Crosby Fan World / Who is your favorite leading lady that Bing starred with in the 1930s?

**Posted by Blonde56** 08/3/2025 6:29 pm

David, I love Carole Lombard. Unique and brave lady. Also very beautiful! I read a book a few years back about her and the crash. "Fireball" I believe was the name of it. Excellent book.

**Posted by Ian Kerstein** 17/3/2025 4:52 pm

Thanks, Pantelis for also reviving this thread and your kind words.
I really should choose Mary Carlisle as she was best suited to Bing but Miss Lombard was just so much fun with her temperament.

Pantelis Kavouras wrote:
Ian Kerstein wrote:

Yes, it's so difficult with that amount of talent to chose from. Mary Carlisle, David was perhaps the best one most romantically suited to Bing. Playful empathy and such a beautiful light comedic touch.

Thats the word Ian, romantically suited to Bing....Playful empathy

**Posted by Ian Kerstein** 17/3/2025 4:58 pm

Great minds think alike, David! I just so wish they had made at least another film together. I keep meaning to see her performance opposite William Powell in their earlier version of "Our Man Godfrey". I saw and enjoyed the later David Niven and June Allyson version around forty years ago but suspect the original would be a more skilled, sophisticated and subtle improvement.

David Lobosco wrote:
Wow, this is an old poll! Thanks for reviving it. I picked Caroe Lombard. I'm a big fan of hers. Second would be Mary Carlisle.

**Posted by Aaron Tickner** 21/10/2026 1:56 am

I voted Mary Carlisle. Great chemistry with Bing.

However, I would have voted for Miriam Hopkins in She Loves Me Not possibly. Love her with Frederic March in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

**Posted by Ian Kerstein** 21/10/2026 4:25 am

So many 1930's leading ladies to choose from. Does anyone have any thoughts on Marion Davis' turn as Bing's leading lady in "Going Hollywood"? My late grandmother remained especially fond of her, as it seemed did Bing.

**Posted by David Lobosco** 22/10/2026 7:01 pm

Ian Kerstein wrote:
So many 1930's leading ladies to choose from. Does anyone have any thoughts on Marion Davis' turn as Bing's leading lady in "Going Hollywood"? My late grandmother remained especially fond of her, as it seemed did Bing.

I thought Marion Davies was quite a beauty in her day, but I don't care much for her acting ability. Some of the lines she said in Going Hollywood as if they were being fed to her or she was reading them on cue cards!

**Posted by Ian Kerstein** 23/10/2026 10:42 am

Now you say this, David, that really rings true. It's the only film of hers that I've seen, so I'd be interested if this carries through to some of her other performances? I know she began years back into the silent era, so I wonder if this had any bearing?

**Posted by dgmprod** 24/10/2026 8:42 pm

jeremyrose wrote:
I've plumped unhesitatingly for Ethel Merman. I know that the film version of Anything Goes is - musically at least - a far cry from Cole Porter's original conception, but I think Bing and Ethel have a real on-screen rapport which has me grinning from ear-to-ear every time I see it. I only wish the movie could have a proper re-mastering/restoration along the lines of what happened with Going Hollywood a few years ago.

Hi Jeremy just in case you didn’t know the original version of Anything Goes is on my YouTube channel which is a high definition transfer from a 35mm print. I don’t think an official release on dvd would be any better. Cheers, Dave Duncan

**Posted by Ian Kerstein** 25/10/2026 3:04 am

I can certainly vouch for the quality of this complete version David draws our attention to. It's superb. I have it on DVD and enjoyed it thoroughly. The picture and sound are crystal clear. Well done, again. It was so nice to see the interplay between Bing and Ethel in this gem from 1936. I'd always wondered how they would blend with their very different styles and I found it was very much a case of opposites attracting!

How wonderful it would have been to see Ethel when she starred with Bob Hope on Broadway during the same year, prior to him "going Hollywood" in the show, "Red Hot and Blue".

Last edited by Ian Kerstein (25/10/2026 3:15 am)