Screenland (May-Oct 1940)

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MELVYN DOUGLAS is decidedly a remarkable man. Not only does he win and woo Garbo, counter-banter with Joan Blondell, and carry on subtle repartee with Jean Arthur, but he's distinctive for still another reason. He's Hollywood's most unusual father. Why? Simply because his philosophy of parenthood is so normal it's positively odd! Hollywood is full of fathers. Melvyn certainly hasn't the monopoly on that cherished institution sometimes known as a phase of family -life. But, unlike many Hollywood papas who either mention their off-spring merely at infrequent intervals or who gurgle volubly over the joy of fatherhood, Melvyn sits back calmly, talks about his son, Peter, and his daughter, Mary, and continues to carry out, unconcerned, his rules for being a good father. Melvyn's first association with fatherhood came in a most amusing way. It was about seven years ago. He and his wife, Helen Gahagan, were on board an ocean liner headed for Europe. They were standing on deck one night. It was a beautiful evening. They chatted idly about numerous things. Suddenly there was a pause in the conversation. Helen looked out into the blue vastness gliding along beneath them. "Melvyn," she said softly. "Yes?" he asked nonchalantly. "I've got a surprise for you." "You have?" "Yes, I'm going to have a baby." Melvyn did the equivalent of a double-take and then exclaimed, "How long have you known about about this?" "For several weeks." He gulped. "Why didn't you tell me? Is it because I'm just the prospective father ? We'll have to cancel our trip now. You must have test." Helen smiled benignly back at him {Please turn to page 70) Home pictures of Mr. and Mrs. Melvyn D onglas exclttsive to Screbnland. courtesy Columbia Pictures, lor idiom Mr. Douglas is making "He Stayed for Breakfast/3 I .'./:// mm On the screen, a suave lover, in real life, Hollywood's most unusual husband and father. See why! By Jack Holland 21