In the last month's Modern Screen we told the story of a whirlwind courtship in Portofino; of a young man-of-the-world and an innocent, wide-eyed teen-ager who for the first time in her life had fallen in love. We mentioned how the world had doubted that anything could come of their love, and our reporter covered the story.

Sandra and Bobby married "on the run." Why? Especially when we know--from the many heartbreaking marital breakups of Hollywood's past--that the percentages for these frivolous, fly-by-night matings leave much to be desired in the way of long-lasting matrimony.

Sandra made the decision to marry Bobby by herself. Her mother, Mrs. Mary Douvan, begged Sandra to wait. Besides a natural concern that her daughter might be rushing into marriage impetuously, she had hoped and dreamed that Sandra would have a huge and unforgettable church wedding, wear a heavenly ivory wedding gown, have a beautiful wedding party of bridesmaids and ushers. Afterward, Mrs. Douvan pictured a stunning reception in one of the great ballrooms of a Hollywood hotel--complete with a seven-course dinner and strolling violins.

Sandra's mother was not present at the civil wedding ceremony the night of December 1st, at Don Kirshner's apartment in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Nor were there any representatives from Sandra's studio, Universal-International. Sandra's booster and mentor, the successful producer Ross Hunter, had planned to fly in for the week end when the scheduled 'quickie' marriage was to take place. So did Bobby's manager and buddy, Steve Blauner.

Neither Ross nor Steve made the wedding. Because Bobby and Sandra didn't wait. They married a couple of days ahead of schedule in the middle of the night, breakfasted on Danish pastry, bagels and black coffee and winged their way to Hollywood that next morning.

Friends, fans and industry acquaintances want to know why they wouldn't wait to share this deep happiness with those who mattered so much to them.

Sometimes, human nature takes its own course. From the day Bobby began courting Sandra during the making of their movie, Come September, in Italy, everyone who's known these two stars has had something to say about whether or not they were suited for each other. Was their romance "for real" or was it a gimmick to drum up publicity for the film? Many insiders claimed Bobby was too much of a "con man" for the innocent Sandra. She'd been protected from dates, usually went out on "studio arranged" publicity evenings and premieres. Still others said that Bobby would be a bad influence on Sandra with his strange moods, difficult temperament and driving ambition.

It's true that the executives at Sandra's studio were hurt, Steve Brauner was surprised and disappointed not to be with Bobby on this great occasion during his life, Ross Hunter was bewildered. Sandra's mother was crushed.

Will their friends forgive them? And will Sandra's mother ever get over the stinging hurt in her mind and heart since her only child deserted her during this important moment on a day when she entered into a new life?

Juggling the rights and wrongs of a deep love is trickier than walking a tightrope. We believe the two people involved must be respected, given a chance to come to terms with their future.

For a moment, imagine two young and sensitive people who have fallen in love in one of the most romantic settings in the world, a flowered island in the warm, semi-tropical Mediterranean. Imagine those two people with daily schedules that begin at dawn and terminate at midnight, schedules full of grueling pressures and crowded appointments and exhausting personal appearances. Imagine those two people discovering each other in the midst of that pressure, two spirits who realize they can lean on one another, live a fuller life together than separately.

And imagine those same two people suddenly being admonished and criticized about their love, the most important thing that's happened to them in their lives.

This is why they eloped. They had the ands and the ifs and the buts. They were tired of the world interfering.

Real love knows its strength. This is why we hope that all who are near and dear to them--everyone who didn't make the wedding--will forgive and forget.

We extend our congratulations to Bobby and Sandra--with the wish that all their hopes and dreams will come true.

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