Jane Wyman leads THE DOUGHGIRLS (1944) to hilarity

Ready...aim..fire...The Doughgirls are in town!

Coming out at the tail end of the screwball comedy genre is this wonderful and entertaining film, The Doughgirls. Featuring an all-star cast of Ann Sheridan, Jane Wyman, Jack Carson, Eve Arden, Charlie Ruggles and Alexis Smith. The story centers on recently married couple Arthur and Vivian Halstead (played by Carson and Wyman) who arrive in Washington, DC to honeymoon in their reserved suite. But with the wartime housing shortage (this film is set during WW2) things do not go as planned. When they arrive, their room is already occupied by another recently married couple, Julian and Edna Cadman (played by John Ridgely and Ann Sheridan). There is a tense scene when the two women meet behind closed doors that you think is going to turn ugly, but ends up being not so bad, once they realize they are friends from their old chorus line days. Soon a third friend will drop by a Nan Curtis Dillion (Alexis Smith) who is there to marry a soldier fiancee, who is en route before he flies out on a mission. All this is well and good except that Arthur wants to spend time with his wife, but with so many people dropping by that becomes futile. Eve Arden shows up as Russian soldier, Sgt. Natalia  Moskoroff, on a goodwill tour of the United States. Her accent will have you cracking up every time she speaks. And she also carries her rifle everywhere she goes, occasionally letting off a few shots from the balcony, much to the chagrin of the hotel's manager. Also on hand is Charles Ruggles as Stanley Slade, Arthur's new boss, who decides to put the moves on Vivian. And Edna has to deal with the return of Julian's ex-wife, who wants him back in a big way, now that he is meeting with the high rollers of D.C. Almost all of the action takes place in this one room but a lot of things and situations happen that will keep you entertained throughout.

The performances are all wonderful. Jane Wyman is awesome as Vivian. She gives a ditzy blonde performance (even though she is brunette) that would make Marilyn Monroe proud. You won't believe half the things that come out of her mouth but you will be laughing anyway. I never knew Wyman could be this funny. Ann Sheridan is pretty good too despite a few times she comes close to going over the top with her shrieking. But she gives the best double takes along with Jack Carson out of the whole cast. And speaking of Carson, he is in top form as usual. Alexis Smith actually is quite good in a comedy role instead of her usual dramatic ones. She even gets to do a thick Brooklyn accent that will bring a smile to your face. And let's not forget the great Charles Ruggles, who is perfect as Slade.

The Doughgirls is a very funny movie that I loved from the get go. It's setting will remind you of The More the Merrier and Government Girl, as those films also dealt with the wartime housing shortage too. And it is just as memorable as those films as well. I have no problem placing The Doughgirls on the list of great screwball classics.

Film: B+
Jane's Performance: A

Two new inductees for my Hall of Fame: Eve Arden and Joan Crawford

A new month means two more inductees for my Hall of Fame. Drum roll please...

Well color me surprised! I'm in the Hall of Fame!

Leave it to Joan to make an awesome entrance!

Give a warm welcome to Joan Crawford and Eve Arden. You may ask how did these two outstanding women get in. Well because both are multiple Montie award winners. Both have won 2 supporting actresses awards. Joan earned two Monties for Grand Hotel (1932) and The Women (1939), while Eve won two Monties for Stage Door (1937) and Mildred Pierce (1945) which paired her ironically enough with Joan.


Congratulations ladies and welcome to my Hall of Fame!

THE MONTIES: 1945 - Christmas comes early for Barbara Stanwyck

So sorry for the delay in between posts on the Monties, my version of the Oscars. Just was so busy with work and a lot of the films and star performances I hadn't seen yet, so I really couldn't critique on any of them. That is until now. So let's get started shall we..


BEST FILM:
Winner: Christmas In Connecticut
Nominees: The Lost Weekend; Leave Her To Heaven; Mildred Pierce; Scarlet Street; Detour; They Were Expendable; A Tree Grows In Brooklyn; The Wicked Lady; And Then There Were None
Thoughts: 1945 was another solid year in film. With some notable star driven films like Mildred Pierce and Leave Her To Heaven. And some smaller films that caught everyone's attention like Detour and The Wicked Lady. But my pick for favorite film of 1945 is Christmas In Connecticut. Call me sentimental but this is my favorite Christmas movie ever and my favorite Stanwyck film as well. It's funny, romantic and a joy to watch. While The Lost Weekend may boast some stellar acting and a riveting story line, I have a soft spot for Christmas in Connecticut. I know I may take some heat on this one, but what can I say, this is my fave film of 1945.

