Ziegfeld Girl | Hollywood Yesterday

Lana Turner and James Stewart, Ziegfeld Girl

Is there a movie that, overall, you feel kind of meeeeeh about except for one performance (or storyline) that blows you away? Maybe you even rewatch the so-so movie for this storyline (or performance) alone?? Ziegfeld Girl (1941) is such a movie for me.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Judy Garland and… when I rewatch Ziefgeld Girl (Amazon DVD link)… I pause the FF button long enough to watch most of her scenes. BUT the only reason I ever do or ever will rewatch the movie is for Lana Turner and James Stewart. I think they were outstanding in this film and I am mesmerized by their chemistry.

Straight up fire!

Did You Know?

This was James Stewart’s last film role before serving in World War II. He would only come back 5 years later with one of his most popular roles of all time… George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life (1946).
Ziegfeld Girl was, reportedly, Esther Williams’ favorite movie.

There are so many wonderful Old Hollywood onscreen couples to love that I often have trouble naming my favorites. Truth be told, it often changes – depending on which ones have lit up my screen most recently!

However, the following are almost always at the top:

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne
June Allyson and Dick Powell
June Allyson and Van Johnson
Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy
Joan Crawford and Robert Montgomery
Lana Turner and James Stewart
Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant
Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire
Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford
Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda

I see several of these named as other Old Hollywood fan favorites, as well, but I really don’t see Lana and James named very often.

Now that I think about it, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone else name them as one of their favorite couples!

Maybe it’s partly because Ziegfeld Girl had so much going on that their storyline tends to get lost in the glitz and the glamour. I’m not sure…. but I am sure that the chemistry is there in spades!

If you haven’t seen Ziegfeld Girl in a while (or, especially, if you’ve never seen it), watch it soon… paying special attention to Lana and James’ scenes. I have a feeling that, like me, you’ll find yourself wishing they had made more films together!