Films

Marriage is a Private Affair (MGM 1944)

Only Lana could make black and white stripes look so good in 1944's "Marriage is a Private Affair". Lou Valentino Collection

Production Dates: Mid January, 1944-Early April, 1944. Additional scenes filmed May 4, 1944

Release Date: August 23, 1944.

Credited Cast and Crew:

Lana Turner, James Craig, John Hodiak, Frances Gifford

Directed by: Robert Z. "Pop" Leonard

Writing Credits: Lenore J. Coffee and David Hertz

Produced by: Pandro S. Berman

Original Music by: Bronislau Kaper

Cinematography by: Ray June

Synopsis: Theo West is torn between her role of wife and mother and her role of the fun loving party girl.

My Review: When Lana returned to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios after almost a year and a half away from the screen for Marriage is a Private Affair, physically and emotionally she was at a low ebb. Having just endured a difficult pregnancy and birth, and having recently filed for divorce from her second husband, Stephan Crane, she showed up to work sickly, anemic and bone thin. Against doctor's orders she returned to work post haste and when the time came for her to do photographic tests for the film, she was SO pale and thin that they couldn't photograph her (properly). This caused such a frenzy at Metro that Louis B. Mayer was appalled and said to his associates "If we can't photograph Lana Turner, than we may as well close the studio". Regardless of his assessment, in the final cut of the film, Lana looks ravishing (if not a little thin) and IMO Marriage is addictively entertaining and a MUST SEE for any (new or old) Lana Turner fan.

Lana plays the role of Theo West, who marries a man impulsively after he presents her with a maple leaf and doesn't realize until after the fact what she's gotten herself into. At first the newlyweds are happy, but as time goes on and Theo gives birth to their son, they begin to release that they want different things out of life and Theo, feeling trapped, begins to question the life that she has chosen. Can they work it out or will they go their separate ways?

Marriage is a Private Affair was yet another step up the ladder for Lana. This was the first time that she was being used in the buildup of new stars (in this case James Craig and John Hodiak) instead of supporting a Gable, a Taylor or a Tracy. She would never again be an under the title star and she gives a bang up performance as the conflicted Theo. She had grown up tremendously, both as a woman and as a performer since Ziegfeld Girl three years earlier. Julia Jean had finally arrived.

Your Review: What are YOUR thoughts on this film? Contact me at Liza@lanaturneronline.com

Highlights and Trivia

*According to the book Cry of the Heart, Irene Selznick (wife of David) got Tennessee Williams a job writing dialogue at Metro and Lana's Marriage is a Private Affair was one of the few films that he worked on. (Thanks Michael for sending that in to us!)

*Based on the book Marriage is a Private Affair by Judith Kelly.

*This was Lana's first screen appearance in 18 months, after having been on maternity leave.

 

Photo Gallery

Lana and Natalie Schafer in 1944's "Marriage is a Private Affair". Lou Valentino Collection.    Lana humors John Hodiak in 1944's "Marriage is a Private Affair". Lou Valentino Collection.    Lana as Theo in "Marriage is a Private Affair", 1944.    Lana meets her young costar on the set of "Marriage is a Private Affair" in 1944. Note: Note Lana's eyes. She had just returned to work after taking a year and a half off from the screen after giving birth to her daughter. MGM drafted her back to work before she was ready and she was sickly, anemic and bone thin throughout the shoot. Anemia makes it difficult to look at bright lights and that is why she is squinting, either at the camera flash or the light in general. Our Girl just didn't feel good.    Lana looking sophisticated in 1944's "Marriage is a Private Affair". Lou Valentino Collection.    A lobby card for 1944's "Marriage is a Private Affair".    Lana can't take anymore in 1944's "Marriage is a Private Affair".    Lana and John Hodiak gaze at each other adoringly in 1944's "Marriage is a Private Affair".    Lana looking fantabulous in black lace in a scene from 1944's "Marriage is a Private Affair".

 

 

 

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