Fans of the Hollywood musical–rejoice. There is finally a new biography out about the great Eleanor Powell, one of classic Hollywood’s most notable dancers.
Powell dazzles in so many on-screen numbers with an exuberance and enthusiasm that, in my opinion, is unmatched. She makes whirling dozens of times look easy, breezily dances with a pup in yet another delightful number, and matches Fred Astaire step for step in arguably the best tap number of all time: “Begin the Beguine.”
Though there is much to celebrate about Powell, little has really been written about her life and career, in addition to exploring her time off the screen. Thus, I’m so happy to share that Paula Broussard and Lisa Royère have filled a significant gap in classic Hollywood literature by telling Powell’s story. Eleanor Powell: Born to Dance is exceptionally thorough, impressively researched, and beautifully told. It is easily the best resource documenting her life and career.
Eleanor Powell: Born to Dance is available for purchase via the University Press of Kentucky.
Hometowns to Hollywood 