Lana Turner performances and awards
Lana Turner (1921–1995) was an American actress who appeared in over fifty films during her career, which spanned four decades. Discovered in 1937 at age 16, she signed a contract with Warner Bros. but soon transferred to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[1] The studio's co-founder, Louis B. Mayer, helped further her career by casting her in several youth-oriented comedies and musicals, including Dancing Co-Ed (1939)[2] and Ziegfeld Girl (1941), the latter of which was a commercial success and helped establish her as one of the studio's leading performers.[3] Turner subsequently co-starred with Clark Gable in the drama Somewhere I'll Find You (1943), the first of four films she would appear in with him.[4]
Turner's role as a femme fatale in the film noir The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) advanced her career significantly and established her as a dramatic actress.[5] It earned her acclaim with Bosley Crowther of The New York Times deeming it "the role of her career."[6] In addition to her film roles, Turner frequently appeared on radio programs throughout the 1940s, including Suspense and The Orson Welles Almanac.[7][8] In 1952, she co-starred in the drama The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) opposite Kirk Douglas, portraying an alcoholic actress.[9] Turner made her final film appearance with Gable[10] in the drama Betrayed (1954).[11] After the critical and commercial failure of Diane (1956), MGM opted not to renew Turner's contract.[12] At the time, her films with the studio had collectively earned over $50 million[13]
In 1957, she took a leading role portraying Constance MacKenzie in 20th Century Fox's Peyton Place, a film adaptation of the Grace Metalious novel of the same name.[14] The film was a major box office success,[15] and Turner earned her first and only Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her performance.[14] In 1959, she accepted the lead role in Douglas Sirk's remake of Imitation of Life, a drama for Universal Pictures in which she portrayed a struggling stage actress, which was another commercial success at the box office.[16] Turner's final leading role was in 1966's Madame X, for which she earned a David di Donatello award for Best Actress.[17] She spent the majority of the 1970s in semiretirement, appearing in touring stage plays, such as Forty Carats[18] and Bell, Book and Candle.[19] In 1982, she was cast in a recurring guest role on the television soap opera Falcon Crest.[20] She made her final film appearance in the comedy horror film Witches' Brew in 1980.[21]
Film
Unrealized projects
Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1940 | Our Dancing Daughters | Unknown | Remake of 1928 film; never made | [38] |
1940 | The Uniform | Unknown | Set to star opposite Clark Gable; Turner was replaced with Rosalind Russell, and the film was released as They Met in Bombay[39] | [40] |
1947 | Bedeviled | Unknown | Unfinished; Turner dropped out to appear in The Three Musketeers | [41] |
1949 | Samson and Delilah | Delilah | Role went to Hedy Lamarr | [42] |
1959 | Streets of Montmartre | Suzanne Valadon | Set to star with Louis Jourdan; never made[43] | [44] |
Television
Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1967 | The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour | Herself | Episode: "1.10" | [45] |
1969–1970 | Harold Robbins' The Survivors | Tracy Carlyle Hastings | 15 episodes | [46] |
1971 | The Last of the Powerseekers | Television film | [47] | |
1982–1983 | Falcon Crest | Jacqueline Perrault | 6 episodes | [48] |
1985 | The Love Boat | Elizabeth Raleigh | 3 episodes | [37] |
Radio
Air date | Program | Episode | Role(s) | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
June 2, 1941 | Lux Radio Theatre | They Drive by Night | Lana Carlsen | Guest-starring with Lucille Ball[49] | [50] |
January 19, 1942 | Philip Morris Playhouse | The Devil and Miss Jones | Mary Jones | Co-starring with Lionel Barrymore | [51] |
July 5, 1944 | The Orson Welles Almanac | The Mercury Wonder Show | Herself | Guest-starring with Susan Hayward | [8] |
June 19, 1944 | The Orson Welles Almanac | Fifth War Loan Drive | [52] | ||
May 3, 1945 | Suspense | Fear Paints a Picture | Julia | [7] | |
April 11, 1946 | Lux Radio Theatre | Honky Tonk | Elizabeth Cotton | Co-starring with John Hodiak | [53] |