Pure holiday joy with Barbara

BEST DIRECTOR:
Winner: Billy Wilder (The Lost Weekend)
Nominees: Fritz Lang (Scarlet Street); Rene Clair (And Then There Were None); Edgar G. Ulmer (Detour); Michael Curtiz (Mildred Pierce)
Thoughts: Billy Wilder may be more remembered for his wonderful comedies (Some Like It Hot, The Apartment) he was never better than directing The Lost Weekend. Talk about a taut gripping tale that doesn't pull any punches. And while it's my second favorite film from 1945, there is no denying the amazing job Wilder did as director.

BEST WRITER:
Winner: Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder (The Lost Weekend)
Nominees: Ranald MacDougall (Mildred Pierce); Frank Davis and Tess Slesinger (A Tree Grows In Brooklyn); Dudley Nichols (Scarlet Street)
Thoughts: Can't beat the dramatic and tense dialogue in Weekend crafted by Brackett and Wilder. Some really good stuff!


BEST ACTOR: 
Winner: Ray Milland (The Lost Weekend)
Nominees: Edward G. Robinson (Scarlet Street); Danny Kaye (Wonder Man); Tom Neal (Detour); James Mason (The Wicked Lady)
Thoughts: Without a doubt, Ray Milland gives the performance of the year. Heck it's the best performance of his career. As his life slowly spins out of control due to his addiction to alcohol, you feel his despair and keep thinking..this guy has hit rock bottom. Kudos to Milland.

"OK, quit playing Jane. Where's my Montie?"

 

BEST ACTRESS:
Winner: Barbara Stanwyck (Christmas in Connecticut)/Joan Bennett (Scarlet Street) TIE
Nominees: Joan Crawford (Mildred Pierce); Gene Tierney (Leave Her To Heaven); Margaret Lockwood (The Wicked Lady); Donna Reed (They Were Expendable); Jane Wyman (The Lost Weekend); Ann Savage (Detour); Virginia Mayo (Wonder Man)
Thoughts: Now this is the category where I had the most trouble choosing from all the wonderful performances in what has to be a stellar one for women. And I really couldn't decide on just one, so we have a tie. And it was close to being a three way tie but I finally chose Stanwyck  and Bennett. As two totally opposite performances as you can get. Stanwyck was more of the comedic vein and she was wonderful. And no this is not a sentimental vote for her as this is my fave performance of hers and film. And Joan Bennett took it up a notch playing another femme fatale for Fritz Lang as the terrific Kitty March. The pair previously on The Woman in the Window, but I thought Joan's performance here was much better. And Gene Tierney came awfully close to making this a three way tie, but she just misses it by an inch.

Ok fellas, here we go! Fingers crossed I don't mess this up!

See I told ya, working with Fritz would eventually pay off Eddie!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Winner: Eve Arden/Ann Blyth (Mildred Pierce) TIE
Nominees: Jeanne Crain (Leave Her To Heaven); Vera-Ellen (Wonder Man); Anne Revere (National Velvet); Angela Lansbury (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
Thoughts: Another tie as I thought Eve Arden and Ann Blyth were both amazing in Mildred Pierce. Arden in another sidekick role was good as always and she picks up her second Montie, the first was for Stage Door (Best Supporting Actress...which she shared with Lucille Ball). And Blyth was really good as the daughter from hell, Veda. That girl could give you nightmares.

 

"Why no I didn't  have to pay Monty off to win...honest! Girl Scouts honor!"

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Winner: James Dunn (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn)
Nominees: Dan Duryea (Scarlet Street); Jack Carson (Mildred Pierce); George Sanders (The Picture of Dorian Gray); Walter Huston (And Then There Were None)
Thoughts: James Dunn gives one of the best performances I have ever seen as the ne'er-do-well father who just can't seem to do right. In real life, Dunn would struggle years later with bouts with alcohol and his career would stall. But he will have this one great performance left as his legacy.

James is all smiles after receiving his first Montie

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Winner: Leave Her To Heaven
Nominees: The Picture of Dorian Gray; Anchors Aweigh; National Velvet; The Lost Weekend; Mildred Pierce
Thoughts: One of the most glorious looking films I have ever seen. I mean the color just leaps off the screen. Actresses Gene Tierney and Jeanne Crain look stunning. This was an easy choice for me.

Even Gene can't believe how beautiful the movie looks...

