> 00:16:36,963
that were visually interesting,
304
00:16:37,163 --> 00:16:40,634
but not the best actors
Hollywood at the time.
305
00:16:40,834 --> 00:16:46,402
- Hey beautiful.
- Hey beautiful.
306
00:16:46,602 --> 00:16:51,042
- Wow, I missed you!
- Oh, it's been so long!
307
00:16:56,537 --> 00:16:58,553
And then the movie
that really moved her,
308
00:16:58,753 --> 00:17:03,441
was "The Assassins" with
Burt Lancaster.
309
00:17:03,641 --> 00:17:07,161
In which the character
plays a very...
310
00:17:07,361 --> 00:17:10,689
Nervous insecure... Woman.
Young woman.
311
00:17:10,889 --> 00:17:15,378
and Ava connected with that
character perfectly.
312
00:17:23,786 --> 00:17:25,185
You have been asking
so lately.
313
00:17:25,385 --> 00:17:27,138
Hey.
314
00:17:27,338 --> 00:17:30,226
- Any objections?
- Yes!
315
00:17:30,426 --> 00:17:33,713
You touch me and you won't live
until morning.
316
00:17:39,601 --> 00:17:44,695
- You won't find him tomorrow.
- It's okay, darling.
317
00:17:46,290 --> 00:17:48,642
Moviegoers in
1946 will have the choice,
318
00:17:48,842 --> 00:17:51,130
between two born bombs
in the same year.
319
00:17:51,330 --> 00:17:55,018
and both playing dangerous women
in black leather and satin gloves.
320
00:17:55,218 --> 00:17:57,042
The brunette Ava in
"The Assassins"
321
00:17:57,242 --> 00:17:59,667
and Rita, the redhead
in "Gilda".
322
00:17:59,867 --> 00:18:04,481
Put the blame on Mame,
323
00:18:04,681 --> 00:18:08,196
boys, blame it on Mame
324
00:18:08,396 --> 00:18:11,027
Since Rita is Mrs.
Orson Welles in real life,
325
00:18:11,227 --> 00:18:14,642
Ava becomes the single woman
Hollywood's hottest.
326
00:18:16,810 --> 00:18:18,769
She is now divorced
from Mickey,
327
00:18:18,969 --> 00:18:23,098
courted somewhat in vain
by Howard Hughes.
328
00:18:23,298 --> 00:18:28,314
and then she is completely
available for a new relationship.
329
00:18:28,514 --> 00:18:33,185
She is invited to parties
in the Hollywood villas.
330
00:18:33,385 --> 00:18:35,922
and it's in one of these where
she knows the man,
331
00:18:36,122 --> 00:18:40,306
that has all of Hollywood
singing and dancing.
332
00:18:40,506 --> 00:18:43,163
His name is Artie Shaw.
333
00:18:45,682 --> 00:18:48,618
He is tall, dark and handsome,
exactly her type.
334
00:18:48,818 --> 00:18:50,650
a kind of Howard
Hughes, actually.
335
00:18:50,850 --> 00:18:54,826
He's a clarinetist... and leader of
a world famous big band.
336
00:18:55,026 --> 00:18:56,786
And several jazz groups.
337
00:18:56,986 --> 00:18:59,298
He is very arrogant,
very attractive.
338
00:18:59,498 --> 00:19:01,122
He is an ex-husband
by Lana Turner,
339
00:19:01,322 --> 00:19:04,747
which just goes to show how Hollywood
It's a small world.
340
00:19:06,730 --> 00:19:08,619
Lana advised her,
341
00:19:08,819 --> 00:19:11,242
don't get involved
with Artie Shaw,
342
00:19:11,442 --> 00:19:13,722
but the reason is interesting
whereby she said:
343
00:19:13,922 --> 00:19:20,226
"He is the cruelest man...
that you've ever met."
344
00:19:20,426 --> 00:19:23,858
So, of course, Ava
ignored it.
345
00:19:24,058 --> 00:19:26,338
She falls in love
lost for him,
346
00:19:26,538 --> 00:19:29,378
and Ava is someone who usually
take the first step,
347
00:19:29,578 --> 00:19:31,706
which often addresses
men first.
348
00:19:31,906 --> 00:19:35,586
Which wasn't something women
did at that time.
349
00:19:35,786 --> 00:19:39,746
So she invites him out for a drink
with her at this party that the two of them are going to.
350
00:19:39,946 --> 00:19:42,746
And Artie Shaw, with his characteristic
Ashkenazi sense of humor,
351
00:19:42,946 --> 00:19:48,066
writes in her memoirs: "She asked me
to have a drink with her."
352
00:19:48,266 --> 00:19:53,155
"I should have said
no. I would be crazy!"
353
00:19:53,355 --> 00:19:54,651
Like many
Hollywood couples,
354
00:19:54,851 --> 00:19:59,225
Ava and Artie have lived together before
of getting married in 1945.
355
00:19:59,425 --> 00:20:01,162
He tried...
356
00:20:01,362 --> 00:20:04,977
completely reinvent it.
357
00:20:05,177 --> 00:20:08,674
He knew she had no education
formal education beyond high school,
358
00:20:08,874 --> 00:20:13,242
so he insisted that she
took classes at UCLA.
359
00:20:13,442 --> 00:20:16,209
He insisted that she read
certain types of books,
360
00:20:16,409 --> 00:20:21,522
what did she do... but he
always denigrated her.
361
00:20:21,722 --> 00:20:24,608
He keeps saying
tell her she's an idiot,
362
00:20:24,808 --> 00:20:26,058
he's always putting her down,
363
00:20:26,258 --> 00:20:28,146
then one day, just to
show him,
364
00:20:28,346 --> 00:20:30,089
she decides to do
an IQ test,
365
00:20:30,289 --> 00:20:32,442
which reveals that she has a
above average intelligence.
366
00:20:32,642 --> 00:20:34,385
She scores 120 points.
367
00:20:34,585 --> 00:20:38,005
Nothing challenged
Ava more than when
368
00:20:38,205 --> 00:20:42,230
someone she was interested in,
I had expectations of her.
369
00:20:42,430 --> 00:20:43,782
She was not intellectual,
370
00:20:43,982 --> 00:20:46,902
she wasn't crazy interesting.
371
00:20:47,102 --> 00:20:49,783
She was interested.
That was cool.
372
00:20:49,983 --> 00:20:51,454
She was interested in...
373
00:20:51,654 --> 00:20:54,870
in knowing about things,
that weren't...
374
00:20:55,070 --> 00:20:59,567
not particularly...
in your profession.
375
00:20:59,767 --> 00:21:01,824
What is interesting
about their couple,
376
00:21:02,024 --> 00:21:04,160
is that they will become one
rare thing in Hollywood,
377
00:21:04,360 --> 00:21:09,137
an intellectual couple.
378
00:21:09,337 --> 00:21:10,498
Shortly after
from "The Assassins",
379
00:21:10,698 --> 00:21:11,673
let's see more
once,
380
00:21:11,873 --> 00:21:14,929
that it is not MGM that does the best
use of Ava Gardner.
381
00:21:15,129 --> 00:21:17,945
Since it will be loaned
to Universal for two films,
382
00:21:18,145 --> 00:21:21,811
one called "Singapore" and the other
"Venus, Goddess of Love".
383
00:21:25,489 --> 00:21:30,305
It's probably the happiest film
of Ava Gardner's career.
