Lana Turner, more than sweaters

As we celebrate 100 years since Lana Turner's birth. Her whole image as a maneater and having out-of-marriage affairs seems like an unlikely contractee in the wholesome MGM universe, but they kept her, her movies made over 50 millions dollars (a huge amount back then), the more scandals the more tickets were sold, and sweaters. She had many female fans too, who while trapped in loveless marriages, looked at her has a woman who dared to play the game men plays, and sometimes won.



Turner was 15 when she was discovered while purchasing a soda at the Top Hat Malt Shop in Hollywood.

At the age of 16, she was signed to a personal contract by Warner Bros. director Mervyn LeRoy, who took her with him when he transferred to MGM in 1938. Turner attracted attention by playing the role of a murder victim in her first film, LeRoy's They Won't Forget 1937, and she later transitioned into featured roles, often appearing as an ingénue.



They Won't Forget 1937

As was usual, MGM gave her small roles in their movie serials:


One of the girls swooning Andy Hardy in Love Finds Andy Hardy 1939


Hugging Dr Kildare in Calling Dr Kildare 1939

Surviving the MGM tests, she got the build up!


Ziegfeld Girl 1941, well MGM made fancy musicals and it was obligatory to at least do one.


Turner hadn't polished her screen persona when she made Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 1941, 


Co-starring with Clark Gable catapulted her career, Honky Tonk 1941


Johnny Eager 1942, with Robert Taylor


The Postman Rings Twice 1946, the closest MGM ever came to a Warner Bros movie, and came out on tops commericially.


Cass Timberlane 1947, with the Spence


The Three Musketeers 1948, as the evil Lady de Winter


The Merry Widow 1952, panned by critics, but her loyal fans made it profitable.


The Bad and the Beautiful 1952, is nowdays a classic


Outside MGM with The Duke in The Sea Chase 1955


The Rains of Ranchipur 1955


Payton Place 1957 opened the door to more movies about families hiding skeletons in their closets, This was Lana's only Oscar nomination!


She went to Britain, Another Time, Another Place 1958, her co-star looks familiar.


Imitation of Life 1959, became her most profitable movie during her long career.


1960's were different, and Lana tried comedy, Who's Got the Action? 1962 with Dino and Bachelor in Paradise 1961 with Bob Hope.


Madame X 1966, demasked and showing her age, and very brave

After Madame X, she went into what is called semi-retirement, in other words if one has enough money in the bank, let's give it a go from time to time for the fun of it. Like appearing on Carroll Burnett Show and Smothers Brothers Show.


Lana's theatrical farewell was in the horror comedy Witches' Brew 1980, before that she acted in The Big Cube 1969, Persecution 1974 and Bittersweet Love 1976 and short-lived TV series The Survivors 1969-1970


Lana's much publiscized role in Falcon Crest 1982 to 1983 for 6 episodes.


Lana's acting farewell came on The Love Boat in a TV two-parter in 1985, her co-star was another MGM contract player, Stewart Granger.

Lana has a Movie Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.

She described her lifesyle as "Well, I Like Men" and she sure did.

Described as a perfecionist, who refuesed to be before a camera until eveything was perfect, pesting many.


and sweaters offcourse!

In September 1994, Turner made her final public appearance at the San Sebastián International Film Festival in Spain to accept a Lifetime Achievement Award.



Thanks for Watching!

and feel free to post favorite movies!