Mel Ferrer's first starring role in a movie - "Lost Boundaries" - proved
to be an unexpected hit, topping the box office throughout the Summer of
1949. Quite suddenly in demand as an actor, one of the first actresses
to court him as a co-star was Joan Crawford, who wanted him to play
opposite her in an upcoming film for Warner Brothers entitled "The
Victim."
Their most public appearance together was at the opening of Marge &
Gower Champion's new dance show at the Mocambo nightclub in Los Angeles,
a hugely successful event for the married Champions, and one that
significantly bolstered their rather new professional partnership.
Mel Ferrer was part of the same party as Joan Crawford, and was
probably planning on doing the film with her at the time. By the end of
August, however, he had bowed out of the film - seemingly because of
disagreements with Warner Brothers, but more likely because he'd been
offered the lead in "The Brave Bulls."
Captions on two of the above photos:
Left: Joan Crawford dancing with Mel Ferrer, who was in the same party at Mocambo for the opening of Gower Champion.
Middle: Heads turned when Joan Crawford was seen
Mocambo-ing with Mel Ferrer, stage actor who became important movie name
in "Lost Boundaries." Though Joan and Mel make a striking couple, it
probably is not a romantic team since there's a Mrs. Ferrer. Joan,
scheduled to appear next in "The Victim," may be shopping around for a
new leading man. Mel's a good bet.