384
00:21:30,505 --> 00:21:32,680
It's not a great film, but it is
a film in which Ava Gardner,
385
00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:37,131
is cheerful, seductive
and optimistic.
386
00:21:37,331 --> 00:21:39,467
It's a film that's a
little in contrast to
387
00:21:39,667 --> 00:21:41,851
the other films in Ava Gardner's career.
388
00:21:44,211 --> 00:21:47,538
I think this film was the
basis of many later films,
389
00:21:47,738 --> 00:21:49,259
many contemporary films,
390
00:21:49,459 --> 00:21:54,507
about statues coming to life and
robots with real feelings.
391
00:21:54,707 --> 00:21:57,644
"Venus, Goddess of Love" was a
statue coming to life,
392
00:21:57,844 --> 00:21:59,907
and she did it right.
393
00:22:00,107 --> 00:22:02,067
I mean, I don't think...
394
00:22:02,267 --> 00:22:04,634
she knew what she was doing,
in the sense that:
395
00:22:04,834 --> 00:22:06,298
"well, I can repeat that."
396
00:22:06,498 --> 00:22:08,610
but she only had one
natural touch,
397
00:22:08,810 --> 00:22:11,944
the way she
moved correctly.
398
00:22:12,144 --> 00:22:14,608
After her romance with Artie
Shaw, which ends in divorce,
399
00:22:14,808 --> 00:22:19,064
she will finally realize
who is a free woman.
400
00:22:19,264 --> 00:22:21,608
Ava is a very free woman
ahead of its time.
401
00:22:21,808 --> 00:22:24,824
It completely prefigures
the liberation of women.
402
00:22:25,024 --> 00:22:26,928
She lives outside conventions,
403
00:22:27,128 --> 00:22:29,848
and that is not to my liking
his employer, MGM.
404
00:22:30,048 --> 00:22:34,617
In fact, it is excessively
uncontrollable.
405
00:22:34,817 --> 00:22:35,951
What do you
What do you mean by refusing?
406
00:22:36,151 --> 00:22:36,960
Beware of Stims!
407
00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:39,361
I won't care,
I'm very angry!
408
00:22:39,561 --> 00:22:40,880
Stop it, Stims!
409
00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:42,377
Big baby!
410
00:22:42,577 --> 00:22:44,280
She just wants to be
have fun.
411
00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:46,048
What, what, what.
412
00:22:46,248 --> 00:22:48,096
We were just going to build
a bonfire,
413
00:22:48,296 --> 00:22:49,407
and toast some marshmallows.
414
00:22:49,607 --> 00:22:51,472
Join us, darling.
415
00:22:51,672 --> 00:22:53,936
She is earthly,
she likes to have fun.
416
00:22:54,136 --> 00:22:56,201
She loves bars, she
likes to drink,
417
00:22:56,401 --> 00:22:57,984
She already drinks a lot.
418
00:22:58,184 --> 00:22:59,407
She likes to go out
with black people,
419
00:22:59,607 --> 00:23:01,207
because they have music
in your blood.
420
00:23:01,407 --> 00:23:02,879
Her best friend is Lena Horn.
421
00:23:03,079 --> 00:23:04,961
She loves music, swing, jazz.
422
00:23:05,161 --> 00:23:09,344
She is completely atypical.
423
00:23:09,544 --> 00:23:12,736
At this time, many men
come and go from your life,
424
00:23:12,936 --> 00:23:14,833
Howard Duff, Robert Taylor,
425
00:23:15,033 --> 00:23:18,064
but the most interesting thing will be
the biggest star of the moment,
426
00:23:18,264 --> 00:23:21,680
the sexiest man in Hollywood,
Robert Mitchum.
427
00:23:28,335 --> 00:23:30,488
They will co-star in a
kind of gothic version,
428
00:23:30,688 --> 00:23:34,621
from "Gone With the Wind" called
"Pride and Hate".
429
00:23:37,752 --> 00:23:40,167
She means nothing to
you and you know it!
430
00:23:40,367 --> 00:23:43,623
It's not her fault...
and it's too late.
431
00:23:43,823 --> 00:23:48,518
It's too late,
dear... Is it?
432
00:23:48,718 --> 00:23:51,735
And of course, off camera, they
they're going to have a torrid affair,
433
00:23:51,935 --> 00:23:56,303
which will not please the
legitimate wife of Robert Mitchum.
434
00:23:56,503 --> 00:23:58,462
In the same year
from "Pride and Hate",
435
00:23:58,662 --> 00:24:00,231
Ava will star
a masterpiece,
436
00:24:00,431 --> 00:24:02,383
that will mark you forever
the history of cinema,
437
00:24:02,583 --> 00:24:08,423
guaranteeing its leading actress a place
prominent in the Hollywood pantheon.
438
00:24:08,623 --> 00:24:10,286
Pandora (and the Flying Dutchman).
439
00:24:10,486 --> 00:24:13,111
is probably the main film
of Ava Gardner's career,
440
00:24:13,311 --> 00:24:14,999
or at least one of them.
441
00:24:15,199 --> 00:24:16,983
And it's a film that will have a
very important role,
442
00:24:17,183 --> 00:24:20,410
both in his filmography and
in your private life.
443
00:24:20,610 --> 00:24:26,562
This is "Pandora".
She was bold and beautiful.
444
00:24:26,762 --> 00:24:29,586
Desired by every man
who met her.
445
00:24:29,786 --> 00:24:34,306
Pandora destroyed everyone who loved her,
until she met...
446
00:24:34,506 --> 00:24:36,369
the Flying Dutchman!
447
00:24:36,569 --> 00:24:39,176
I would die for you without
the slightest hesitation.
448
00:24:40,217 --> 00:24:42,288
Of all the damned
films I made,
449
00:24:42,367 --> 00:24:44,750
"Pandora (and the Flying Dutchman)"
would probably be
450
00:24:44,950 --> 00:24:46,857
classified as a
one of the most obscure.
451
00:24:48,163 --> 00:24:51,971
However, it would not be an exaggeration to say that
Doing this changed my life forever.
452
00:24:52,171 --> 00:24:55,635
Because "Pandora" got me out of these
United States for the first time,
453
00:24:55,835 --> 00:24:59,075
and introduced me to both countries,
England and Spain,
454
00:24:59,275 --> 00:25:02,739
where I would spend most of my time
of the rest of my life.
455
00:25:04,898 --> 00:25:06,131
On your return
from Spain.
456
00:25:06,331 --> 00:25:08,331
Ava goes to the clubs
with Lana Turner.
457
00:25:08,531 --> 00:25:10,428
for all homes
fashionable nightlife.
458
00:25:10,628 --> 00:25:13,403
Customers in El Morocco,
Ciro's and Mocambo
459
00:25:13,603 --> 00:25:15,187
must have thought they
were hallucinating,
460
00:25:15,387 --> 00:25:16,363
when on certain nights,
461
00:25:16,563 --> 00:25:19,179
they would see three of the women
most beautiful in Hollywood
462
00:25:19,379 --> 00:25:25,003
Rita, Lana and Ava on the dance floor,
dancing Cha-cha and Mambo.
463
00:25:27,571 --> 00:25:29,964
Frank Sinatra is one of
Lana's ex-lovers.
464
00:25:30,164 --> 00:25:32,820
And while the two talk
at the bar in Beverly Hills,
465
00:25:33,020 --> 00:25:35,579
Lana, who is older than
Ava, give your advice.
