Jane Wyman is NOT beautiful

I agree with filmloverlady--Wyman was attractive in a non-obvious way. She had a sincerity and sensitivity that transcended the obvious "lookers" of her time--like Monroe and Gardner, for whom beauty was as much of a curse as it was a blessing (and it's certainly a distraction from their acting talent). I think it's no accident Wyman found her greatest popularity when she changed back from sassy, overcooked blonde (her early 1940's WB roles) to a more natural-looking brunette. I imagine women found in this latter incarnation of Wyman someone they could relate to--an ordinary woman aging gracefully and whose quiet, somewhat mundane life (onscreen) matched their own . And this film of course is the ultimate woman's film--an average woman transformed by an experience (in this case, love) greater than the predictable course of her life would ordinarily have allowed for. Something about Wyman's expressiveness (particularly her eyes) and sensitivity embodied exactly what I think Sirk was trying to achieve with this film. And she's even more poignant in the Sirk-Hudson-Wyman follow-up collaboration, ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS. And THAT film has been ranked as one of AFI's top 100 films of all time. So clearly something about this collaboration touches a nerve...and others have responded to Wyman's sincere late 40's/early 50's performances....

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I think Jane is a good actress, but I just find her dull, dull, dull. Not all actresses have to be beautiful, but they need a certain something, which I have never seen in Jane. I do however know many people that would argue that she was very beautiful and compelling. To each his own.

Filthy sounds stumbling, ugly and cruel
Between the lips of your beautiful mouth

Clearly, some movie viewers need to stick to "modern" movies and leave the classics alone. You must be able to think in historical context to understand and appreciate them, rather than sweating the small stuff like a hairstyle or type of clothing. Just remember why these movies are called "classics." And it would also be good to keep in mind that the ideal of beauty changes with time.

"No wonder Rock liked boys. At least if Marilyn Monroe or Ava Gardner were across the table, the girls would've had a fighting chance!!"

Is THAT really necessary? I mean, really. No one makes someone gay.

I don't blame Karger. Wyman actually was quite attractive (in spite of that unfortunate hairdo), but even more important, she was intelligent and normal, two things Monroe could not claim to be.