Like millions of others, when we first saw Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire whirling around each other like syncopated pinwheels to Cole Porter's sublime 'Begin the Beguine' in Broadway Melody of 1940, we were hooked. Who was this Eleanor Powell and why did her star fade relatively quickly, and what's the backstory of her unlikely marriage to actor Glenn Ford? Finally, thanks to Paula Broussard and Lisa Royère, we have the definitive and long-overdue biography of the Queen of Tap. This book is an important addition to the history of Hollywood's golden age.
~David Fantle and Tom Johnson, authors of Hollywood Heyday and C'mon Get Happy: The Making of Summer Stock
Eleanor Powell was without a doubt the premier tap-dancing film star of all time. Her legendary performances graced such MGM motion pictures as Born to Dance and Rosalie, and her 'Begin the Beguine' number with Fred Astaire in Broadway Melody of 1940 will never be duplicated.... Powell has long deserved a good biography. Her life and career should never be forgotten
~Stephen Michael Shearer, author of Patricia Neal: An Unquiet Life
With Eleanor Powell: Born to Dance, authors Paula Broussard and Lisa Royère pay an overdue tribute to one of Hollywood's most mesmerizing dancers with this engaging and detailed biography. Despite Royère's personal connection to Powell, the book presents an objective and balanced portrait of an entertainer who reluctantly traded in her pointe shoes for tap and made film history.
~Christina Rice, author of Mean...Moody...Magnificent! Jane Russell and the Marketing of a Hollywood Legend
Eleanor Powell was arguably one of the best female dancers in an era that included Rita Hayworth, Ginger Rogers, and Ann Miller. Unlike most of her contemporaries, she usually danced solo, though her partners included Fred Astaire, George Murphy, Buddy Ebsen, and—surprisingly, one of her most enjoyable—Gracie Allen. After reading Born to Dance, I want to go back and watch every one of her films. It's about time someone wrote a biography of Powell, and after this book, there is no reason for anyone to write another!
~Eve Golden, author of Strictly Dynamite: The Sensational Life of Lupe Velez
In Paula Broussard and Lisa Royère, Eleanor Powell has the biographers she deserves. Their Eleanor Powell: Born to Dance is a warmhearted account of Powell's ascent from childhood poverty to international stardom, a journey reliant on both Powell's immense talent and her relentless perfectionism. The authors combine vivid descriptions of Powell's fabulous tap-dance sequences with behind-the-scenes accounts of the painful physical and emotional costs she endured to achieve them.
~Sydney Ladensohn Stern, author of The Brothers Mankiewicz: Hope, Heartbreak, and Hollywood Classics
This book is a loving and faithful tribute to one of Hollywood's great dance icons. Well-written and thoroughly researched, it will be indispensable for anyone interested in Eleanor Powell and the art of tap.
~Brian Harker, author of Sportin' Life: John W. Bubbles, an American Classic
Eleanor Powell: Born to Dance is a vital book. Paula Broussard and Lisa Royère have crafted a thoughtful biography about an important figure in film history that deserves this recognition. Their decades of hard work and thorough research is evident, as is their love for Eleanor Powell. A highly enjoyable read that gives this remarkable woman her long-awaited due, and will no doubt encourage new fans to discover her work.
~Alicia Malone, Turner Classic Movies host
Powell's journey, particularly her comeback in her forties after raising her son, is awe-inspiring. This book showcases both her career triumphs and a few missteps....(A) comprehensive biography.
~Library Journal
"(Eleanor Powell) exuded not only a wholesomeness and perfectionism that no one in Hollywood could rival, but a kind of immaculate aura. I can't remember reading a more moving biography."
~Carl Rollyson, New York Sun
Fans of the Hollywood musical–rejoice. There is finally a new biography about the great Eleanor Powell, one of classic Hollywood's most notable dancers. 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.
~Hometowns to Hollywood
The actress, who went toe-to-toe with Fred Astaire as a dancer during Hollywood's golden era, is the subject of a new book, "Eleanor Powell: Born to Dance," which puts a spotlight on her life and career. Authors Paula Broussard and Lisa Royère, who began their research in the '70s, spoke to numerous sources who knew and worked with Powell, as well as Powell herself.
~Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News Digital
Broussard and Royere's book is a detailed, impeccably researched account of the life of a woman they each had the good fortune to know personally. The authors paint a portrait of Powell as a woman with incredible talent and a strong work ethic. Her films and dance numbers are covered in fascinating detail; musical fans will love that aspect.... highly recommended.
~Laura's Miscellaneous Musings
