Burning Ears

Though he may be best remembered for slapping Rita Hayworth around in “Gilda” (1946), actor Glenn Ford, now 73, draws the line when it comes to . . . off-color language. A judge at last weekend’s Hugh O’Brian/UCLA Acting Awards, Ford abruptly quit after scenes were performed from playwright David Mamet’s Pulitzer prize winning play, “Glengarry Glen Ross,” known for its frank dialogue.

According to a spokesman for the acting competition, Ford told his fellow panelists--Martin Landau, Fay Kanin, Lorenzo Lamas among them--that he would not be returning. He jotted a note on his ballot taking “strong exception” to and questioning the need for the play’s use of foul language.

A representative for the actor said he would have no comment.