TV series launched career of 'Betsy's Paul Rudd

By Robert Ulas

America's big love, the automobile, has produced big tycoons, like those in the Henry Ford family. Power and sex Bauthor Harold Robbins (the Carpet Baggers among his 13 published novels) saw a good story line and wrote the book "The Betsy," now made into a playing in the Greater Cleveland area.

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The formula for good movie crowds seems well mixed for "The Betsy" an author whose readers buy 25,000 books a day with translations sold in 57 foreign countries, a cast including Laurence Olivier, Katharine Ross and Robert Du vall, and an inside look at how the Motor City moguls live.

"The Betsy" shows the seamier side of these people and what power can do in this country," said act, Paul Rudd in a phone interview from his New York City apartment. He portrays Loren Hardeman Jr., the homosexual son of macho" Hardeman Sr. (Olivier). Young Hardeman runs his father's car company, Bethlehem Motor Corp.

Surprisingly, American Motors became the first and only car company to allow a film company to film inside its factories.

At an Allied Artist's screening of future movie releases, Rudd was told The Betsy" is drawing sellout crowds despite the bad weather.

"The Betsy is not a critics' movie. Based on the fact Harold Robbins is such

a highly read author, many viewers will suspend their critical judgment and make the film a commercial hit.

"It's not a great film, but a movie

that will appeal greatly during this uncommitted period of time. The Betsy uncommitted period of time. The Betsy would have done well during the Eisen hower years, continued Rudd

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"Uncommitted period of time" is a vast catchall phrase for Rudd's disillusionment with recent stage, television and films.

"The writing has been so bad lately, I think it has something to do with post Watergate and Gerald Ford blues. Bad material reflects the national anxiety, a period of melodramatic ordinariness. Humor can deal with man's brain, not the plumbing.

Rudd's acting career has different, more stringent standards than most actors. He considers theater, especially the classics, his first love. "It's the most personally rewarding part of the business, performing credible material eight times a week.'

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Rudd is currently rehearsing for an Irish play with his salary being only the cab fare to the theater. "I'm doing this because the play's got real literature. If you're in the business for a lot of money, you won't stay long at the Cleveland Play House: Some of the best actors come from regional theaters.

"If you want to have a very pleasant time, and not do terribly challenging

work, do soap opera, which offers a substantial living."

Rudd admits to being tempted to perform mediocre parts by very lucrative incomes: "But you must listen to your heart and mind while making these decįasions. You must sleep with yourself) and go to bed reasonably satisfied that what you are doing is worthwhile?

The offers started rolling in for the former seminary student and advertising executive after his appearance as the Irish chauffeur, Brian Mallory, in the "Beacon Hill" television production.

"I'm glad Beacon Hill didn't run for years and years like "Happy Days." Look how much effort Henry Winkler is trying to generate trying to shake his Fonz image. Richard Chamberlain is still called Dr. Kildare by people who've never seen the show, he said.

Rudd also avoids on-camera commercials and leading roles so he can develop his skills further in smaller character parts. "Laurence Olivier said it takes 20 years before an actor knows all his elements."

Like Olivier, Rudd keeps to the stage. He likes the company of serious repertory actors, the large range of roles a classical performance offers and the gratification of performing to a live audience. "People are tired of being mesmerized by the mechanical process of TV so they go to the. theater. It's live and not lip synced."

Well, what exactly does Rudd, who

isn't an avid filmgoer, like about American media? Two things, the exuberance and spunk media people generate in plays and public television.

He'll be appearing in a May 1978 PBS production titled "The Connecticut Yankee in King Richard's Court with Richard-Basehart--robnglod

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"There's pressure by an audience which expects you to select high-grade material.

But it's the medium-grade material that pays the bills and lets Rudd exercise his good taste in the classics...

Why see "The Betsy"? "Go to see Larry (Laurence Olivier). He's just too much, and such a wonderful man," Rudd concluded.

In the TV series, “Beacon Hill,” Paul Rudd played Brian Mallory, a chauffeur.

Paul Rudd and Katharine Ross are newlyweds in “The Betsy!"