June 17, 1946 | Screen Guild Theater | Marriage Is a Private Affair | Theo Scofield West | Co-starring with John Hodiak | [54] |
August 14, 1946 | Academy Award Theater | Vivacious Lady | Francey | [53] | |
April 13, 1948 | The Bob Hope Show | Herself | Skit performed with Bob Hope | [55] | |
September 19, 1949 | Lux Radio Theatre | Green Dolphin Street | Marianne Patourel | [56] |
Stage
Year(s) | Title | Role(s) | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1971 | Forty Carats | Ann Stanley | Touring performance | [18] |
1975 | The Pleasure of His Company | Jessica Anne Poole | Single performance; Arlington Park Theater, Chicago | [57] |
1978 | Divorce Me, Darling | Amelia Conway | Performances at Drury Lane Theatre, Chicago[58] | [59] |
1976–1978 | Bell, Book and Candle | Gillian Holroyd | Touring performance; co-starring with Patrick Horgan[19] | [60] |
1980–1982 | Murder Among Friends | Angela Forrester | Touring performance[61] | [62] |
Awards and nominations
Award | Category | Year | Nominated work(s) | Outcome | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Academy Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role | 1958 | Peyton Place | Nominated | [14] |
David di Donatello | Best Foreign Actress | 1966 | Madame X | Won | [17] |
Donostia Awards | Lifetime Achievement | 1994 | – | Won | [63] |
Laurel Awards | Top Female Dramatic Performance | 1958 | Peyton Place | 4th place | [64] |
Top Female Star | 1959 | – | 9th place | [65] | |
1960 | – | 13th place | [66] | ||
1961 | – | 9th place | [66] | ||
Best Actress | 1966 | Madame X | 5th place | [66] | |
Medalla Sitges | Best Actress | 1975 | Persecution | Won | [67] |
Notes
- Uncredited role
- Scenes deleted
- Uncredited role
- Cameo role
- In this film, she plays a character known by different names.
- Uncredited role
References
- Wayne 2003, p. 165.
- Morella & Epstein 1971, p. 35.
- Langer 2001, event occurs at 17:10.
- Wayne 2003, p. 174.
- MacPherson, Virginia (October 12, 1946). "Heavy Drama Her Dish Now, Says Lana". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- Langer 2001, event occurs at 38:45.
- Fear Paints a Picture. Suspense. CBS Radio. May 3, 1945. Event occurs at 0:22 – via Internet Archive.
- Heyer 2005, p. 182.
- Morella & Epstein 1971, pp. 132–133.
- McKay 2012, p. 119.
- Crowther, Bosley (September 9, 1954). "The Screen in Review; 'Betrayed,' War Story, Opens at the State". The New York Times. p. 36. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- Morella & Epstein 1971, p. 161.
- Morella & Epstein 1971, p. 162.
- Kashner & MacNair 2002, p. 254.
- Langer 2001, event occurs at 1:08:25.
- Kashner & MacNair 2002, p. 267.
- Valentino 1976, p. 251.
- Morella & Epstein 1971, p. 289.
- Shearer, Lloyd (August 28, 1977). "Lana's Lectures". San Bernardino Sun. San Bernardino, California. p. 113 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
- Gritten, David (October 18, 1982). "Falcon Crest Soars". People. 18 (16). Retrieved May 29, 2018.
- Greene 2018, p. 127.
- Jordan 2009, p. 247.
- Jordan 2009, p. 221.
- Fischer 1991, p. 188.
- Wayne 2003, p. 168.
- Wayne 2003, p. 169.
- Wayne 2003, p. 196.
- Wayne 2003, p. 197.
- Fischer 1991, p. 202.
- Wayne 2003, p. 183.
- Wayne 2003, p. 185.
- Wayne 2003, p. 187.
- Wayne 2003, p. 188.
- Wayne 2003, p. 189.
- Basinger 1976, p. 134.
- Jordan 2009, p. 218.
- "Lana Turner Credits". TV Guide. Archived from the original on September 4, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- Parsons, Louella (March 28, 1940). "Lana Turner Given Three Weeks Vacation For Trip to New York With Artie Shaw". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
- Shearer 2010, p. 130.
- Parsons, Louella (December 5, 1940). "Clark Gable, Lana Turner Form M-G-M Oomph Team". The Courier. Waterloo, Iowa. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
- Thomas, Bob (December 5, 1947). "Allyson, Heflin To Star In MGM's 'Bedeviled'". The Miami News. Miami, Florida. Associated Press. p. 10-A – via Newspapers.com.
- Barton 2010, p. 169.
- Morella & Epstein 1971, p. 223.
- Parsons, Louella (July 16, 1959). "Lana Turner To Star As Mother Of Utrillo". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Return of Lana". Star-Gazette. Elmira, New York. May 6, 1967. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
- Basinger 1976, p. 136.
