MovieChat Forums > A Star Is Born (1954) Discussion > Was that Jane Powell ?

Was that Jane Powell ?

posted 12 years ago by robert7510
8 replies | jump to latest

Was that a large glamour pic. of Jane Powell hanging in Matt Libby's office. It seems like they were very carefull not to use actual names of stars of the day in this film.

[–] Gubbio 12 years ago

I'm pretty sure that none of the pictures in Libby's office were of any well-known stars.

I always assumed they were Warner's contract players (such as extras) or photos from modeling agencies.

If they had their own people under contract, there would be no reason to pay a modeling agency for the use of the photos. Under the studio system, they must have had scores of pretty girls to fill in where needed (all hoping to be "discovered").

[–] Doghouse-6 12 years ago

Yes, that was Powell (Warner player Alexis Smith is up there, too). It always struck me as odd, inasmuch as she was primarily known for her MGM output. I can assume only that it had something to do with the fact that she had just made her one and only picture for Warners - "Three Sailors and A Girl" - as ASIB went into production.

Poe! You are...avenged!

[–] robert7510 12 years ago

Thanks for the reply.... I knew that was Jane Powell! Isn't it odd that they would have a picture of an MGM contract player on the wall? She was still under contract to MGM wasn't she? I'm not too familiar with "Three Sailors and a Girl" - did not know it was a Warner Bros. pic.. Will have to watch ASIB again and look for Alexis Smith. Thanks again for your help!!!

I Look Forwrad To My Return

[–] Doghouse-6 12 years ago

I imagine Powell was still under contract to MGM; she did do another three pictures there after "Three Sailors...". Could be she did the WB picture independently, on loan from MGM or even as an exchange deal between they and WB to get Doris Day for "Love Me Or Leave Me" (just a guess, but such things did happen).

I think that's also Ruth Roman (who'd worked at WB in the early 50's) next to Alexis Smith (the scene in Libby's office when Esther comes in to meet him), and the one on the left in the same scene looks very much like Kathryn Grayson, another MGM performer (as a blonde, which as far as I know she only appeared as once, in "Kiss Me Kate").

Those are the only ones I've ever been able to make out. Kind of a strange collection under the circumstances.

Poe! You are...avenged!

[–] shandy8 10 years ago

One of the pics looks like Kathryn Grayson (an MGM star!).

"What do you want me to do, draw a picture? Spell it out!"

[–] EliotTempleton 9 years ago

There's also a shot of Ruth Roman on the wall. I can understand the photo of Grayson; she did a loan-out to Warner's in 1953, but the photo of Powell is oddly out-of-place. Maybe she and Judy were friends? After all, Judy's husband produced the film.

[–] robert7510 9 years ago

Eliot, I was later reminded that Jane Powell had made a picture for Warner Bros. in 1953 entitled "Three Sailors and a Girl". This would explain their use of her glamour shot.

[–] EliotTempleton 9 years ago

And there we have it!