Young Actress Scores as Newcomer in Peyton Place By CHARLES WITBECK
HOLLYWOOD-'Everybody that knows me takes great pains to tell me they don't watch the show," says cute, freckled-faced l9-yearold Pat Morrow, the newcomer on "Peyton Place" who plays Rita Jacks, daughter of a gin mill operator and a high school dropout. "I just happened to be passing through the living room, and there you were on the screen. My mother watches soap opera, not me,' " is the comment Pat says she gets from her college classmates. Grownups and teenagers are reluctant to admit tuning in "Peyton Place," but somebody must be watching. The evening soaper has become so popular ABC has added another half-hour segment, totaling three. This summer, opposite reruns, spicy, provocative "Peyton Place"' (you can't have reruns on a continuing story) threatens to become the big "dog days" hit with eyepopping romantic plans for Rita, the young, bad girl.
"You see, I grew up in a bar," says Pat, explaining Rita. "And I've been traveling around with the wrong crowd. Then I beccme Harrington's (a rich boy) girl. It all began when my boy friend slipped drugs in Norman's drink. "Now that I'm involved in the higher life, I begin to learn how to dress and I return to school." Rita was introduced to "Peyton Place" low life last February, and her part in a cast of 21 has steadily grown larger. Five pages of dialogue in a script have blossomed into 19, and this summer, according to producer Paul Monash, the combination of Rita and Norman will blow the top off the series. "We are 20 episodes ahead right now," says Pat with an elfish grin, "All I can say is that lots of things are going on. And we're not so wordy either."
Still, you need a scorecard to follow the intramural entanglements about the cast of 21. Pat's father, Los Angeles attorney Robert Morrow, tried to follow the plot in an episode and gave up because it was too complicated. He merely pretends with other lawyers to know what is going on. Such normality at home, doesn't keep Pat from being stunned over her big summer showcase in the role of Rita. "It's the luckiest break a girl could have." she says. "Secondly, I have three acting coaches in three directors—Walter Doniger, Ted Post and John New land — who do take time because they work with us regularly and get to know us. I go to rushes (film of the previous day's shooting) and learn how to correct my mistakes. "Even in the beginning Iwas lucky," Pat continued. "I was so tense, and yet managed to get one emotion across. Oh, thank heavens for that. Now I can do many emotions, and the directors are pleased: And it pleases me to have them pleased."
From the sound of it, Pat Morrow could be a beginner in local acting world, but she isn't Her first job came at the age of 14 weeks when Pat played baby for John Hodiak and Lana Turner in "Marriage Is A Private Affair." Her next job in "Roar of the Crowd," came seven years later. Since then Miss Morrow has been In pictures like "Oklahoma," "The Bad Seed," "Ma and Pa Kettle," the Mickey Mouse Club TV series, TV's "My Three Sons," "Mr. Novak" and on "Dr. Kildare" to mention a few. "My productive years were from nine to ' 12," says Pat. "I had freckles, lots of teeth and "braids. All I've been required to say is Hi Ma,* 'Hi Pa,' or 'Hi Mr. Novak.' Nothing changed. "Now I'm acting. I'm not beautiful and I work with Barbara Parkins who is very sexy, gorgeous and moody, and Mia Farrow who is beautiful in many ways and has many dimensions. This means all the young girls and older women sympathize with me because I don't have a chance against those two." Competing against beauties is the way to slip ahead in the Hollywood jungle. Good looks can be a knock; they're so commonplace in casting offices. "My agent told me a six weeks part was opening up on the series, and to run out and apply," said Pat. "I slumped in my school clothes and looked around. All the girls were dressed to the hilt." Pat's freckles, her happy grin and energy won out over the lookers. A few weeks later she heard, "Hey baby, how'd you like to be on for 52 weeks?"
The Morrow problem now is how to finish college and work on "Peyton Place" at the same time. "I've been missing two days a week at San Fernando State College since February," she says. "I've got exams coming up and don't know how I'll get through them, but I will. "I can't drop college," Pat adds. "Rita may quit school on the show, but I have an image to uphold and must show the kids that it isn't the thing to do."
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Paul Raven ·
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