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15NOVEMBERDECEMBER2013ScottattendedGeorgiaTechwhereheplayedfootballuntilaninjuryhaltedhisgridironprowess.LaterhetransferredtotheUniversityofNorthCarolinawhereheobtainedadegreeinTextileEngineeringandManagement.ScottworkedasanaccountantwiththeScott-Charnleytextilecompanyhoweverherealizedthathewasnotcutouttobeagreeneyeshadebeancountertypeandtoldhisparentstotheirchagrinthathewantedtobecomeanactor.ScottandhisfriendJackHeathtraveledtotinseltownalongwithaletterofintroductionfromhisfathertotheindustrialistHowardHugheswhomhisfatherhadpreviouslymet.BobbyJ.CopelanddedicatedtokeepingthememoriesofthereelcowboysaliveinhisbiographyRANDOLPHSCOTTDignityintheSaddlesharedareflectionfromScottregardingtheelusiveMr.HughesMyfriendJackHeathandIfinallymetHowardHughesandweplayedalotofgolfwithhim.WedbeenactinglikeacoupleofhicktouristsanxioustoseetheinsideofabigstudiosoIaskedHughesifhecouldgetusonamoviesetsowecouldwatchhowfilmsweremade.InsteadofdoingthathegotusjobsasextrasworkingfourdaysonaGeorgeOBriencomedyfilmSharpShootersFox1928.ShortlythereafterScottwasaskedtobeadialoguecoachforGaryCooperinOwenWistersTheVirginiananall-talkiewesternParamount1929.HughesafterseeingtheOBrienfilmwithScottasanextraarrangedameetingforhimwithlegendarydirectorC.B.DeMille.DeMillegaveScottabitpartinhisupcomingfilmDynamite1929andrecommendedhefirsthonehiscraftatthePasadenaPlayhouse.AftertwoyearsofworkingonstageplaysScottdecidedthatperhapsanactorslifewasnotforhim.Hollywooddidntcomecalling.HewasgoingtoreturntothetextilecompanyofhisfatherhoweverMargaretFawcettdaughterofactorGeorgeFawcettencouragedthefrustratedthespianthatheshouldreadforapartinaplayUnderaVirginiaMoonthathermotherwasproducing1932.ReluctantlyScottcanceledhisplanstoreturnhomeandgotthepart.ActorLeoCarrillosawScottintheplayandcasthiminanuncreditedroleinhisnextmovieTheBrokenWing1932.AfterthereleaseofthefilmfourdifferentstudioswantedScotttodoascreentest.HoweverParamountsignedhimtoa400aweekcontract...atidysumin1932ParamountcastScottinseveralnon-westernroleshoweverthestudiowasperplexedintermsastohowbesttoshowcasetheirnewtallblondAdonis.AfteralltheyalsohadGaryCooperundercontract.AssuchtheydecidedtouseScottinlowbudgetwesternsbeginningwiththeZaneGreystoryHeritageoftheDesert1932directedbyHenryHathaway.Thedirectorrecognizedthatthesefilmsweremadetoonlyserveasonepartofadoublefeaturewhichreducedtherunningtimetoapproximately60minutes.AfterafewmoremelodramasParamountremadeZaneGreysWildHorseMesa1932.ScottwasaskedtogrowamustachefortheseGreyremakessotheycouldusestockfootagefromAwesternsfilmedduringthe20sstarringthemustachedmajorWesternstarJackHolt.ThethirdZaneGreyfilmTheThunderingHerd1933sandwichedbetweennon-cowboymoviescouldhavebeenanAwesternifitwerenotforbeingonlya59minutefilm.MoremelodramasandcomediesfollowedandthenanotherGreyoutingSunsetPass1933.ItwasthefirstroleforScottasavillainwhichhedidonlyafewtimesinhiscareer.Howeverthefilmwasntnoteworthy.ManoftheForeststorybyGreyfollowedshortlythereafteralsodirectedbyHathaway.Thefilmhadanall-starsupportingcastincludingHarryCareyNoahBerryBartonMcLaneBigBoyWilliamsandayoungBusterCrabbe.Duringthefilmingaso-calledtrainedcougarattackedScottsinkinghisclawsintheactorsbackandhisteethintohisshoulder.Scottwassmartenoughtoplaydead.WhenaskedwhythetrainerdidntstoptheattackimmediatelyherepliedItwasagoodtakeandIdidntwanttospoilthescene.TheHollywoodReporternotedBetter-than-averageWesternentertainment.EverybodyinthecastshowsScottupasanactorbuthesgood-lookingridesahorsewellandactsthehe-manwithoutchewingscenery.HisleadingladyVernaHillievalidatedthereviewbysayingHereallysetthetoneasagentleman.Hewasimpressivelyhandsome.ThosecloseupswhereIstaredathimareforreal.ZaneGreysnovelTotheLastMan1933followed.HoweverParamountprovidedHathawayadditionalresourcestomakeaqualitywesternwithanextendedrunningtimeof74minutes.ThestorywasathemenotContinuedonpage20