up  Bara, who hadnt made a film in years, talked about making a  comeback in films and strongly suggests Norma Desmond. One wonders  if either Billy Wilder or Charles Brackett was listening that night.  Baras unusual appearance suggests that Van Dyke was doing it as a  favor to Charles Brabin, Baras husband, who was a director  colleague of his at MGM and whose career was ostensibly over too.