The Brief, Madcap Life of Kay Kendall

Chapter Eighteen: "They were just lost, they were so deeply in love with each other."

Lyhapter Eighteen "They werejust lost, they were so deeply in love with each other. " To celebrate the beginning of 1958—their first new year as husband and wife and, for all Harrison knew, their last—the couple took the Queen Mary from New York to Cherbourg. "We want rest, just rest," Harrison said—but in fact, the two were already deep in negotiations for a film together. Laurie Evans and his wife, Mary, met them in Southampton in the middle of a snowstorm, and Kay was having fits because her pug dogs had to go into quarantine. Kay took her new husband to her hometown to show him off to the family. They took rooms at Withernsea's Queen s Hotel and threw a reception: Kays aunt Eva met Harrison and said in an aside to Gladys—in her broad Yorkshire accent—"'e's ower oud for me!" ["He's too old for me!"] Kay and Harrison traveled to Switzerland to visit Charles and Oona Chaplin, and both narrowly missed being in Charles Chaplin's final two film projects. Harrison turned down the chance to star in A Countess from Hong Kong—Marlon Brando finally made it, nearly ten years later. Chaplin had also been considering Kay for the leading lady part in A King in New York, a pointed comedy poking fun at American TV and politics. She was delighted, and not a bit put off by Chaplin's problems with the U.S. government (his entry visa had been revoked in 1952). Producer Jerry Epstein, thinking to clinch the deal, ran off a copy of Genevieve for Chaplin. "It bored Charlie to tears," Epstein found, to his dismay. The plan backfired, as Chaplin decided against casting Kay: "She's too English," he said. "She has to be American." Epstein dreaded breaking the news, but "sweet Kay made it very easy for me." Kay's friendly attitude seems all the more remarkable , considering the "American" part went to Dawn Addams, who hailed from Felixstowe, Suffolk. After visiting the Chaplins, Kay and Harrison took out a two-month 124 The Brief, Madcap Life of Ka4 Kendall lease on a chalet in St. Moritz, at one hundred pounds a week. It was small but had magnificent views of the Alps. It became somewhat smaller when playwright Terence Rattigan joined them as houseguest. Jack Buchanans widow, Suzzie Dillon, recalls a weekend at Rattigans house near Ascot at about this time, in company with Kay, Harrison, and actresses Vivien Leigh and Margaret Leighton. Kays wicked sense of humor was in full flight: "Everyone knew that Terry had finished a new play," says Dillon. "The actress guests were trying to find out something about the play; whether or not there was a chance of a splendid leading lady role. Each used a different ploy to pry the details out of Terry, but he successfully avoided all." Non-professional Dillon had great fim watching her friends. "Each actress played her own scene, showing different sides of her personality; showing, in fact, that they could adapt to any role. Terry was bombarded with veiled questions, and such a personality parade of talent shown at lunch had seldom been seen." Later, Dillon and Kay went out in the garden to have a nap in the sun, and Rattigan came by with Margaret Leighton, showing her the grounds. Leighton made a hugely theatrical entrance, still playing up to her host and sounding him out; this was too much for Kay, who "gave a wicked imitation of Maggie: the way she walked, tilted her head adoringly at her host and her fawning manner," says Dillon. "I don't know if Terry or Maggie heard. I tried to shush Kay, but she continued until Rex came out and told her to behave. She was a talented mimic." In an audible stage whisper, Kay told Dillon, "Oh, she wont get it, she's too old—if anyone does, it'll be Viv!" Rattigans presence in St. Moritz became a lifesaver to Harrison in early 1958, as Kay quickly fell ill—very ill, indeed. Harrison found a doctor from Zurich, who examined Kay and had her quickly shipped off to a clinic in St. Moritz, where she ran a high temperature and hovered perilously between life and death. Harrison "roamed around the town of St. Moritz, lost." His sons came to offer moral support (it was then that Harrison confided Kay's true condition to Noel), and Rattigan accompanied him to the...