MovieChat Forums > Best Foot Forward (1943) Discussion > Virginia Weidler

Virginia Weidler

posted 13 years ago by dmnemaine
5 replies | jump to latest

Poor Virginia Weidler just got overshadowed in this film by her costars. Just want to mention that her rendition of "Ev'ry Time" is one of the highlights of the film for me.

[–] Dejael 13 years ago

Yes, I thought she was very lovely, beautiful and talented. So sad MGM didn't feature her in better roles.

Dejael

[–] howie14 12 years ago

MGM just didn't appreciate that they had a versatile young actress; it seems they wanted a striking leading lady overnight after they had left her in kid roles way too long.

It's a waste that Virginia left the screen after this film and the business a little later.

[–] nycruise-1 11 years ago

The torch got passed in this pic.

Virginia was billed as "the star" but newcomer June Allyson made such an impression that 4 years later Junie would head an all-star cast in the college musical "Good News."

"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"

[–] DougDumbrille 9 years ago

Virginia was indeed very talented, but she didn't sing the song in the film. Her voice was dubbed by Louanne Hogan.

She basically disappeared after that film, and while no one knows for sure why, the fact that she absolutely refused to talk about it suggests that she was very hurt by the way she was handled during this period -- as the studio clearly promoted June Allyson and Gloria Dehaven (both who were prettier) instead of helping her transition to adult roles.

I have a feeling she knew she had paid her dues and perhaps was tired of being a supporting actress, but didn't have the glamour girl looks to become a leading lady, and resented those who did.

???

[–] dmnemaine 8 years ago

Too bad they tried to go the glamor route with her. She should have been promoted as a comic character actress. It's also too bad they didn't let her sing the song. She could sing (She does so in "Babes On Broadway"). With that said, Louanne Hogan did a marvelous job of voice matching. I wouldn't have guessed that it wasn't Virginia.