- Parish 1978, p. 447.
- "Lana Turner to Appear On CBS's 'Falcon Crest'". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 26, 1981. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
- Grams 2000, p. 300.
- Billips & Pierce 1995, p. 251.
- Pitts 2015, p. 78.
- Clements & Weber 1996, p. 163.
- Valentino 1976, p. 267.
- Basinger 1976, p. 62.
- Turner, Lana; Hope, Bob (April 13, 1948). The Bob Hope Show (Radio broadcast). NBC.
- Billips & Pierce 1995, p. 415.
- Valentino 1976, p. 284.
- "This Weekend in Chicago". The Pantagraph. Chicago. December 14, 1978. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- Christiansen, Richard (November 3, 1978). "Lana Turner in 'Divorce' Entertains Just Being Lana". Chicago Tribune. p. 39 – via Newspapers.com.
- Gussow, Mel (July 22, 1977). "Along the Straw-Hat Trail". The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
- Blank, Ed (May 30, 1982). "Lana Turner: Still All Glamour". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. p. 69 – via Newspapers.com.
- Chambers, Andrea; Adelson, Suzanne (November 8, 1982). "Lana Turner". People. 18 (19). Archived from the original on December 3, 2013.
- Wayne 2003, p. 194.
- O'Neil 2003, p. 205.
- Wedman, Les (October 16, 1959). "Laurel Awards Announced". The Province. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Awards". Official Licensing Website of Lana Turner. CMG Worldwide. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- "Dossier de Presma" (PDF). Sitges Film Festival. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 3, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
Sources
- Barton, Ruth (2010). Hedy Lamarr: The Most Beautiful Woman in Film. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-813-12604-3.
- Basinger, Jeanine (1976). Lana Turner. Pyramid Publications. ISBN 978-0-515-04194-1.
- Billips, Connie J.; Pierce, Arthur (1995). Lux Presents Hollywood: A Show-by-Show History of the Lux Radio Theatre and the Lux Video Theatre, 1934-1957. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-899-50938-9.
- Clements, Cynthia; Weber, Sandra (1996). George Burns and Gracie Allen: A Bio-Bibliography. 72. New York: Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-26883-0.
- Fischer, Lucy (ed). (1991). Imitation of Life. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press. ISBN 0-8135-1644-7.
- Grams, Martin (2000). Radio Drama: A Comprehensive Chronicle of American Network Programs, 1932–1962. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-786-40051-5.
- Greene, Heather (2018). Bell, Book and Camera: A Critical History of Witches in American Film and Television. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-1-476-63206-3.
- Heyer, Paul (2005). The Medium and the Magician: Orson Welles, the Radio Years, 1934-1952. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-742-53797-2.
- Jordan, Jessica Hope (2009). The Sex Goddess in American Film, 1930–1965: Jean Harlow, Mae West, Lana Turner, and Jayne Mansfield. Cambria Press. ISBN 978-1-60497-663-2.
- Kashner, Sam; MacNair, Jennifer (2002). The Bad & the Beautiful: Hollywood in the Fifties. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 978-0-393-32436-5.
- Langer, Carole (dir.) (2001). Lana Turner ... a Daughter's Memoir (Documentary). Turner Classic Movies.
- McKay, James (2012). The Films of Victor Mature. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-786-44970-5.
- Morella, Joe; Epstein, Edward Z. (1971). Lana: The Public and Private Lives of Miss Turner. New York: Citadel Press. ISBN 0-8065-0226-6.
- O'Neil, Thomas (2003). Movie Awards: The Ultimate, Unofficial Guide to the Oscars, Golden Globes, Critics, Guild & Indie Honors. New York: Perigee Book. ISBN 978-0-399-52922-1.
- Parish, James Robert (1978). The Hollywood Beauties. New York: Arlington House. ISBN 978-0-87000-412-4.
- Pitts, Michael R. (2015). RKO Radio Pictures Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films, 1929–1956. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-1-476-61683-4.
- Shearer, Stephen Michael (2010). Beautiful: The Life of Hedy Lamarr. New York: Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-429-90820-7.
- Valentino, Lou (1976). The Films of Lana Turner. Seacaucus, New Jersey: Citadel Press. ISBN 978-0-8065-0553-4.
- Wayne, Jane Ellen (2003). The Golden Girls of MGM: Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Lana Turner, Judy Garland, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly and Others. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers. ISBN 0-7867-1303-8.