Genre: Classics, Drama, Romance Directed By: George Cukor Written By: Isobel Lennart In Theaters: 1 Jan. 1950 On Disc/Streaming: 30 June 1993 Runtime: 108 minutes Studio: MGM Budget: $1,818,000 Box office: $1,917,000 | Cast: Lana Turner as Lily Brannel James Ray Milland as Steve Harleigh Tom Ewell as Tom Caraway Louis Calhern as Jim Leversoe Ann Dvorak as Mary Ashlon Margaret Phillips as Nora Harleigh Barry Sullivan as Lee Gorrance Sara Haden as Smitty |
“A Life of Her Own” is a 1950 American melodrama film directed by George Cukor.
The screenplay by Isobel Lennart focuses on an aspiring model who leaves her small town in the Midwest to seek fame and fortune in New York City.
Lily Brannel James (Lana Turner) leaves her small home town in Kansas for New York City, and she is hired by the Thomas Caraway Model Agency. She befriends former top model Mary Ashlon (Ann Dvorak), who becomes her mentor.
Mary is depressed about her foundering career and, following a night of excessive drinking, she commits suicide.
Lily eventually becomes a very successful model.
As a favor to her attorney friend Jim Leversoe (Louis Calhern), she spends some time with Steve Harleigh (Ray Milland), a Montana copper-mine owner in New York on business.
The two fall in love, but both realize nothing can come of it.
Lana Turner plays Lily Brannel James.
“A Life Of Her Own” was Lana’s much publicized return to the screen after a two-year absence during which time she married millionaire Bob Topping and spent considerable time traveling abroad. The first order of business for Lana to ready herself for “A Life Of Her Own” was to lose the weight she put on from the time she began dating Bob Topping through the end of their honeymoon. They were on a merry round of events and nightclubbing, drinking and keeping late hours and they had very rich meals. Lana reached a good 30 pounds over her ideal weight of 110 pounds. Once she was set for the film, she had 6 weeks to slim down before costume fittings. She turned for help to her family doctor, who put her on a strict diet of his own. She was allowed one drink a day. Her new breakfast consisted of a cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice. Salad for lunch; no dressing, just lemon. A plain broiled steak for dinner. She followed the diet and got herself in “camara-ready” condition again.
Trailer:
You can watch the film here.
Lana Turner did a lot of movies. She really loved being a moviestar.
Here are the most important films in which she starred. Just click the links for more info, photos and videos.
20 April 1937: A Star Is Born
9 Oct. 1937: They Won’t Forget
24 Oct. 1937: The Great Garrick
1 Jan. 1938: The Adventures of Marco Polo
22 July 1938: Love Finds Andy Hardy
12 Aug. 1938: Rich Man, Poor Girl
9 Dec. 1938: Dramatic School
28 April 1939: Calling Dr. Kildare
18 Aug. 1939: These Glamour Girls
29 Sept. 1939: Dancing Co-Ed
19 April 1940: Two Girls on Broadway
19 July 1940: We Who Are Young
25 April 1941: Ziegfeld Girl
12 Aug. 1941: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
2 Oct. 1941: Honky Tonk
18 Febr. 1942: Johnny Eager
27 Aug. 1942: Somewhere I’ll Find You
1 April 1943: Slightly Dangerous
19 Aug. 1943: Du Barry Was A Lady
13 Nov. 1943: The Youngest Profession
23 Aug. 1944: Marriage Is a Private Affair
8 March 1945: Keep Your Powder Dry
1 Oct. 1945: Week-End At The Waldorf
2 May 1946: The Postman Always Rings Twice
5 Nov. 1947 : Green Dolphin Street
1 Nov. 1947: Cass Timberlane
29 April 1948: Homecoming
20 Oct. 1948: The Three Musketeers
1 Sept. 1950: A Life Of Her Own
2 March 1951: Mr. Imperium
5 Sept. 1952: The Merry Widow
25 Dec. 1952: The Bad And The Beautiful
25 Aug. 1953: Latin Lovers
1 May 1954: Flame And The Flesh
7 Sept. 1954: Betrayed
13 May 1955: The Prodigal
4 June 1955: Sea Chase
14 Dec. 1955: The Rains Of Ranchipur
12 Jan. 1956: Diane
13 Dec. 1957: Peyton Place
30 Jan. 1958: The Lady Takes A Flyer
2 May 1958: Another Time, Another Place
30 April 1959: Imitation Of Life
23 June 1960: Portrait In Black
19 July 1961: By Love Possessed
2 Nov. 1961: Bachelor In Paradise
25 Dec. 1962: Who’s Got The Action?
24 Febr. 1965: Love Has Many Faces
27 April 1966: Madame X
30 April 1969: The Big Cube
7 Nov. 1974: Persecution
27 Oct. 1976: Bittersweet Love
31 Oct. 1980: Witches Brew
21 May 1982: Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid
Sources: Wikipedia, IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, Lana’s biography “Lana, the Lady, The Legend, The Truth“, “The Films Of Lana Turner” by Lou Valentino and “Lana Turner, The Memories, The Myths and The Movies” by Cheryl Crane.