Few people realize that it takes a considerable amount of makeup to make female stars look like they have "little or no make-up." Jim Barker, a veteran at that time of 32 years of movie making and who did the makeup for Maureen in the 1962 release of "The Deadly Companions" explains. "The same principles apply to both street and movie make-up but for cameras I try to create an illusion that the film will be able to pick up," The only difference between movie set make-up and street make-up should be the accentuation that's necessary for photographing," he continued. "The bright light burn out a person's natural color and I have to use a darker base."
Working with Maureen O'Hara, Mr. Barker has the added problem of her very fair, Irish skin but admits he has an advantage in her rare, natural beauty. "She has tremendously big eyes so I try to change the shape a little by making them more oblong," he said. "For her light complexion, I use a dark make-up because once she gets under the blazing lights, her natural color fades out and we would never find a man light enough to play opposite her. Maureen's coloring shows up especially well in Technicolor and a few years ago she was known as the "Queen ofTechnicolor."
He claimed Miss O'Hara is one of the most pleasant and cooperative of all the star he's worked with in his 32 years of making up Hollywood "glamour girls." She's the type that would roll out of bed looking beautiful," he remarked. He boasted that the filming of "Deadly Companions" marked his silver jubilee in working with Maureen. "The Deadly Companions" is our 25th picture together and this is my 15th year as her make-up man. I've been with her on every picture she's ever made. It's an unusual length of time with any one actress and even more unique because in all these years we've never had to do one foot of retake with Maureen's makeup."
Mr. Barker had flown over from his home in Honolulu where he was in a "take it easy" stage of his career, at the special request of Miss O'Hara to do her make-up for the picture. Traveling over the rugged washes, desert and bumpy roads on ranches near Tucson, Mr. Barker accompanied the Maureen to each new shooting area, retouching the complete make-up he applies that morning before sunrise, prior to setting out for location. He explained the techniques of looking "un-made up." The large brush is used to apply and blend rouge for a natural look. The eyebrow brush is used to soften the pencil lines and achieves an even, filled-in brow line. Miss O'Hara uses a pale shade of lipstick in most of the film. On film she will look as though she has no lipstick on at all. In the accompanying photos, Maureen's dress is skillfully dirtied for the next scene involving a scuffle with an Indian." Whatever make-up magic he created for Maureen in this film, she remained absolutely gorgeous, and most believable as the down trodden saloon girl, demonstrating her strength and determination.
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