Virginia Bruce

<p> </p><p>In <em>Born to Dance </em>(1936) Virginia Bruce tempted James Stewart while introducing Cole Porter's "I've Got You Under My Skin." That same year she dazzled as the archetypal showgirl in the Oscar-winning <em>The Great Ziegfeld</em>. Fans and critics saw her poised for major stardom at MGM. </p><p> </p><p>Delve into her turbulent life and career. In James Robert Parish's Foreword he notes Virginia's quiet charisma the haunted distracted look of her eyes her vibrant voice and her "off-screen life . . . far more exciting and exotic than any role she experienced on camera." </p><p> </p><p>Love was very important to Virginia. She fell hard for screen idol John Gilbert during their filming of <em>Downstairs</em> (1932). When the virile yet deeply troubled Gilbert proposed marriage Hollywood held its collective breath. The merger ended in divorce but provided the basis for the Selznick's <em>A Star is Born</em> (1937). Virginia's career took off but the question was "Did Louis B. Mayer have it in for her?" Mayer had hated Gilbert. After a brief idyllic yet tragic second marriage to director-producer J. Walter Ruben Virginia's career focused more on radio and an occasional "B" film. Her marriage to a young Turk Ali Ipar in 1946 provided another unusual twist to Virginia's life and ultimately a bittersweet ending. </p><p> </p><p>Includes over 130 photos. </p>