466
00:25:35,779 --> 00:25:38,806
She says, "You know, Frank Sinatra
saw you in the Metro canteen,
467
00:25:39,006 --> 00:25:40,260
and he finds you
very beautiful."
468
00:25:40,460 --> 00:25:41,611
What do you think?
469
00:25:41,811 --> 00:25:45,522
And Ava responds, characteristically:
470
00:25:45,722 --> 00:25:47,946
"He's vulgar, no
I support him,
471
00:25:48,146 --> 00:25:50,435
he is arrogant and I hate him
arrogant men.
472
00:25:50,635 --> 00:25:53,058
I don't even know who he is."
473
00:25:53,258 --> 00:25:54,706
She must be joking,
474
00:25:54,906 --> 00:25:58,404
he's just the greatest singer
America's heartthrob!
475
00:26:01,498 --> 00:26:03,218
His shows attracted
crowds,
476
00:26:03,418 --> 00:26:05,442
and girls fainted during
your performance,
477
00:26:05,642 --> 00:26:07,938
and had to be evacuated.
478
00:26:08,138 --> 00:26:12,384
He was Michael Jackson
of your time.
479
00:26:12,584 --> 00:26:16,017
He made a play for her
almost the first time he saw her,
480
00:26:16,217 --> 00:26:21,112
but Ava was always very
instinctive about,
481
00:26:21,312 --> 00:26:25,657
don't respond to this
type of situation.
482
00:26:25,857 --> 00:26:27,881
He was very impetuous, you know,
483
00:26:28,081 --> 00:26:31,540
self-confident, frankly
sometimes
484
00:26:31,740 --> 00:26:33,345
nasty young man,
485
00:26:33,545 --> 00:26:36,249
who knew he had it all,
486
00:26:36,449 --> 00:26:38,569
and just felt that he was
a gift from God,
487
00:26:38,769 --> 00:26:41,375
and in many cases he was.
488
00:26:41,575 --> 00:26:45,439
One night, Frankie invites her
for dinner and she accepts.
489
00:26:45,639 --> 00:26:48,150
Obviously, after a period of
intense courtship on your part.
490
00:26:48,350 --> 00:26:52,415
and that's where the story
theirs begins.
491
00:26:52,615 --> 00:26:55,404
I even know what they
order for dinner!
492
00:26:55,604 --> 00:26:57,972
American lobster and linguini.
493
00:26:58,172 --> 00:27:00,115
And the waiter at Musso
and Frank Grill,
494
00:27:00,315 --> 00:27:01,732
which is still alive today.
495
00:27:01,932 --> 00:27:03,987
He told me that with the
spend the night,
496
00:27:04,187 --> 00:27:06,324
he saw the green eyes
Ava soften,
497
00:27:06,524 --> 00:27:10,381
and relate to the eyes
Frankie's bright blues.
498
00:27:10,581 --> 00:27:11,796
The Spanish waiter told me:
499
00:27:11,996 --> 00:27:14,653
"I was shocked to see this, because
I thought she was divine,
500
00:27:14,853 --> 00:27:19,539
considering that I knew him,
he was a bandit. "
501
00:27:19,739 --> 00:27:22,315
However, the bandit
and divine Ava,
502
00:27:22,515 --> 00:27:24,467
leave together in a Cadillac
that night.
503
00:27:24,667 --> 00:27:27,435
She takes him back to her
retreat in Nichols Canyon,
504
00:27:27,635 --> 00:27:32,419
and this is the beginning of
their torrid romance.
505
00:27:32,619 --> 00:27:34,947
The next morning, they
are in trouble.
506
00:27:35,147 --> 00:27:37,931
He is married to Nancy
Sinatra, has children.
507
00:27:38,131 --> 00:27:39,643
He is the famous singer,
508
00:27:39,843 --> 00:27:43,611
and at the same time the good boy
from next door.
509
00:27:43,811 --> 00:27:45,507
He's with Ava, the assassin,
510
00:27:45,707 --> 00:27:47,779
your nickname since
"The Assassins".
511
00:27:47,979 --> 00:27:50,083
Ava, the man-eater.
512
00:27:50,283 --> 00:27:54,122
Like this story
Will it unfold?
513
00:27:54,322 --> 00:27:58,347
Suddenly she was labeled
of a home wrecker.
514
00:27:58,547 --> 00:28:03,739
and some of the religious groups
from the Midwest,
515
00:28:03,939 --> 00:28:05,018
were making noise,
516
00:28:05,218 --> 00:28:08,755
that they would ban
your films.
517
00:28:08,955 --> 00:28:11,427
and Sinatra was in trouble too,
518
00:28:11,627 --> 00:28:14,939
because he was the boy at the door
next door, literally.
519
00:28:15,139 --> 00:28:21,954
He was the sweet young guy with a
wife and two young children.
520
00:28:22,154 --> 00:28:23,939
The press
Don't leave them alone.
521
00:28:24,139 --> 00:28:25,627
Their case turned
headline,
522
00:28:25,827 --> 00:28:27,531
and it's in every magazine
of gossip,
523
00:28:27,731 --> 00:28:29,954
to the dismay of your
mutual employer,
524
00:28:30,154 --> 00:28:32,970
Mayer, of Metro Goldwyn Mayer.
525
00:28:33,170 --> 00:28:35,418
While Frank dreams of
a peaceful family life,
526
00:28:35,618 --> 00:28:38,123
Ava, the night owl, no
see things this way,
527
00:28:38,323 --> 00:28:41,875
and they spend their time banging
in clubs until dawn.
528
00:28:42,075 --> 00:28:43,619
One night in Las Vegas,
529
00:28:43,819 --> 00:28:47,747
they end up driving through a small
city in the Nevada desert.
530
00:28:47,947 --> 00:28:49,755
They're both so intoxicated,
531
00:28:49,955 --> 00:28:53,075
they start shooting
in the windows.
532
00:28:55,437 --> 00:28:58,820
because Frank Sinatra will never
nowhere without your Colt 38.
533
00:28:59,020 --> 00:29:02,683
Ava finds this extremely amusing
and joins him,
534
00:29:02,883 --> 00:29:05,956
which results in
arrest of both.
535
00:29:08,341 --> 00:29:12,021
They will prefigure a model
which will continue after them,
536
00:29:12,221 --> 00:29:14,812
but it didn't exist
until then.
537
00:29:15,012 --> 00:29:19,284
who is the celebrity couple
of success.
538
00:29:19,484 --> 00:29:21,108
Glamorous, crazy,
539
00:29:21,308 --> 00:29:23,316
vulgar... drunk,
540
00:29:23,516 --> 00:29:26,564
violent and undisciplined.
541
00:29:26,764 --> 00:29:28,955
This couple model, with
this amount of fame
542
00:29:29,155 --> 00:29:30,804
and don't give a fuck about the attitude,
543
00:29:31,004 --> 00:29:32,757
was unprecedented at the time,
544
00:29:32,957 --> 00:29:36,277
and there was nothing like it
since then.
545
00:29:36,477 --> 00:29:39,853
Nancy Sinatra finally agrees
with a divorce that ruins Frank,
546
00:29:40,053 --> 00:29:42,773
but Ava can now finally
marry your favorite singer,
547
00:29:42,973 --> 00:29:46,829
While the career of
Frank is in decline,
548
00:29:47,029 --> 00:29:49,771
Ava is now a huge star.
