Ross Hunter & Sandra

Ross Hunter, the fabulously successful producer at Universal who had producer such high grossing films of that era like Magnificent Obsession with Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman, spotted Sandra on one of her television appearances and decided she exuded a freshness and a spontaneity that would make her perfect for the Big Screen. He flew her out to Hollywood for a screen test at Universal and the test proved so successful she was offered a contract.

Almost at once, Sandra's career in films was launched at the tender age of 14. From 1957 to 1960, she appeared in no less than ten films, all of which helped to place her in the top ten at the box office. But soon, Sandra was going to make even bigger news when she unexpectedly married Bobby Darin, an immensely popular and truly gifted young singer who had made Mack The Knife ( among others) race up the record charts so speedily.

The marriage was difficult for both of them--each had demanding careers which required constant nurturing. At times, the couple seemed to be drifting in opposite directions as Bobby delved into song-writing and composing while Sandra raced from one film to another.

Bobby and Sandra tried a couple of films together. Both were successful at the box office , but it was clear that working together did not make the marriage run any smoother.

The one source of strength for both was their son, Dodd, who was born on December 16, 1961. The child's growth was a source of joy to both of them--even when the marriage was not. But eventually Sandra and Bobby realized the time to come to dissolve their marriage had come and divorced amicably in 1967.

Today, Sandra speaks kindly of her ex-husband but it is obvious that explaining the divorce to Dodd was tremendously difficult.

"Dodd's never heard his father and I argue except once and that was when I was divorced. A slight difference of opinion. ..." her voice trailed off.

"I explained to Dodd after the argument ,'Look honey, some people are very quiet, some people have an ulcer. I'm not saying that it's good to yell but I'm saying some people cry. I happen to scream bloody murder.'

"And I said "It doesn't mean I love you any less or Daddy any less. I don't know how to explain it to you..."

"He is a sensitive child," Sandra said quietly. "He came home one day when he was about six. He says, 'Uh..I want to ask you something.' and then I was waiting."

"You see, I don't think I had explained it yet to him because his Daddy used to travel a lot and I'd never been away from him. I only went to Portugal once (For A Man Could Get Killed in 1965 ) and Dodd , as I said, had been included wherever I went and when his Daddy was recording, he always took him.

"So, he wanted to ask me this question . Why did his Daddy say he's not going to live here anymore? Why? And he's got tears in his eyes. Now I've got to be a mother , right?"

"I'm still pretty upset at this. Not upset because I didn't want the divorce. At the time, I did. We had tried very hard. But again, divorce to a child ..you just can't explain it. I mean, what do you say?"

"Finally, Dodd said, 'Well, you know, you really don't have to explain it'. He said, ' I..I think I know why.' And I said 'Why?'. He said , 'Well, I kind of figured you and Daddy don't work good together anymore."

"I was just...I took that..."Sandy said at a loss for words. "I was going to a psychiatrist for a few sessions, just for this. I'm not making this up."

From the somber expression on Sandra's face, it was very clear Sandra was not making it up.

"This had happened and I was going to try and straighten things out. The divorce...explaining it to Dodd , you know. Well, I had emotional problems , too. Certain times I would say something that I know I shouldn't have in front of the baby. And I wanted help."

"What am I saying?" she wondered a loud for a moment." That's exactly it ! I needed help and I could not talk to my friends because obviously I was always right in their eyes. And then I would defend Bobby!"

"And my mother...you know I could just hear her say. "I told you ! Seventeen is too young to be married...' So anyway, I told the doctor about what Dodd had said about 'you and Daddy don't work good together anymore' and I mean I didn't have to go back!"

"He said if you can work out your own problem like this, you don't need me. He wrote down what Dodd had said to tell other patients because it made the most sense. And it does when you stop and think about it."

"It is the most unemotional, cleanest, truest way of putting it without saying , you know, we fight a lot. So my career has helped in this instance because he associates everything with work."

And at the moment, work happened to be uppermost in Sandra's mind. For the last few years, she has stayed home to be with her son, restricting herself to an occasional guest shot on television. Recently she made an appearance in Night Gallery --an appearance which the producers directly credit for boosting the show's ratings into the Top Twenty. So many mail sacks poured into NBC's offices that they had to cart them out to Sandra's home where she has been reading the letters very carefully--as she also carefully weighs the series offers which have been coming her way with an astounding frequency.

At this time, Sandra is considering starring in half-hour situation comedy written especially for her by Jerry Belson and Garry Marshall, the hip young producers of The Odd Couple. According to Sandra, the new series "...is based on a movie. I don't know if I'm allowed..." she hesitated, not wanting to reveal all the details on a deal she hasn't signed yet.

"It's a comedy about two hick people who are transferred into the big city. Well, it was called The Out-of Towners. Why am I keeping it such a big secret?"

"I haven't seen a final draft of the script yet. But they (the producers) have done such a treatment which was okayed by ABC last month. I never really wanted to do a series before but my son's bigger now and well, I'm glad I didn't do one this year.", she said, referring to the instant flops on the tube of such big movie name as Shirley MacLaine and Anthony Quinn.

Now that she's considering a new series , I asked Sandra if there was any possibility that she might consider a new marriage.

"Well..." she stated bluntly between incessant puffs on the Tareyton filters she keeps scattered all around the house,"... I may consider marriage if I wanted another child.

"I'm not bitter," Sandra said with a simple honesty." But let's face it. I was seventeen the first time I got married. This time I'm a bit older and I hope a lot wiser, so unless I wanted a child...it would have to be someone pretty special."

For a few moments, Sandra sat very still and then said with a directness and a frankness that could not be manufactured on the spur of the moment.

"For the first time in many a year, I can tell you I am happy. When I say happy, well of course I'm happy, but I had problems that were very emotional , right? I have worked then out. I love where I am living and I love what I'm doing and what I'm going to be doing."

As a final wisp of cigarette smoke curled around her fathomless brown eyes , I believed her.



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