From what I've read this film did alot for June's career. Why didn't it do more for Gloria DeHaven. I thought she was great in this film. She has a beautiful Singing Voice and an alluring charm. I sort of get June's Girl Next Door appeal but I still can't figure out why this film didn't do more for Gloria.
VICTORY GIRL
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Some actors catch the public's attention, others don't. Simple as that.
shareThe same thing could be said about Van Johnson and Tom Drake in the movie. Johnson caught the publics eye but Drake never made it to real stardom.
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It's simple, folks. Both Allyson and Johnson possessed stronger
personalities (I know, but I mean COMPARED to Tom Drake's!) and both
were better actors. I LOVE DeHaven's singing voice (soooo underrated)
and she was much prettier than Allyson, but c'mon, look at the difference
in their personalities.
Another theory (and don't send a lynch mob to my home, please): Both
Allyson and Johnson (a now noted homosexual) might've been more apt to
sleep their way up the MGM ladder. Allyson is pretty well legendary now
as "the girl that got around", both before and during her marriage to
Dick Powell. And the industry, particularly in those days, was made up
of powerful MEN, both straight and gay. Both Allyson and Johnson would've
"fit the bill."
Could you back that up with some links or the names of some books or articles that would discuss this.
I kind of figured Johnson might have been - I watched "Two Girls & A Sailor" tonight and it seemed more obvious than usual. However, I've never heard these stories about June Allyson before.
I'm still getting over the fact that I read some postings recently stating that Jeannette McDonald was pretty promiscuous, though the person didn't name his/her source.
I've heard it so often about Allyson, I can't remember all the sources.
I think I first read it in Hollywood Babylon and dismissed it, given the
nature of the book. Then I interviewed a wonderful MGM dancer who told
me of Allyson's reputation. I've also heard people refer to her as "the
whore of Hollywood." As I wrote, it's only "theory", but it wouldn't
surprise me.
The weird thing about Johnson is I NEVER suspected him for decades! Ever.
To me, he's very boyish and masculine, not that that means anything (who
would've guessed Rock Hudson). I first read about Johnson in David
Shipman's 1993 book, "Judy Garland." Shipman can be a great writer, but I
hated that gossipy book, so I still didn't buy it. But I've since read it
in other places. There are also men on the board here who talk about
Johnson hitting on them. See if they're still there.
It's funny watching these old pictures, especially the MGM films. Everyone
is sooooooo sweet and the productions so classy and the underscoring full
of maple syrup. But let's face it...these folks slept with everyone, popped
uppers and downers, drank, and the moguls were EVIL. Plain and simple.
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It really ruins these old films when all the bad stuff comes out. I mean, everybody realizes life is not as nice as these old movies where everything comes out great in the end. But I don't know why everybody has to know that the leading man was a homosexual or the leading lady sleeps around to move up the ladder.
shareMaybe, considering Allyson's mental health problems, sex for her was a way of self-medicating, like a lot of people with depression self-medicate with alcohol. Just a thought . . .
shareA couple years after it she refused to do film and was supposedly suspended. It may have put a damper on her career, although she worked for years.
What we got here is... failure to communicate! share