549
00:29:51,005 --> 00:29:54,013
She becomes the star
number one in Hollywood.
550
00:29:54,213 --> 00:29:56,605
She is the burning brunette
invincible,
551
00:29:56,805 --> 00:29:57,598
the femme fatale,
552
00:29:57,798 --> 00:29:59,438
the vamp that everyone
they want.
553
00:29:59,638 --> 00:30:03,126
An extraordinary career.
554
00:30:03,326 --> 00:30:05,732
Sinatra was the one who suffered,
555
00:30:05,932 --> 00:30:07,653
But times were changing,
556
00:30:07,853 --> 00:30:11,053
and your career suddenly
collapsed.
557
00:30:11,253 --> 00:30:14,101
His records weren't selling.
It had nothing to do with Ava.
558
00:30:14,201 --> 00:30:18,210
The war is over, the likes
were changing.
559
00:30:18,510 --> 00:30:20,885
She's the one who keeps them afloat,
560
00:30:21,085 --> 00:30:23,540
she is the one who makes money from
his film roles.
561
00:30:23,740 --> 00:30:25,444
She makes a lot of films,
not failures.
562
00:30:25,644 --> 00:30:27,061
She doesn't make movies
useless.
563
00:30:27,261 --> 00:30:29,026
but she works hard,
and it leaves her exhausted
564
00:30:29,226 --> 00:30:30,677
because she is basically lazy.
565
00:30:30,877 --> 00:30:32,484
But she does it so that
they have money,
566
00:30:32,684 --> 00:30:36,141
to spend on wonderful trips
to Cuba, Mexico, etc.
567
00:30:36,341 --> 00:30:37,516
and just have money
to burn,
568
00:30:37,716 --> 00:30:39,860
basically because both
They are big gamblers.
569
00:30:40,060 --> 00:30:43,276
So like the macho Italian singer
how do you feel about this situation?
570
00:30:43,476 --> 00:30:45,541
Well, he's not very
happy with that.
571
00:30:45,741 --> 00:30:47,245
He preferred people
didn't know.
572
00:30:47,445 --> 00:30:49,845
He is sometimes even referred to
as Mr. Gardner
573
00:30:50,045 --> 00:30:52,813
And that is very humiliating for
a sexist Italian.
574
00:30:53,013 --> 00:30:56,909
So he is determined
to rise again.
575
00:30:57,109 --> 00:30:59,237
She was instrumental,
576
00:30:59,437 --> 00:31:01,501
in maintaining your
cheer,
577
00:31:01,701 --> 00:31:04,637
and telling him that he was the
best singer in the world...
578
00:31:04,837 --> 00:31:08,396
and that, you know, he
I would get out of this dump.
579
00:31:08,596 --> 00:31:10,381
He never forgot that.
580
00:31:10,581 --> 00:31:12,957
Ava will do something
incredible.
581
00:31:13,157 --> 00:31:15,109
She will go out and do
campaign for Frank.
582
00:31:15,309 --> 00:31:17,493
She goes for a walk around the villages
from Hollywood, saying:
583
00:31:17,693 --> 00:31:20,013
"There must be someone who will
hire my husband.
584
00:31:20,213 --> 00:31:23,651
My husband is dying to
to have a role in "One Step From Eternity."
585
00:31:23,851 --> 00:31:25,620
there is a little character
impetuous Italian in it,
586
00:31:25,820 --> 00:31:28,324
that would be perfect
for my man. "
587
00:31:28,524 --> 00:31:30,230
But it is not an easy campaign.
588
00:31:30,430 --> 00:31:36,741
Neither Zinnemann nor the producer,
Harry Cohn, they want Frankie.
589
00:31:36,941 --> 00:31:40,013
Your popularity is decreasing,
they can't see it on paper.
590
00:31:40,213 --> 00:31:42,037
And what's more, he is
very uncontrollable.
591
00:31:42,237 --> 00:31:44,189
He drinks, he fights,
he is violent.
592
00:31:44,389 --> 00:31:48,141
Hollywood simply
doesn't want it.
593
00:31:48,341 --> 00:31:52,909
She was good friends with Joan Cohn,
who was the wife of Harry Cohn.
594
00:31:53,109 --> 00:31:56,885
She begged Joan Cohn to
talk to your husband,
595
00:31:57,085 --> 00:32:01,589
to make sure Frank
do at least one screen test.
596
00:32:01,789 --> 00:32:06,229
She tells them, "I beg you, please
Please, please take Frankie,
597
00:32:06,429 --> 00:32:08,821
he will be great in the role
of Maggio."
598
00:32:09,021 --> 00:32:11,037
And she will really go so far
to the point of offering
599
00:32:11,237 --> 00:32:13,421
do something she
hates doing it.
600
00:32:13,621 --> 00:32:15,669
She tells them, "If
you take Frankie,
601
00:32:15,869 --> 00:32:19,381
I'll make a movie for you
for free next time."
602
00:32:19,581 --> 00:32:24,061
The night of nights
film industry.
603
00:32:24,261 --> 00:32:25,350
Frank Sinatra wins
another prize...
604
00:32:25,550 --> 00:32:27,469
Ava's combativeness proves
that she is right,
605
00:32:27,669 --> 00:32:33,822
how Frank wins an Oscar for best
supporting actor in 1953.
606
00:32:34,022 --> 00:32:35,533
While Frank makes a
big turnaround,
607
00:32:35,733 --> 00:32:38,413
the volatile couple gets bogged down
in fits of jealousy,
608
00:32:38,613 --> 00:32:40,517
that become more and more
more explosives.
609
00:32:40,717 --> 00:32:42,678
Whenever a man looked at Ava,
610
00:32:42,878 --> 00:32:44,814
he would jump up and start punching.
611
00:32:45,014 --> 00:32:46,205
He lost all control.
612
00:32:46,405 --> 00:32:47,750
Whenever a woman
looked at Frank,
613
00:32:47,950 --> 00:32:49,364
she would get up and leave.
614
00:32:49,564 --> 00:32:50,821
She would drive through the night,
615
00:32:51,021 --> 00:32:53,093
whether in Manhattan
or Los Angeles,
616
00:32:53,293 --> 00:32:57,268
it would simply disappear.
617
00:32:57,468 --> 00:32:59,541
I think the main reason
of my marriage failing,
618
00:32:59,741 --> 00:33:04,382
I've always loved very well,
but never wisely.
619
00:33:04,582 --> 00:33:07,772
I'm terribly possessive
with the people I love.
620
00:33:07,972 --> 00:33:11,653
I'm jealous of every minute
that pass far from me.
621
00:33:11,853 --> 00:33:13,717
When I couldn't talk to
Frank on the phone immediately,
622
00:33:13,917 --> 00:33:15,917
I wanted to kill myself.
623
00:33:16,117 --> 00:33:20,629
It was stupid... I suppose,
but it was me.
624
00:33:20,829 --> 00:33:23,573
Ava returns to the scene
film for two major productions,
625
00:33:23,773 --> 00:33:26,701
"The Snows of Kilimanjaro", which
earned an Oscar nomination,
626
00:33:26,901 --> 00:33:29,436
and especially
"Mogambo".
627
00:33:34,130 --> 00:33:37,438
Mogambo is a remake of a great
blockbuster of the 1930s,
628
00:33:37,638 --> 00:33:41,239
"China Seas",
starring Jean Harlow.
