This anecdote told by David Niven in his book 'Bring on the Empty Horses', involves the time that they decided to have some fun with the two columnists, Hedda and Louella. Both David and Hjordis and Ida Lupino and Howard Duff were subjected to printed rumours, so they decided to hatch a plan as nothing more than a laugh. The chosen location was the 'hottest' restaurant in Hollywood. After dinner at Ida's, David contacted the head waiter and requested a table for two in a dark corner.

Around midnight David arrrived but with Ida on his arm. The waiter's shock and excitement led them to a table at the far end of the room, where he supressed his excitement as Ida nibbled on David's ear. By their second drink photographers had crowded the bar and Howard and Hjordis had arrived to the amazement of everyone in the vacinity and were seated as far away as possible from David and Ida.

With great timing Howard suddenly pushed his table over, rose to his feet and pointed accusingly at David across the room. Hjordis tried to restrain Howard, Ida tried to restrain David, but they shrugged them both off and advanced each other from opposite sides of the restaurant. The restaurant was silent and the photographers were in position, as they approached each other like cowboys in a Western.

At the edge of the now deserted dance floor, David and Howard prepared to fight. After advancing and circling each other a couple of times, suddenly they sprang, grabbed each other around the waist, kissed on the lips and waltzed slowly around the dance floor.

The now disappointed waiter set up a table for four and the more sporting of photographers recorded the event. But according to David both Louella and Hedda were not amused and he received calls from both stating they wouldn't tolerate being woken up in the middle of the night over a false alarm!