So final count has The Lost Weekend being the big winner with 3 Monties; followed by Christmas In Connecticut (2 Monties) and Mildred Pierce (2 Monties). I will be back with the 1946 edition soon. Hopefully it won't be as long a wait as this time was. Once again, sorry for the delay.


NOTABLE FILMS THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN FOR THIS YEAR:


SPELLBOUND
THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM
SAN ANTONIO
THE CORN IS GREEN

My girl Carole is among those who are in trouble...

Part 2 of the second round of funny ladies and singers/dancers had a very interesting first day. And my girl Carole Lombard is getting all she handle from Jean Arthur.


SILENT/30'S ERA

JEAN ARTHUR 52 CAROLE LOMARD 48
MYRNA LOY 60 JEAN HARLOW 22
GINGER ROGERS 59 HATTIE MCDANIEL 20
IRENE DUNNE 74 JEANETTE MACDONALD 11


Carole is in a tough battle with the equally popular Jean Arthur. In fact Jean has led this match the entire way. Come on Carole..get it in gear. The other matches are blow-outs, especially Irene Dunne/Jeanette MacDonald. The defending champion Dunne has already put up 74 points in one day. Looks like the record of most singles votes is gonna be broken yet again.


40'S ERA

ROSALIND RUSSELL 47 JANE WYMAN 47
LUCILLE BALL 45 EVE ARDEN 43
JUDY GARLAND 38 BETTY GRABLE 31
RITA HAYWORTH 36 ANN MILLER 21


Top seed Rosalind Russell is tied with Jane Wyman in a thrilling match. And Lucy is having a back and forth match with the wise-cracking Eve Arden. And Judy Garland is finally starting to pull away from Betty Grable.


50'S ERA

JANET LEIGH 36 JUDY HOLLIDAY 26
MARILYN MONROE 36 THELMA RITTER 31
DORIS DAY 51 VERA-ELLEN 16
DEBBIE REYNOLDS 45 CYD CHARISSE 25


Janet Leigh leads Judy Holliday by 10 votes. Top seed Doris Day is all over Vera-Ellen. And Thelma Ritter is hanging in there with Marilyn Monroe, down by only 5 votes.


60'S ERA

NATALIE WOOD 43 HAYLEY MILLS 10
JANE FONDA 34 SANDRA DEE 17
JULIE ANDREWS 32 SHIRLEY JONES 19
SHIRLEY MACLAINE 29 ANN-MARGRET 22


Top seed Natalie Wood is crushing Hayley Mills, up by more than 30 votes. The close match going on is between Shirley MacLaine and Ann-Margret. Shirley currently has a 7 vote edge.

Look for these matches to continue today and we'll see how is leading tomorrow when I do an update post.

THE MONTIES: 1937 (Stage Door and The Awful Truth win big)

We come to the year 1937 and basically two films dominate my award choices: The Awful Truth and Stage Door. Two of my all time favorite films. On with the show.

BEST FILM:

THE AWFUL TRUTH - WINNER
DEAD END
EASY LIVING
SHALL WE DANCE
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
STAGE DOOR
STELLA DALLAS
NOTHING SACRED

It was a good year for screwball comedies as four of my eight nominated films were comedies. It came down to The Awful Truth and Stage Door. And The Awful Truth just edges it out. Irene Dunne and Cary Grant are just perfection in their first film together. And they would make two more together so they may still win some more Monties.

BEST DIRECTOR

LEO McCAREY - THE AWFUL TRUTH
GREGORY LACAVA - STAGE DOOR (WINNER)
WILLIAM WYLER - DEAD END
MITCHELL LEISEN - EASY LIVING
MARK SANDRICH - SHALL WE DANCE

Director Gregory LaCava who missed out last year for getting a Montie for My Man Godfrey picks up one now for his amazing direction of several high powered actresses in Stage Door. He managed to get this sensational cast of Katherine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Gail Patrick, Lucille Ball, Eve Arden, Ann Miller, Andrea Leeds and others to gell perfectly. And he did it two years before George Cukor would helm his all female cast in The Women. Congratulations Gregory.