629
00:33:41,439 --> 00:33:45,446
So MGM decided to make a
remake of it 20 years later,
630
00:33:45,646 --> 00:33:48,446
but as Africa is more in
fashionable now than Asia,
631
00:33:48,646 --> 00:33:52,359
they decide to define the
history in Africa.
632
00:33:52,559 --> 00:33:54,703
And what's interesting is that
the main male role,
633
00:33:54,903 --> 00:33:57,367
who was played by Clark
Gable 20 years earlier,
634
00:33:57,567 --> 00:33:59,895
is still played by Clark Gable.
635
00:34:00,095 --> 00:34:02,223
So you have this amazing trio
formed by Clark Gable,
636
00:34:02,423 --> 00:34:06,847
Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly.
637
00:34:07,047 --> 00:34:09,783
After hearing rumors about the
his wife's infidelities during filming,
638
00:34:09,983 --> 00:34:12,078
he decides to go to Africa
to join her.
639
00:34:12,278 --> 00:34:14,775
Your bouts of jealousy become
increasingly frequent,
640
00:34:14,975 --> 00:34:20,559
and Ava soon discovers that she is
waiting for her husband's baby.
641
00:34:20,759 --> 00:34:22,071
It is an absolute tragedy.
642
00:34:22,271 --> 00:34:24,566
She leaves for London
and go see a doctor.
643
00:34:24,766 --> 00:34:27,598
who tries to dissuade her
to abort.
644
00:34:27,798 --> 00:34:29,568
"You're married to Frank
Sinatra, you are a star,
645
00:34:29,768 --> 00:34:30,975
everything is going
good to you,
646
00:34:31,175 --> 00:34:33,055
Why not have this baby"?
647
00:34:33,255 --> 00:34:36,062
But she remains firm, she
I don't want to have this child.
648
00:34:36,262 --> 00:34:39,694
she had an abortion... It's absolutely
heartbreaking.
649
00:34:39,894 --> 00:34:42,750
When Frank Sinatra finally
realize what she did,
650
00:34:42,950 --> 00:34:44,839
and come visit her in her
hospital room,
651
00:34:45,039 --> 00:34:46,742
he sees her lying in bed,
652
00:34:46,942 --> 00:34:48,863
in her little white nightgown,
653
00:34:49,063 --> 00:34:50,943
looking very sick.
654
00:34:51,143 --> 00:34:53,510
No words are exchanged
between them.
655
00:34:53,710 --> 00:34:56,783
He understands that she doesn't
I wanted to have this child,
656
00:34:56,983 --> 00:34:59,726
while he dreamed of
have a daughter with Ava.
657
00:34:59,926 --> 00:35:04,221
he would have loved to have one
little Avita with Ava.
658
00:35:06,223 --> 00:35:08,606
"As long as I live, I will never forget
659
00:35:08,806 --> 00:35:10,303
waking up after the operation,
660
00:35:10,503 --> 00:35:14,334
and seeing Frank sitting next to the
bed with tears in my eyes.
661
00:35:14,534 --> 00:35:17,758
But I think I was right.
I still think I was right."
662
00:35:17,958 --> 00:35:20,214
To try to forget
this terrible ordeal,
663
00:35:20,414 --> 00:35:21,902
Ava throws herself into work.
664
00:35:22,102 --> 00:35:25,166
And the director, Joseph Mankiewicz,
Despite MGM's reticence,
665
00:35:25,366 --> 00:35:28,175
puts her in his new film
"The Barefoot Countess",
666
00:35:28,375 --> 00:35:31,879
Maria Vargas' role will be
the jewel in your crown.
667
00:35:32,079 --> 00:35:33,695
as an actress and will earn the nickname
that she hated,
668
00:35:33,895 --> 00:35:35,869
"the most beautiful animal
of the world."
669
00:35:36,069 --> 00:35:39,926
"The Barefoot Countess" will shock you,
provoke you, excite you...
670
00:35:40,126 --> 00:35:42,941
like no movie
before.
671
00:35:43,141 --> 00:35:46,581
She wasn't the first
choice for the role.
672
00:35:46,781 --> 00:35:48,957
There were two other candidates
main,
673
00:35:49,157 --> 00:35:51,653
one was Rita Hayworth.
674
00:35:51,853 --> 00:35:54,501
And "The Barefoot Countess"
was supposedly,
675
00:35:54,701 --> 00:35:57,157
to some extent, its history,
676
00:35:57,357 --> 00:36:01,549
you know, from a gypsy girl,
which is what she was.
677
00:36:01,749 --> 00:36:04,204
The other preferred choice was
678
00:36:04,404 --> 00:36:09,333
Jennifer Jones, who was desperate
to play this role.
679
00:36:09,533 --> 00:36:13,157
The Barefoot Countess
It was, um...
680
00:36:13,357 --> 00:36:16,573
one of the signature films
Ava's, for sure.
681
00:36:16,773 --> 00:36:19,645
I mean, she is
incredibly beautiful in it.
682
00:36:19,845 --> 00:36:24,285
I think she has one
very real acting.
683
00:36:24,485 --> 00:36:26,356
... or on the yacht
of a millionaire.
684
00:36:26,556 --> 00:36:31,724
they all adored the face,
fame, figure
685
00:36:31,924 --> 00:36:37,437
the most beautiful animal
of the world.
686
00:36:37,637 --> 00:36:40,565
Truffaut will say: "It's a film
which portrays Ava."
687
00:36:40,765 --> 00:36:42,773
and he will add: "It is the
portrait of a woman,
688
00:36:42,973 --> 00:36:44,357
and not any
woman,
689
00:36:44,557 --> 00:36:49,324
that of the actress most exquisitely
Hollywood beauty.
690
00:36:49,524 --> 00:36:52,509
But, as always, she didn't
care about any of that.
691
00:36:52,709 --> 00:36:54,781
She distances herself
of everything.
692
00:36:54,981 --> 00:36:57,901
To help calm your nerves
before filming, she drinks vodka.
693
00:36:58,101 --> 00:37:00,141
She doesn't consider herself
an actress,
694
00:37:00,341 --> 00:37:03,349
She thinks she can't act and goes
repeat this for the rest of your life.
695
00:37:03,549 --> 00:37:06,237
Which amuses everyone, because
it's simply not true.
696
00:37:06,437 --> 00:37:10,541
She doesn't understand,
but it's excellent.
697
00:37:10,741 --> 00:37:16,029
Be a star. My name
in a Cole Porter song.
698
00:37:16,229 --> 00:37:19,772
My footprints in cement
Chinese Theater.
699
00:37:19,972 --> 00:37:22,285
Being elected by
American Sewing Guild,
700
00:37:22,485 --> 00:37:25,197
like the girl whose measurements they
most would like to do.
701
00:37:25,397 --> 00:37:27,494
And by the Operators Union
of elevators,
702
00:37:27,694 --> 00:37:30,140
like the girl they most
would like to be in prison,
703
00:37:30,340 --> 00:37:33,861
at the top of the Empire State
Building.
704
00:37:34,061 --> 00:37:35,972
The problem with
"The Barefoot Countess"
705
00:37:36,172 --> 00:37:39,037
is that a real life drama is
happening behind the scenes.
706
00:37:39,237 --> 00:37:42,738
And this is the end of the marriage
from Ava and Frankie.
707
00:37:46,957 --> 00:37:49,740
The great director of photography
British, Jack Cardiff
708
00:37:49,940 --> 00:37:52,413
you will have to use it all
your ingenuity,
709
00:37:52,613 --> 00:37:57,213
to hide the state of fatigue
and Ava's depression.
