27. Buying a Major Movie Studio to Wreck an Ex’s Career
Howard Hughes had brought Jane Greer to Hollywood and got her acting lessons, but after the romance with men like Vallee, he kept her shelved with no screen tests or acting gigs. So she sued to get out of her personal contract to Hughes, succeeded in buying it back, and joined RKO – one of the Big Five studios of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Greer had a run of successful films with RKO – until Hughes bought the studio to wreck her career. He called Greer to his office, and told her he would not use her anymore.
“Since I was under exclusive contract to Howard at RKO, that meant I would not be able to work for anybody else, either. I told him directly that this meant that he was ruining my film career. He replied by saying, ‘Yes, that’s right’“. Greer managed a few roles, but only when Hughes could find nobody else. After six years of barely any work, she paid the final installment to buy out her contract. By then, Hughes’ jerk move had cost Greer her best and most lucrative acting years.