BEST ACTOR

CARY GRANT - THE AWFUL TRUTH (WINNER)
RONALD COLMAN - THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
JOEL MCCREA - DEAD END
ROBERT MONTGOMERY - NIGHT MUST FALL (WINNER)
FREDRIC MARCH - NOTHING SACRED

My favorite actor of all time Cary Grant receives his first Montie. This has been a very good period for Mr. Grant. Just recently winning my favorite classic movie actor tournament and a recent party and now winning his first Montie. And he shares it with Robert Montgomery for his wicked turn in Night Must Fall

BEST ACTRESS

IRENE DUNNE - THE AWFUL TRUTH (WINNER)
JEAN ARTHUR - EASY LIVING
CAROLE LOMBARD - NOTHING SACRED
BARBARA STANWYCK - STELLA DALLAS
GINGER ROGERS - STAGE DOOR

Irene Dunne was not to be denied a Montie for a second time after losing to Carole Lombard last year. Her performance in this year's The Awful Truth is one of the best performances I have ever seen. Her Lucy Warriner is so funny and so fly by the seat of your pants, you don't know what this woman will say or do next. I happily give Irene her first Montie.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

ALAN HALE - STELLA DALLAS
DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, JR. - THE PRISONER OF ZENDA (WINNER)
HUMPHREY BOGART - DEAD END
RALPH BELLAMY - THE AWFUL TRUTH
RAYMOND MASSEY - THE PRISONER OF ZENDA

This was a tough one to call as one film yielded two great supporting performances. Fairbanks, Jr. and Massey in The Prisoner of Zenda. And while Massey had the better role of Duke Michael, Fairbanks had the flashier one in Count Rupert. And I loved him as this likeable rogue. So step up to the podium Mr. Fairbanks to receive your Montie.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

DAME MAY WHITTY - NIGHT MUST FALL
JANE WYATT - LOST HORIZON
LUCILLE BALL - STAGE DOOR (WINNER)
EVE ARDEN - STAGE DOOR (WINNER)
OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND - IT'S LOVE I'M AFTER

And with this category we come to our first tie. I thought Lucille Ball and Eve Arden each shined greatly in Stage Door, trading wisecracks all day long. In fact they were like the perfect comedic team, bouncing one liners off each other with brilliant timing. So they each receive a Montie.

So the final count: The Awful Truth takes home 3 Monties (Film, Actor, Actress) and Stage Door takes home 3 Monties (Director, Supporting Actress -two).

I'll be back soon with the year 1938.

Be My Guest - Audrey (Fedoras and High Heels)

My guest for this month is Audrey of the wonderful blog Fedoras and High Heels. So without further delay, take it away Audrey.

http://fedorasandhighheels.blogspot.com/
1. Name your top 10 favorite classic movies actors/actresses.
This changes all the time, but for now I'll go with: Olivia de Havilland, Ginger Rogers, Robert Montgomery, Claudette Colbert, Dana Andrews, Joel McCrea, Ray Milland, Greer Garson, Jean Arthur, Audrey Hepburn. (This was hard!)

Olivia looking a little perplexed

2. Name at least 10 of your favorite films.

Mrs. Miniver, The More the Merrier, Since You Went Away, The Best Years of Our Lives, Random Harvest, The Snake Pit, Judgment at Nuremberg, Laura, It's a Wonderful Life, The Sound of Music…and SO many more! :)

MRS. MINIVER

3. Describe your first classic movie experience.
I grew up watching a lot of classic movies as a kid, so I don't know which was my first. My favorite movie as a young girl was Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, though.


4. Describe the perfect way for you to watch a classic movie.
Huddled up in blankets, at night when it is quiet.


5. What is your favorite classic movie decade: the 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's or 60's?
The 1940s. For some reason I just love that time period.


6. Name a few of your favorite modern movie actors/actresses.
I don't really have any! That's not to say I don't admire a performer for a certain performance, but I just don't have any definitive favorites. (I guess I need to watch more new movies!)

7. Name a few of your favorite modern films.

THE YOUNG VICTORIA
I love period and historical films a lot--North and South, The Young Victoria, Emma,
Life is Beautiful, The Pianist, Bella.


8. What is your favorite movie quote? can be more than one.
I love quotes, so I have a lot of favorites. But here are just a few:
Mr. Blandings (Cary Grant): "Nothing, Mary. Just a private joke between me and whoever my analyst is going to be." -Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
Tony Kirby (James Stewart): "[…]It takes courage, you know. Everybody's afraid to live."

YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU

Alice (Jean Arthur): "You ought to hear Grandpa on that subject. You know he says most people nowadays are run by fear. Fear of what they eat, fear of what they drink, fear of their jobs, their future, fear of their health. They're scared to save money, and they're scared to spend it. You know what his pet aversion is? The people who commercialize on fear, you know they scare you to death so they can sell you something you don't need." (You Can’t Take It With You).
Jeff Bailey (Robert Mitchum): Nothing in the world is any good unless you can share it. --Out of the Past


9. What is your favorite classic movie series?

I haven't seen them all, but so far I'd say the films that Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn did together. I also love a lot of the Ginger/Fred musicals.
10. What is your favorite movie genre?
Depends on my mood…probably comedy, though I do love a good drama. :)


11. What stars, besides your favorites would you have loved to met in person?

EVE ARDEN

Eve Arden, Gene Tierney, Linda Darnell, Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, and Irene Dunne come to mind. I'd be pretty happy to meet ANY old Hollywood star, though. :D
12. And finally, if you could be one movie character, who would it be and why?

Wow, that's hard! I guess I'll go with Judy Garland's character in Meet Me in St. Louis. If their biggest problem is the potential of moving, I think I could deal with that. :)




Thank you for allowing me to be your guest this month, Monty! It was a lot of fun. I enjoy following your blog and am looking forward to the upcoming classic actor competition you are hosting. I thought the March Madness one you did for the actresses was a lot of fun. Keep up the great work! :)





Thanks Audrey for stopping by and I loved your answers.

Stage Door (1937) is terrific...Hollywood at it's golden best

Director Gregory La Cava assembled a stunning roster of some of the best actresses for this delightful comedy/drama. Katherine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Lucille Ball, Eve Arden, Ann Miller, Gail Patrick and Andrea Leeds. How's that for a cast. And then throw in Adolphe Menjou, Jack Carson and Franklin Pangborn, and you have one of the best film casts ever assembled. It rivals the all women cast of the 1939 classic The Women. The story has Terry Randall (Hepburn), a rich society beauty wants to see if see can make it on Broadway all by herself, with no help from her family. She goes to live in a theatrical boarding house called The Footlights Club and finds her life caught up with those of the other inmates and the ever-present disappointment that theatrical hopefuls must live with. Her room-mate Jean (the wonderfully biting Ginger Rogers) resents her from day one and their tenous relationship fuels the entire movie. The look Jean gives Terry once she realizes they're going to be room-mates is classic. While Stage Door is not really a screwball comedy, it does feature several hilarious moments and wonderful comedic dialogue. I mean with wise-crackers like Rogers, Eve Arden and Lucille Ball on hand, how could it not be. But it does turn very dramatic at times, and there is even an unexpected death that just shatters the close knit group of women. As far as the acting goes, Rogers is top notch. She easily stands out among her fellow actresses with her seen it all, done it all character Jean. Lucille Ball is also very good as Judith, as she has comic troubles with dating. Judith and Jean's double date with some visiting lumberjacks is a riot. Hepburn is ok, but at times seems uncomfortable amid all the other women. I believe Kate worked her best magic with either Tracy of Cary Grant. Regardless, Stage Door is one of my favorite films and it is a joy to watch again and again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Judy Canfield: Do you want a date?
Jean Maitland: To some other lumberman?
Judy Canfield: Am I supposed to apologize for being born in Seattle?
Jean Maitland: Well, the last couple we went stepping with were made of lumber. Especially their feet.
Judy Canfield: All right, all right, you can stay here and gorge yourself on lamb stew again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Terry Randall: I see that, in addition to your other charms, you have that insolence generated by an inferior upbringing.
Jean Maitland: Hmm! Fancy clothes, fancy language and everything!
Terry Randall: Unfortunately, I learned to speak English correctly.
Jean Maitland: That won't be of much use to you here. We all talk pig latin.
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Terry: Do you go to sleep right away?
Jean: Sure, what do you go to bed for?

The Doughgirls (1944) is one of the last good screwball comedies...

Coming out at the tail end of the screwball comedy genre is this wonderful and entertaining film, The Doughgirls. Featuring an all-star cast of Ann Sheridan, Jane Wyman, Jack Carson, Eve Arden, Charlie Ruggles and Alexis Smith. The story centers on recently married couple Arthur and Vivian Halstead (played by Carson and Wyman) who arrive in Washington, DC to honeymoon in their reserved suite. But with the wartime housing shortage (this film is set during WW2) things do not go as planned. When they arrive, their room is already occupied by another recently married couple, Julian and Edna Cadman (played by John Ridgely and Ann Sheridan). There is a tense scene when the two women meet behind closed doors that you think is going to turn ugly, but ends up being not so bad, once they realize they are friends from their old chorus line days. Soon a third friend will drop by a Nan Curtis Dillion (Alexis Smith) who is there to marry a soldier fiancee, who is en route before he flies out on a mission. All this is well and good except that Arthur wants to spend time with his wife, but with so many people dropping by that becomes futile. Eve Arden shows up as Russian soldier, Sgt. Natalia  Moskoroff, on a goodwill tour of the United States. Her accent will have you cracking up every time she speaks. And she also carries her rifle everywhere she goes, occasionally letting off a few shots from the balcony, much to the chagrin of the hotel's manager. Also on hand is Charles Ruggles as Stanley Slade, Arthur's new boss, who decides to put the moves on Vivian. And Edna has to deal with the return of Julian's ex-wife, who wants him back in a big way, now that he is meeting with the high rollers of D.C. Almost all of the action takes place in this one room but a lot of things and situations happen that will keep you entertained throughout.

