Gwen Verdon, Lana Turner - Merry Widow - 1952

Brief business from 1952 with smashing Lana Turner, handsome Fernando Lamas, and treat of all treats: A 26-27 year old, absolutely magnificent, Gwen Verdon! Anyone knowing dance needs no introduction to Ms. Verdon! She never received screen credit for this! RIP To All Three! They Knew The Business!
DISCLAIMER: All rights reserved to the production companies and music labels that distributed and produced the music and performance respectively. I've only added the footage as a tribute for historical, entertainment, and creative purposes with no financial gain. Copyright infringement not intended.
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[@hardballget]

I think Gwen was the greatest and most beautiful of all time. Great post.

[@vladeckk21]

Ditto. So much joy and precision in one person. It's worth scouring youtube for these high-res gems.

[@CONSENT44]

she was also most talented unlike 2day

[@paulbrennan3816]

extraordinary and lavish. what a film.

[@kevincoxhead7137]

She absolutely rips everyone's attention away from the brunette....not deliberately...it's natural! FABULOUS! What about that choreography? and the orchestral arrangement!!! sensational. Costuming is brilliant as well,,but Verdon... WOW!!!!

[@varadero1839]

The brunette is a fine performer, but there was just something literally infectious about lovely Ms. Verdon! My only wish that the clip had been just a little longer…..more Gwen! Thanks for writing. Varadero

[@kevincoxhead7137]

Yes, the brunette is excellent, which is why she was selected as a featured dancer. I wonder who she is and what else she did. She just misses a couple of times, whereas Ms. Verdon is spot on all the time. When they go upstage while pointing directly at the camera, Verdon's eyeline is directly down the barrel and her line is perfect, the other girl doesn't hold the same eyeline and that's one part that lacks, but gosh she's very good. Oh to have been onset that day to see this number performed. I agree, it's not long enough, but such a fabulous new take on the "Can-Can".

[@valkillion6869]

@@kevincoxhead7137 Great point - those blue eyes are level & KA POW! A wink TOO!

[@ambrakaur2499]

The dancing!!!!!

[@michaeljj43]

just look at how gwen verdon throws herself into this choreography…amazing!!!!!

[@coreycox2345]

She was amazing and brilliantly funny, m j.

[@johnerwin981]

really amazing what she could do-- - very impressive : )

[@TheReturnOfStephan1]

Great clip! So much to see. Lana Turner really was a force to be reckoned with, Gwen had her own force field & Fernando Lamas was so cool...! Thanks for posting.:)

[@stephenjoeagi]

All those super stars gone !!!! They will never be forgotten.

[@varadero1839]

You're right! Will always love Lana, but Gwen was truly unique! A dear friend of mine was her neighbor in NYC's West 70's, and always said she was an amazing person!

[@LaurenceDay-d2p]

These old MGM costume pix were great fun to watch - old-fashioned glamor.

[@norcross124]

This truly was a TREAT to watch! Thank you again.

[@BalletBabyBoy]

The Divine Verdon!

[@porterhouse1974]

Wow...Gwen...JUst wow.

[@varadero1839]

@BalletBabyBoy You're right on the money! She was Divine, and we'll never see her equal. Thanks so much for your comment!

[@larsbonner]

Thanks for this. Am hoping that MGM will eventually release this on DVD for us Cole/Lana and Gwen fans.

[@johnerwin981]

caught once on VHS format

[@varadero1839]

@hardballget Thanks so much! Though she'd done a great deal already in the theater, I think this was one of the first clips of her in Hollywood. She was, and always will be superb!

[@varadero1839]

@mediagy HI again Babyhowdy233! Thanks so much for this message! You're are so fortunate to have seen her in so many of her triumphs! Grateful to hear from you, and your very knowledgeable comments. Sadly, I've only film clips to refer to, never actually having seen her "live!" Best wishes!!

[@varadero1839]

You're welcome! When I saw it I was intrigued by the "redhead!" Wasn't she brilliant? So glad you enjoyed this!

[@RossCompose]

Great moves from Gwen and the cancan dancers! She could sing too, and did a great solo album for RCA Victor (in addition to her OCs).

[@varadero1839]

I think at this point Gwen had been "dance dubbing" for other stars from a distance. Here at least you can recognize her as "herself!" I think she was amazing, and want to thank you for writing! Best regards, varadero

[@varadero1839]

@Babyhowdy233 Babyhowdy233, you're right on the money! I recognized her right away, but though it took me a little while to verify, I was so glad knowing that there she was, in her youthful glory! She's much missed by so many. Thanks again for your comment!