710
00:37:57,413 --> 00:38:00,773
She needs space. She needs
move away from film studios,
711
00:38:00,973 --> 00:38:04,028
of MGM and the contracts that
are taking their toll.
712
00:38:04,228 --> 00:38:07,069
She has only one wish.
Go live in Madrid.
713
00:38:07,269 --> 00:38:12,349
After filming "The Barefoot Countess",
she moves to Madrid.
714
00:38:12,549 --> 00:38:16,372
In December 1955, little
before my 33rd birthday,
715
00:38:16,572 --> 00:38:19,492
I did something that was threatening
do it a long time ago,
716
00:38:19,692 --> 00:38:22,853
something no one really believed
that I would never manage.
717
00:38:23,053 --> 00:38:26,340
No, I wasn't leaving the business.
of the films, but it was close.
718
00:38:26,540 --> 00:38:30,143
I left the United States forever
and I settled in Spain.
719
00:38:32,854 --> 00:38:36,543
Europe's lifestyle,
people left you alone.
720
00:38:36,743 --> 00:38:38,190
It wasn't Hollywood.
721
00:38:38,390 --> 00:38:41,653
Of course you had the real ones
paparazzi in Italy,
722
00:38:41,853 --> 00:38:43,534
but she wasn't living in Italy,
723
00:38:43,734 --> 00:38:45,285
She was living in Spain...
724
00:38:45,485 --> 00:38:48,630
and...she was very comfortable
with the lifestyle...
725
00:38:48,830 --> 00:38:50,390
No judgement,
726
00:38:50,590 --> 00:38:59,238
um... come and go as she pleases
... great for nightlife.
727
00:38:59,438 --> 00:39:02,126
She loved flamenco,
728
00:39:02,326 --> 00:39:05,142
she loved dancing
Spanish,
729
00:39:05,342 --> 00:39:08,710
and... she was very Spanish
...really.
730
00:39:08,910 --> 00:39:12,190
I think she assumed...
731
00:39:12,390 --> 00:39:15,718
a... Personality
of a Spanish woman.
732
00:39:15,918 --> 00:39:18,261
The Spanish "senorita".
733
00:39:18,461 --> 00:39:20,398
She doesn't
feels more American,
734
00:39:20,598 --> 00:39:23,222
she is wearing little scarves
red on the neck,
735
00:39:23,422 --> 00:39:26,526
tight skirts... hoop earrings.
736
00:39:26,726 --> 00:39:31,526
She is totally enchanted
with Spain.
737
00:39:31,726 --> 00:39:33,472
Ernest Hemingway
and Ava had already
738
00:39:33,672 --> 00:39:35,534
known before through
of film scripts.
739
00:39:35,734 --> 00:39:37,334
They will maintain a
narrow, almost...
740
00:39:37,534 --> 00:39:39,886
father and daughter friendship,
your whole life.
741
00:39:40,086 --> 00:39:41,958
A common taste to drink
late at night,
742
00:39:42,158 --> 00:39:45,062
flamenco and bullfighting
will seal your friendship.
743
00:39:45,262 --> 00:39:47,839
They spend a lot
time together in Madrid,
744
00:39:48,039 --> 00:39:49,702
They go to bullfights together.
745
00:39:49,902 --> 00:39:51,790
He introduces her
to bullfights,
746
00:39:51,990 --> 00:39:53,830
and his killer friends.
747
00:39:54,030 --> 00:39:55,750
And that's when she
falls in love.
748
00:39:55,950 --> 00:39:57,999
Luis Miguel Dominguin is
749
00:39:58,199 --> 00:40:01,959
Ava Gardner's masculine ideal.
750
00:40:02,159 --> 00:40:05,990
He is tall, dark, elegant,
sophisticated.
751
00:40:06,190 --> 00:40:08,159
He is so popular in
Spain and Europe,
752
00:40:08,359 --> 00:40:10,223
what is she like in us
United States,
753
00:40:10,423 --> 00:40:14,070
and he offers her a
extravagant life.
754
00:40:14,270 --> 00:40:16,829
Your idyll in Madrid
comes to an end suddenly.
755
00:40:17,029 --> 00:40:20,069
Luis is married and Ava is pursued by
Spanish tax authorities,
756
00:40:20,269 --> 00:40:21,838
you have to leave the country.
757
00:40:22,038 --> 00:40:23,189
She no longer has
money.
758
00:40:23,389 --> 00:40:24,478
She doesn't want to work,
759
00:40:24,678 --> 00:40:26,654
What differentiates it from its peers?
other actress friends,
760
00:40:26,854 --> 00:40:28,365
who work when
they run out of money.
761
00:40:28,565 --> 00:40:32,197
Whereas Ava hates
be forced to do something,
762
00:40:32,397 --> 00:40:33,863
Let's not forget
that your husband,
763
00:40:34,063 --> 00:40:36,142
who she is in the process of
divorce right now,
764
00:40:36,342 --> 00:40:37,230
loves her very much,
765
00:40:37,430 --> 00:40:42,182
that he sends a few thousand
of dollars from time to time.
766
00:40:42,382 --> 00:40:44,686
"The Night of the Iguana"
It started with a phone call.
767
00:40:44,886 --> 00:40:48,142
It was 1963 and I was
wandering around Spain.
768
00:40:48,342 --> 00:40:50,494
I got up late, talked
with my friends.
769
00:40:50,694 --> 00:40:52,998
I danced flamenco
all night.
770
00:40:53,198 --> 00:40:56,302
In short, I was enjoying life.
and not bothering anyone,
771
00:40:56,502 --> 00:40:58,454
and I wanted it to continue
like that.
772
00:40:58,654 --> 00:41:00,470
I had no desire to make a film.
773
00:41:00,670 --> 00:41:03,567
And then the damn phone rang.
774
00:41:06,614 --> 00:41:09,540
In "Night of the Iguana" she
plays a hotel owner,
775
00:41:09,740 --> 00:41:12,541
trying to recapture a species
of past love affair,
776
00:41:12,741 --> 00:41:16,469
with a man who likes her,
it is tired and contaminated.
777
00:41:16,669 --> 00:41:18,876
Played by Richard Burton.
778
00:41:20,836 --> 00:41:23,116
So we have an Ava Gardner,
who is very young,
779
00:41:23,316 --> 00:41:28,148
playing the role of a woman doing
a last desperate attempt at life.
780
00:41:28,348 --> 00:41:33,933
It's quite surprising to play
that kind of role at her age.
781
00:41:34,133 --> 00:41:39,445
One night, Iguana Night.
Since man met woman,
782
00:41:39,645 --> 00:41:41,965
there never was one
night like that.
783
00:41:45,837 --> 00:41:47,845
How weak is man?
784
00:41:48,045 --> 00:41:50,125
What is statutory rape?
I never knew what it was.
785
00:41:50,325 --> 00:41:52,797
This is when a man is seduced by a
girl under twenty.
786
00:41:57,453 --> 00:41:59,301
Obviously Richard
Burton will fall,
787
00:41:59,501 --> 00:42:01,902
slightly in love
by Ava Gardner,
788
00:42:02,102 --> 00:42:03,661
but as his wife, Liz Taylor
789
00:42:03,861 --> 00:42:05,661
is on set all the time,
790
00:42:05,861 --> 00:42:08,357
and never leaves it
out of sight,
791
00:42:08,557 --> 00:42:13,622
we will never know if something
would have happened between Richard and Ava.
