Medford mail tribune., May 06, 1962, Image 44

Graco and Rainier preside at a stale unction.
THE NEWS that Her Serene Highness,
Princess Grace of Monaco, will re
turn to Hollywood to make a movie
with Prince Rainier's complete approv
al came as a great surprise, especially
to their friends.
When Grace sent me word of her plans in ad
vance of the newspaper headlines, I was frankly
incredulous. For a long time, I sat staring at
her cable, reading over and over the words:
"Looking forward very much to doing this pic
ture with Alfred Hitchcock."
Unquestionably, the fact that a Hitchcock
production will mark her return to the screen
was an influence on her decision to make an
other film. She always has enjoyed working with
this imaginative and stimulating Englishman,
who is well liked by Rainier, too. Several of her
outstanding successes were made with Hitch
cock: "Rear Window," "Dial M for Murder,"
and "To Catch a Thief."
The Princess obviously was also intrigued by
the script of her new Hitchcock movie, "Marnie."
It is a psychological suspense story in which
she will play a working girl who is a compulsive
thief until she marries a wealthy businessman
and is reformed.
Obviously, it is an emotional need that brings
Grace back to Hollywood not a matter of
finances, as some insisted. I have been told that
Prince Rainier is on Monaco's official civil
service payroll for several million dollars a
year. In addition, he has whatever wealth the
4 Family Weekly. May t, Mt
Princess
Grace
Is
She Really
Happy?
By ELSA MAXWELL
Grimaldis have built up over 900 years as rulers.
And, what's more, Grace has the fortune in
herited from her father. In tax-free Monaco, all
this should go a long way.
I suspect it was to silence all these money
rumors that Grace announced she was donating
the fabulous sum she will receive for "Marnie"
to a charity for needy children.
There has been another rumor, too that
Prince Rainier might be considering abdication.
Like any other head of state, the Prince has his
political problems, but I would be amazed if he
ever abdicated. He has a very strong feeling for
the ancient dynasty of the Grimaldis.
No, it would seem that the reason Princess
Grace is returning to Hollywood is that she and
the Prince have at la:t so firmly established
themselves as husband and wife and as rulers of
Monaco that they can afford a little more free
dom in their lives.
To understand this, let's go back to the grave
crisis faced by Princess Grace when she, a Hol
lywood movie star, married Prince Rainier,
playboy of the European world.
Author Elso Maxwell chats with Princess Grace.
WW
gg " kb'5 IbS
Four-year-old Prince Albert poses with Mommy.
Palace protocol required that these gaudy im
ages be replaced by dignified ones of a dedicated
sovereign and his devoted consort. For years,
it was vital that Prince Rainier and Princess
Grace use the greatest discretion as to where
they went, what they did, what they said, and
whom they saw.
During this time, they appeared at innumer
able functions, he resplendent in uniform with
sash and medals, she beautiful in a Dior or
Balenciaga gown. The sensitive understanding
they both brought to this important job and the
finesse with which they executed it should endear
them forever to their ministers, their people, and
their many admirers around the world.
Without doubt, the Prince was relieved to
stay at home and settle into his job. And as
Princess Grace redecorated their private apart
ments, supervised menus, and made frequent trips
to the kitchen and the housekeeping departments,
the ancient Palace of Monaco began to change
from a gloomy pile of stone to a warm, bright,
lived-in home.
Their greatest salvation has been their love for
each other. Many times I've caught them holding
hands beneath the table. This remarkable attrac
tion brought excitement to whatever they did.
Working together brought them a closeness they
might never have achieved in any other way.
Wherever they went, whatever they did, Grace
was every inch the princess far more a prin
cess, I must say, than many who are born to this
high estate. And Rainier, slimmer as a result of
menus carefully planned with his girth in mind,