Archiefit wrote:

I'd like to pick none of the above as I didn't think any of the ladies of the '30's stood out.   But I remember Marion Davies loose style and fun she seemed to have with Bing and he with her so I chose Marion.

I don't think that any of the leading ladies were as strong in the 1930s, but for chemistry - I feel Bing and Mary Carlisle had a lot of chemistry together.


 

Another hard choice (for me). You need to include the fimed 'shorts'.Patsey O'Leary (2) , Babe Kane (2)  & especially Mary Kornman in (2) shorts & ( 1 ) feature film (College Humor)  ? / Keep in mind that these light comedies gave Bing a visual image , vocalizing on song titles ( with GREAT IMAGES  that put him over the top in the early 1930s./ Should these films  be at least considered ?

Only four votes so far. Any other voters?
 

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.

Yes, I almost voted for Ethel, too and I think pure performance wise, you win hands down, Jeremy. 

Lobosco wrote:

I had a hard time picking a leading lady from the 1930s - Carole Lombard was probably the most talented of an actress, but in the end I went with Mary Carlisle.

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.

By the way, I am loving your beautifully observed film reviews in my newly acquired Winter 2021 and Spring 2022 issues of "Bing" magazine, having just joined the ICC. I am ashamed to admit (collected intakes of breath), I have yet to see … "Road to Utopia"! However your superbly conversational article has now made me determined to soon right this wrong. I was so interested to hear that the attacking, co-starring bear turned out to be a myth. Congratulations.

 

Oh how wonderful, David. That I would love to hear about. 

Lobosco wrote:

Ian Kerstein wrote:

Oh how wonderful, David. That I would love to hear about. 

I had the opportunity to interview Marjorie Reynold's daughter Linda as well. Marjorie did not get along with Betty Hutton! It was interesting. There's a lot of behind the scenes stories that the movie audience were never privileged to know.
 

This is all so tantalising, David. I so love hearing about the off stage/off camera goings on. So when you've the time.. lol! I've read in Peter Levinson's 2009 biography of Fred Astaire ("Puttin' on the Ritz", page 186), the late Nannette Fabray telling of a famous, albeit uncharacteristic on set outburst Astaire initiated while shooting a routine from "The Bandwagon". It led him to admonish her (for some alleged scene stealing) in front of everyone saying that, "I've put up with that with Betty Hutton. I'm never going to put up with it, again". I wonder how Bing got on with Miss Hutton in "Here Come the Waves"?

Last edited by Ian Kerstein (23/3/2022 5:15 pm)

Well that's good to hear, at least. I was beginning to wonder if Betty was providing on set world wars wherever she went. I saw the film many years ago at my late and much beloved maternal grandmother's home. Ironically, even though it was of her generation of entertainment, she soon tired of it and left me to thoroughly enjoy the rest on my own, as she prepared afternoon tea. 

I voted for Frances Farmer because of her beauty but i believe she didn.t have a long career. on the other hand, I believe Madge Evans's acting career lasted for decades.

I voted few years later than most, for Mary Carlisle. I believe she was my favorite leading lady of the 1930s, but it was a hard choice. Joan Bennett was also a very nice actress, and Ida Lupino had a nice chemistry with Bing. Carole Lombard was one of the most talented, and Marion Davies was the only one billed above him due to her star status for so many years and Joan Blondell had something special. Leila Hyams was really pretty and Kitty Carlisle was delightful as a Russian Grand Duchess. Shirley Ross was more associated with Bob Hope, but she was a talented performer who was sadly forgotten later, though Bob always mentioned her name when introducing Thanks for the Memories. Madge Evans was also pretty and very talented and had one of the longest careers among them all. Hungarian Franciska Gaal was very convincing in one of her few Hollywood movies, and Louise Campbell was a gentle actress missing the Hollywood glamour though that flourished in theater. Frances Farmer gave a nice performance and her personal tragedy is really shocking. Miriam Hopkins was also mutli-talenetd, Judith Allen was a good actress, Ethel Merman was a very rare entertainer with immense musical talent. All of his leading ladies were special, pretty and talented so the choice was really hard. Though most of them were not superstars (Lombard and Davies must have been the only ones with comparable to Bing status at the time) they all had a quality above the average starlets. 

But Mary Carlisle will have to be my favorite.She had a rare chemistry with Bing, and she also had a nice speaking voice, which is very important for an actress. When Bing serenaded his leading ladies on-screen, Mary Carlisle always made it easy to picture the scene as a realistic romance. They also danced very nicely in All You Want to Do Is Dance. She had very rich facial expressions, allowing her to just sit and listen to Bing and act silently alongside his crooning in so many numbers like Moonstruck, It's the Natural Thing to Do, etc. She had also very clever lines in College Humor.

Last edited by Pantelis Kavouras (07/3/2025 10:13 pm)

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

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

Last edited by David Lobosco (18/3/2025 12:50 am)