792
00:42:13,822 --> 00:42:16,652
Ava behaves.
793
00:42:16,852 --> 00:42:18,523
Drink a lot,
794
00:42:18,723 --> 00:42:22,276
there is Sue Lyon who ended
to play Lolita.
795
00:42:22,476 --> 00:42:25,860
It's a high risk shot,
completely wild.
796
00:42:26,060 --> 00:42:30,075
And Ava looks amazing
in this role.
797
00:42:32,908 --> 00:42:36,636
In 1968, Ava settles
in London, at Ennismore Gardens,
798
00:42:36,836 --> 00:42:43,093
where she finds peace and quiet
which she now seeks.
799
00:42:43,293 --> 00:42:44,868
Since that first
visit on my way
800
00:42:45,068 --> 00:42:46,380
for "Pandora (and the Flying Dutchman)",
801
00:42:46,580 --> 00:42:48,540
I've always loved London.
802
00:42:48,740 --> 00:42:53,093
It is a very civilized city.
And the British leave him alone.
803
00:42:53,293 --> 00:42:57,228
When people recognize me, they
smile and nod,
804
00:42:57,428 --> 00:43:03,116
which is very different from the treatment
what I'm used to.
805
00:43:03,316 --> 00:43:05,917
Everything she wants now
is to go have some drinks
806
00:43:06,117 --> 00:43:08,972
in the pub behind Ennismore
Gardens with Tennessee Williams,
807
00:43:09,172 --> 00:43:10,405
and other new friends.
808
00:43:10,605 --> 00:43:12,493
Like your neighbors
in the building,
809
00:43:12,693 --> 00:43:14,452
two charming homosexuals,
810
00:43:14,652 --> 00:43:16,565
a pianist, the
another artist,
811
00:43:16,765 --> 00:43:18,558
to whom will she appear
without warning,
812
00:43:18,758 --> 00:43:21,150
with a cake and a bottle
of champagne in hand.
813
00:43:21,350 --> 00:43:24,552
And they danced flamenco
together.
814
00:43:25,835 --> 00:43:27,930
How were we
in the same building,
815
00:43:28,130 --> 00:43:30,514
I think she has become
a good friend,
816
00:43:30,714 --> 00:43:35,233
Hmm... a better friend than
the other people in the building.
817
00:43:35,433 --> 00:43:37,570
And I think it was
because...
818
00:43:37,770 --> 00:43:42,635
hmm... this helped me
be a painter, perhaps.
819
00:43:42,835 --> 00:43:46,770
Hmm... Peter Feuchtwanger
being a musician...
820
00:43:46,970 --> 00:43:50,379
and um... a pianist
and a composer.
821
00:43:50,579 --> 00:43:54,578
I think that made everything more
interesting to her,
822
00:43:54,778 --> 00:43:58,842
because... at least she could
talk about certain things,
823
00:43:59,042 --> 00:44:03,794
or she could learn...
with what you said.
824
00:44:03,994 --> 00:44:05,922
I have some
friends in London,
825
00:44:06,122 --> 00:44:09,834
what would you call good
friends, very good friends.
826
00:44:10,034 --> 00:44:12,898
And so far, I haven't
I feel abandoned.
827
00:44:13,098 --> 00:44:17,619
I'm not a public figure here.
God save the English!
828
00:44:17,819 --> 00:44:19,994
I even received a letter addressed
simply:
829
00:44:20,194 --> 00:44:22,849
"Ava Gardner, Hyde
Park, London."
830
00:44:23,049 --> 00:44:26,770
And some character from the Mail
had scribbled on the envelope:
831
00:44:26,970 --> 00:44:28,605
"Which bank"?
832
00:44:31,802 --> 00:44:34,906
Excerpt, The Sentinel in 5A.
833
00:44:35,106 --> 00:44:35,816
He is blind.
834
00:44:36,016 --> 00:44:37,586
The perpetual need to
Ava for money by force,
835
00:44:37,786 --> 00:44:39,682
accept roles in films
most unlikely,
836
00:44:39,882 --> 00:44:42,354
for cinema and
television.
837
00:44:42,554 --> 00:44:45,458
There is danger.
"The Sentinel"!
838
00:44:45,658 --> 00:44:47,498
Why do I continue
acting?
839
00:44:47,698 --> 00:44:49,339
The answer that usually
gave was:
840
00:44:49,539 --> 00:44:53,010
"For the booty, darling,
always for the loot,"
841
00:44:53,210 --> 00:44:55,754
And there was more truth than
poetry in this observation.
842
00:44:55,954 --> 00:45:01,730
Whenever I need money, I breathe
background and agree to make a film.
843
00:45:01,930 --> 00:45:02,971
And to be honest,
844
00:45:03,171 --> 00:45:04,873
my reasons for
accept a role,
845
00:45:05,073 --> 00:45:07,656
They are rarely the best.
846
00:45:07,856 --> 00:45:10,376
Among the various films of
third category in which it appears,
847
00:45:10,576 --> 00:45:12,371
US/Austrian production:
848
00:45:12,571 --> 00:45:15,292
"Permission to Kill"
occupies a place of honor.
849
00:45:15,492 --> 00:45:19,356
For me personally,
the filming was wonderful.
850
00:45:19,556 --> 00:45:22,748
For her, it was a little more
complicated with the team,
851
00:45:22,948 --> 00:45:25,916
because we had two schedules
of footage per day,
852
00:45:26,116 --> 00:45:28,091
if she was tired,
853
00:45:28,291 --> 00:45:31,236
because she already
drank a lot.
854
00:45:31,436 --> 00:45:34,348
So to ensure
your well-being,
855
00:45:34,548 --> 00:45:36,517
and not harm
the filming,
856
00:45:36,717 --> 00:45:39,060
there were two schedules
footage per day,
857
00:45:39,260 --> 00:45:41,005
and they would use
one or the other,
858
00:45:41,205 --> 00:45:43,627
depending on how
Ava felt.
859
00:45:43,827 --> 00:45:45,461
And what touched me most,
860
00:45:45,661 --> 00:45:47,899
was that we shared the
same trailer on set,
861
00:45:48,099 --> 00:45:50,355
which proves that she
I wasn't a snob,
862
00:45:50,555 --> 00:45:55,555
since she agreed to share her
trailer with a young French actress.
863
00:45:55,755 --> 00:45:58,364
She saw that I had one
small cassette player,
864
00:45:58,564 --> 00:45:59,733
and during makeup,
865
00:45:59,933 --> 00:46:01,916
I would play some Claude François
866
00:46:02,116 --> 00:46:05,435
or Frank Sinatra songs.
867
00:46:05,635 --> 00:46:11,996
and every morning I put
"Strangers in the Night".
868
00:46:12,196 --> 00:46:15,308
And one day, not the first
day, but the second day,
869
00:46:15,508 --> 00:46:18,932
She told me, "Put Frankie
on the line, Nicole, please."
870
00:46:19,132 --> 00:46:21,940
So, I put Sinatra
every morning,
871
00:46:22,140 --> 00:46:24,548
and every time she cried.
872
00:46:24,748 --> 00:46:27,516
which meant that your makeup
had to be completely redone,
873
00:46:27,716 --> 00:46:30,996
every morning because
she was crying.
