I am afraid I must start on a sad note this week. I have been asked to let readers know of the death of a former managing director of Elstree Studios.

Readers who worked at the studio between about 1971 to 1973 will remember that Ian Scott took over the position from Bryan Forbes.

He later went to work for Thames Television.

I recall interviewing Ian about eight years ago about the period when the boards of Elstree Film Studios and MGM British Studios were deciding which one to close in 1970.

Had Elstree been closed at that time I wonder if the MGM facility would still be open today?

I suspect the temptation to sell its 115 acres at a later date, especially in the price boom in the 1980s, would have proved irresistible to MGM and we would have lost both studios.

Talking of MGM, I wonder how many readers remember one of their prime Hollywood stars of the 1930s who appeared in huge box office successes such as Rose Marie, San Francisco and Maytime.

Her name was Jeanette MacDonald and as a operetta singer she scored a number of hits particularly with her screen partner Nelson Eddy.

In the mid 1930s Jeanette was in discussions to make a musical at the B&D Studios in Borehamwood with either Maurice Chevalier or Jack Buchanan but it never happened.

Jeanette recalled years later about her MGM days: "I made a non-musical called San Francisco, although I sang a couple of songs in it.

"However, I wanted a he-man type co star and held out for Clark Gable, although he was reluctant.

"Eventually he agreed but whenever we did any kissing scenes all I can recall is the awful smell of garlic on his breath. He was a real let down!"

Jeanette drifted out of films in the late 1940s but maintained one of the most popular fan clubs of any star. She died aged 64 in 1965 from heart trouble.

Another Hollywood great of the silent era who almost made a movie at Elstree was actor John Gilbert. He was the great lover of the silent era, rivalled only by Rudolph Valentino.

Some say the boss of MGM Louis B Mayer ruined his transition to sound films by getting the sound department to alter his voice to a rather squeaky effeminate type following a punch up between the two of them.

Others put it down to the fact John was an alcoholic or that his type of leading man was going out of style. By 1936 his career was on the skids and he was considering an offer to make a film with Marlene Dietrich in Borehamwood but his sudden death from a heart attack at the age of 40 brought that idea to a premature halt.

One of my greatest pleasures in the late 1990s was to be able to invite another Hollywood legend back to Borehamwood. Olivia DeHavilland kindly consented to unveil a plaque honouring Gone With The Wind co-star Vivien Leigh, while on a visit to England from her home in Paris.

Olivia starred in all those marvellous Warner Bros classics with Errol Flynn and of course that all time great about the American Civil War, plus a couple at MGM in Borehamwood along the way. Olivia proved to be a very lovely lady and could not have been nicer. She even kindly laughed when I reminded her that the head of Warner Bros once said: "If you think Bette Davis is a tough broad then you have never met Miss DeHavilland."

He was referring to her famous efforts in the 1930s to break the clause in the old seven year contracts which could add on suspension time and in theory make them indefinite.

Actor Tony Caunter who stars in EastEnders insisted I introduced him as he had been a lifelong fan. Olivia did tell me she was working on her autobiography which should prove fascinating.

August 15, 2002 11:30