[@lidiagomez7616]

Lana Turner lo más grande de las estrellas de cine que bella mujer

[@mediagy]

@Babyhowdy233 Absolutely right. She was AMAZING. I saw her in CAN-CAN, DAMN YANKEES, NEW GIRL IN TOWN and CHICAGO. How fortunate I was. She had been with Jack Cole in the 40s and actually Fosse's choreography was a steal from Cole. This was in 1952 and the next year she suddenly burst on the scene in CAN-CAN as Eve in the Garden of Eden dance and stole the show from the putative star, Lilo.

[@dii392]

Notice how the clip ends with Gwen Verdon and the other dancer. Gwen jumps up in the air and lands in a split. The other girl does not, she simply slides her leg back and lands (and I don't blame her!). It's a great example of the difference between a good dancer and a great dancer.

[@sandrashevey8252]

The thing about Verdon is that for years she was used as a coach for Marilyn Monroe, Lana Turner and Betty Grable. She had to defer to those who used sex and looks to attract money to finance their acting lessons, starring roles, novelty numbers etc. We must all thank the Lord that right finally won out and Verdon got the breaks and the acknowledgements she deserved.

[@varadero1839]

It's really sad is it not? She spent all those years coaching and training while her own talent surpassed most of her students! You're right about how she won out! I don't suspect even one of the "stars" she trained could have matched even 1 step of any Broadway show in which she ruled! Wonderful to hear from you!

[@sandrashevey8252]

Watch her in the old Betty Grable films where Grable dances with Hermes Pan (Fred Astaire`s lover) Grable like Marilyn had the studio by the short hairs and must have threatened plenty if the camera favoured Gwen in the sequences where they dance together. Gwen needed a chin job and she finally got one. She then became a huge huge star. Marilyn had surgery early on primarily because it was paid for by the men to whom she was mistress. Good guys finiah last!

[@varadero1839]

Sandra Shevey Hi Sandra, Every message you send is more intriguing than the last! Not an easy feat, given the content! The "chin-job" is news to me, but then again, I'm so sheltered. I'm happy she became the star she did; she deserved it! I've gotta be more alert on the BG/Pan clips! Thanks so very much!

[@Blaqjaqshellaq]

Was Juliet Prowse in it too?

[@babyboomerrodg]

want to get the whole film but the dvd is shockingly expensive

[@Senior2442]

Ich hätte mir den ganzen Film in deutsch angeschaut.

[@varadero1839]

@KAIKASS2009 Ela era divino mesmo! Obrigado. Sinto-me honrado pelo seu comentário.

[@johntlew]

Brunette looks like Chita Rivera.

[@vegetony]

I thought so too. Never could confirm it.

[@isammolina4842]

😃👌👀🌹🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿

[@Senior2442]

I would watch the whole film in German, but this is not offered.

[@sandrashevey8252]

I will repeat this...she was not given credit for this film. The powers wanted to keep her `in the closet` as a coach pure and simple. Makes you think about who and/or what becomes a star..after all she had masses more talent than Monroe whom she coached. So what DID Marilyn have and/or do that got her star billing? Verdon was kept down for years. It is perhaps only on account of this `unbilled` perfomance which brought her to the attention of exhibitors etc. that she was finally groomed for stardom. And as I say even then Marilyn tried to shove her out of the film role in `Yamn Yankees` which happily she was not able to do.

[@varadero1839]

Sandra Shevey Hi Sandra Shevey! You're right about the studios having hidden Gwen! I can't find it now, but there's another "Biblical Type Film" from the 50s where she does an amazing dance solo in very dark make-up and is superb! As for "Damn Yankees," I haven't seen it in years but will happily look for it on TCM. Regardless of the caliber of film in which she performed, she tended to bring it up a notch! Thanks so much for writing! Best wishes, varadero

[@sandrashevey8252]

I saw Gwen and Chita on Broadway in the first run of `Chicago` or `Sweet Charity`..whichever opened at the Palace. As a kid I loved Gwen...thought she was greater...much greater than MacLaine and way, way above Marilyn Monroe (who was a klutz) It was only later, as a film writer, I discovered she had been hidden and that Marilyn ever wanted to replace her when the producers actually insisted on giving her a chance as the lead in the film version of `Damn Yankees`. Chita is alive. I`d like to do a book about Gwen but then of course there are the legions of would-be film writers hanging in there ready to kick me out of the spot. Anyway thanks....there are some photos of an unacknowledged Gwen (chubby and before the makeover) tutoring Marilyn in dance. Have a look. Hollywood rarely allowed people to change their status. This is why Edith Head never became a designer for Metro...because LB`s daughters knew her as an art teacher. Gwen is unique. Generally once a dance coach (specially for women) always a dance coach.

[@larita3004com]

No es el q yo busco! :(

[@jakobvonmuhlebach]

14 people didn't like this? Were you looking for funeral plan advice?