874
00:46:31,196 --> 00:46:35,300
And that created a bond
wonderful between us:
875
00:46:35,500 --> 00:46:37,908
"Put Frankie on the line, please."
876
00:46:38,108 --> 00:46:39,340
Although she
keep working,
877
00:46:39,540 --> 00:46:41,932
she remains voluntarily
mysterious to the press.
878
00:46:42,132 --> 00:46:44,812
and still hates giving
interviews.
879
00:46:45,012 --> 00:46:48,652
She was very
understanding of problems,
880
00:46:48,852 --> 00:46:51,827
that your personal relations
public faced.
881
00:46:52,027 --> 00:46:53,756
For example, when
she dealt with me,
882
00:46:53,956 --> 00:46:57,604
She says I know they
They're going to bother you, darling.
883
00:46:57,804 --> 00:47:00,204
Just tell them:
"she's not available."
884
00:47:00,404 --> 00:47:03,028
Ava will even play a prank on
a young French journalist,
885
00:47:03,228 --> 00:47:06,149
and film critic who came especially
to London to interview her.
886
00:47:06,349 --> 00:47:08,668
A true story that
director Xavier Gianoli,
887
00:47:08,868 --> 00:47:11,396
will turn into a
short fiction film.
888
00:47:11,596 --> 00:47:13,387
Yes?
889
00:47:13,587 --> 00:47:15,980
Hello, Miss Vargas, hello.
It's Julien Bernardini,
890
00:47:16,180 --> 00:47:17,180
we talked last night.
891
00:47:17,380 --> 00:47:20,323
I have a date with Ms. Gardner.
892
00:47:20,523 --> 00:47:22,890
Oh yes,
one moment, please.
893
00:47:27,257 --> 00:47:28,481
Yes?
894
00:47:28,681 --> 00:47:31,274
Hello, it's Julien Bernardini,
895
00:47:31,474 --> 00:47:33,922
I think we have
a date.
896
00:47:34,122 --> 00:47:36,854
Yes, I was waiting for you.
897
00:47:42,014 --> 00:47:44,966
I'm sorry, the door won't open.
The door isn't opening.
898
00:47:45,166 --> 00:47:50,095
- Hello?
- No, no, I know, but I'm listening.
899
00:47:50,295 --> 00:47:52,150
Considering that your
work is of no interest,
900
00:47:52,350 --> 00:47:54,494
and your private life is not yours
no one's account but her own,
901
00:47:54,694 --> 00:47:57,845
Miss. Gardner will not respond to any of the
questions from the poor interviewers.
902
00:47:58,045 --> 00:48:03,855
He will return home without
get nothing from your idol.
903
00:48:04,055 --> 00:48:07,199
A few years ago, one thing
unexpected happened to me.
904
00:48:07,399 --> 00:48:08,677
I had a stroke,
905
00:48:08,877 --> 00:48:10,820
what left me with
mobility difficulties,
906
00:48:11,020 --> 00:48:13,750
and an almost useless left arm.
907
00:48:13,950 --> 00:48:16,557
Despite this, I move on.
908
00:48:16,757 --> 00:48:18,326
I have no choice.
909
00:48:18,526 --> 00:48:20,935
There's a lesson I learned
very early in life,
910
00:48:21,135 --> 00:48:23,862
you have to persevere.
911
00:48:24,062 --> 00:48:27,647
Sometimes she was
a little depressed.
912
00:48:27,847 --> 00:48:32,878
And in retrospect, I attribute
this to the fact that,
913
00:48:33,078 --> 00:48:37,342
she was not well.
914
00:48:37,542 --> 00:48:43,142
And then, of course, the
stroke affected her,
915
00:48:43,342 --> 00:48:44,790
And it couldn't have been,
916
00:48:44,990 --> 00:48:47,694
the coolest thing that could happen
to anyone.
917
00:48:47,894 --> 00:48:49,756
But she dealt with it
918
00:48:49,956 --> 00:48:54,115
like...she knew better.
919
00:48:54,315 --> 00:48:57,244
and I think she liked it
these two years.
920
00:48:57,444 --> 00:49:01,499
And we try to be the most
cool as we could,
921
00:49:01,699 --> 00:49:06,276
if she needed anything,
922
00:49:06,476 --> 00:49:08,052
and... it was beautiful,
923
00:49:08,252 --> 00:49:10,939
to... be close
her like that.
924
00:49:11,139 --> 00:49:15,299
What is less known is that Ava
locks itself at 8pm every night,
925
00:49:15,499 --> 00:49:20,650
to wait for the phone call
of the love of your life.
926
00:49:20,850 --> 00:49:24,267
And it's moving because he
is there in New York,
927
00:49:24,467 --> 00:49:26,626
he is married to another woman
called Barbara,
928
00:49:26,826 --> 00:49:28,194
she is blonde, attractive,
929
00:49:28,394 --> 00:49:30,483
the perfect wife totally
American.
930
00:49:30,683 --> 00:49:37,266
But everything he wants
is to talk to Ava.
931
00:49:37,466 --> 00:49:38,642
From time to time he will say:
932
00:49:38,842 --> 00:49:40,890
"I really wish we could
have ended up together",
933
00:49:41,090 --> 00:49:43,026
and she'd say, "Yes, honey,
934
00:49:43,226 --> 00:49:47,427
we could have. But you know, we
We were both very jealous."
935
00:49:47,627 --> 00:49:50,930
At the end of her life, Ava burns
Frankie's letters.
936
00:49:51,130 --> 00:49:53,738
We don't know what he
wrote on them.
937
00:49:53,938 --> 00:49:55,506
But can we imagine
which contained,
938
00:49:55,706 --> 00:49:58,298
all the blues, swing and swirls
of cigarette smoke,
939
00:49:58,498 --> 00:50:01,067
that the century had to offer.
940
00:50:04,250 --> 00:50:06,954
She told me a few times:
941
00:50:07,154 --> 00:50:11,682
"Well, when I go, I hope to have
my champagne... and a cigarette,
942
00:50:11,882 --> 00:50:14,891
that's how I want it...
be."
943
00:50:15,091 --> 00:50:18,226
Well she got her wish
because the woman,
944
00:50:18,426 --> 00:50:20,058
The doorman told me:
945
00:50:20,258 --> 00:50:22,290
"Do you know, Miss. Gardner,
946
00:50:22,490 --> 00:50:24,822
she got her wish too
well done."
947
00:50:25,022 --> 00:50:29,070
On a stormy night,
I believe.
948
00:50:29,270 --> 00:50:31,959
What would it be, yah...
949
00:50:32,159 --> 00:50:34,783
just the way she would.
950
00:50:38,062 --> 00:50:39,935
One thing that
always knew,
951
00:50:40,135 --> 00:50:43,110
is that the process of growing,
grow old,
952
00:50:43,310 --> 00:50:44,679
and growing towards death
953
00:50:44,879 --> 00:50:46,390
It never felt scary.
954
00:50:46,590 --> 00:50:48,503
And, you know, if I had my
life to live again,
955
00:50:48,703 --> 00:50:50,462
I would live exactly
in the same way.
956
00:50:50,662 --> 00:50:54,167
Maybe some changes here
and there, but nothing special.
957
00:50:54,367 --> 00:50:57,271
'Cause the truth is, baby,
I enjoyed my life.
958
00:50:57,471 --> 00:50:59,631
I had a lot of fun.
959
00:51:04,445 --> 00:51:10,381
Translation: Kilo