The performances are all wonderful. Jane Wyman is awesome as Vivian. She gives a ditzy blonde performance (even though she is brunette) that would make Marilyn Monroe proud. You won't believe half the things that come out of her mouth but you will be laughing anyway. I never knew Wyman could be this funny. Ann Sheridan is pretty good too despite a few times she comes close to going over the top with her shrieking. But she gives the best double takes along with Jack Carson out of the whole cast. And speaking of Carson, he is in top form as usual. Alexis Smith actually is quite good in a comedy role instead of her usual dramatic ones. She even gets to do a thick Brooklyn accent that will bring a smile to your face. And let's not forget the great Charles Ruggles, who is perfect as Slade.

The Doughgirls is a very funny movie that I loved from the get go. It's setting will remind you of The More the Merrier and Government Girl, as those films also dealt with the wartime housing shortage. And it is just as memorable as those films as well. I have no problem placing The Doughgirls on the list of great screwball classics.
B+

Ziegfeld Girl is solid entertainment

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Star loaded 1941 film Ziegfeld Girl is an enjoyable film. It stars Jimmy Stewart, Judy Garland, Hedy Lamarr, and Lana Turner. Like I said star loaded. The film centers on three different girls who become Ziegfeld girls, which they hope mean fame and money. Judy is Susan Gallagher, one half of a musical variety act with her old school dad (played by the fabulous Charles Winniger) that play at very small locales just to earn some money. Well Susan gets the call that the great Mr. Ziegfeld is looking for new girls and she is all happy for her and her dad. But Ziegfeld just wants Susan and not dad. So tension arises from that situation but good old dad doesn't stand in her way. Susan becomes a Ziegfeld girl and her dad carries on the show by himself. Hedy plays Sandra Kotler, a married woman whose violinist husband Franz is struggling to make a name for himself. At the audition for acts for The Ziegfeld show, Franz is overlooked but Sandra is picked to be a ZG, much to Franz's displeasure. They end up separated for awhile and Sandra becomes close with the show's male vocalist Frank (played by Tony Martin). And finally there is elevator girl Sheila Regan (Lana Turner) who has a boyfriend trucker named Gill (Jimmy Stewart with a thick Brooklyn accent). Sheila is the type of girl from the wrong side of the tracks with a hard working family. Once she gets picked, she makes the biggest transformation of all the girls. She lets the fame and money go to her head and breaks up with Gill and starts romancing a much older and richer man. All the girls personal issues play out against the backdrop of the Ziegfeld musical shows. Judy Garland gets to belt out a few good numbers. But its actually Charles Winniger who has the best musical number: a song and dance number with an old vaudeville partner that leaves the audience amazed. Hedy Lamarr is pretty good here in one of her first musicals. Her scenes with Franz are excellent. Jimmy Stewart is good as Gill, a nice change of pace from playing the good guys..he ends up in jail for bootlegging after being dumped by Sheila. His Brooklyn accent is thick, but somehow he loses it by midway through the film. The standout in this film is Lana Turner as Sheila. Whoever may have question Ms. Turner's acting ability will be put in check by her performance here. It deserved some type of award for her hard take on this girl who becomes her own worst enemy. Towards the end, Sheila will have hit rock bottom and Turner nails it with a riveting performance. Ms. Turner may have been known for her beauty, but here she proves she can act with the best of them. There is also solid support from veterans Edward Everett Horton, Fay Holden and Eve Arden. Typical Eve gets in several good zingers. So, Ziegfeld Girl is a marvelous film, not really a straight forward musical, more of a drama that has a few musical numbers in it with solid performances by a talented cast. And one knockout performance by Lana Turner. I enjoyed every minute of it.

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