Photoplay (Jan - Jun 1943)

w y/O tt^n *oU W* «WN fc\eO no^ ?o* eW \V^9S it\<^ V>er? res© nH ^oro G\©nn ^ov c^. I^e^f i\ve* \^e v*o ,m<>n \>e \ove* t\^ i\i^ "... Mizpah; /or he said The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another." —Genesis, XXXI. MANY years ago a young man and a young woman exchanged marriage vows and into each other's wedding band was written the one word — "Mizpah" — a pledge of eternal at-oneness even beyond life itself. It was a beautiful marriage and they wanted to pass on to their grandson all the love and happiness their life together had brought them. When he was twenty-one, he received a simple gold ring, with his initials, G.F. The ring was made from the combined gold, melted together, of the old wedding rings. Inside was carved "Mizpah." Glenn Ford still wears this ring. He always will. One day, when he and Eleanor Powell are married, she will have one like it. Perhaps this, more than anything else, gives the clue as to why these two are in love with each other. Glenn Ford has been immersed in a background of complete" devotion and love. Somewhere, therefore, there had to be the right girl whose own background and whose heart sang the same melody. Eleanor Powell, with those rare qualities of the spirit that spell devotion and understanding, is the girl. How did it happen? One night, about four months ago, Eleanor, whom we might as well start calling "Ellie" immediately, and who, besides being the world's greatest tap dancer, is also the world's greatest JANUARY, 1943 picture fan, went to the movies with her mother to see "The Adventures Of Martin Eden." In this picture was a newcomer named Glenn Ford. His performance electrified Ellie. "Why, that man's a young Paul Muni," she cried to her mother. "I've never seen such an interesting new actor." Just a few weeks later Ellie went on a Victory Caravan with twenty -two other stars. But, so far as the girl whose magic feet have fascinated two continents was concerned, Claudette Colbert, Pat O'Brien, Jimmy Cagney, Olivia de Havilland, Joan Bennett and Cary Grant might have been gods on Olympus — that's how awed she was of them. It didn't take her too long, however, to find out they were human beings. Of course, like other human beings, they marveled at and were thrilled by her dancing. Besides the hundreds of thousands of dollars Ellie helped collect for Army and Navy Relief, she got immeasurable value, herself, out of that trip. For the first time in her life she had social contact with people outside of her workaday sphere. "Ellie the workhorse," as she laughingly called herself, hasn't had too much time to play — and she's heartily discouraged even the most ardent of beaux. For a while she did think herself in love with Merrill Pye, big Hollywood art director, but with the keen discernment that is hers she soon discovered that their association should never be anything but friendship. Actually, therefore, it's been the beautiful, gay and devoted Mrs. Powell who's been her companion all her life. What Ellie has gained from this has made her the great dancer and the great person she is today. She never needed anyone else, never really wanted anyone else. But the Victory Caravan trip dispelled her awe of outsiders and it prompted a definite decision — henceforth her rigorous routine would be eased to let in the fun that others had to offer. Indirectly, and of vital importance to Ellie, was the fact that she also met Glenn Ford through the Victory Caravan trip. It grew out of a discussion she had, one evening, with Pat O'Brien who also loves to go to movies . . . and who was also impressed with young Mr. Ford. "Tell me about him," said Ellie. "What kind of a person is he?" "A swell guy!" answered Pat heartily, who had just finished making "Flight Lieutenant" with Glenn. "And he's got a great future." It's probably not unduly prophetic tQ say that Ellie, at those words, felt she might be included in that future, too! WELL, the Victory Caravan concluded its gloriously successful tour and Ellie came back to Hollywood. From force of habit, she nearly turned down the first invitation that came soon after. She had to get plenty of sleep; she had lots of rehearsing to do; she needed her strength. But she was going to change that routine, wasn't she? So she did. And had a very nice evening, thank you. The (Continued on page 66) 27