The Men in Her Life (1941)

A circus performer becomes a ballerina and then begins her life of a career versus marriage and a home-life. She marries her first husband, her mentor and instructor, primarily out of ... See full summary »

Director:

Gregory Ratoff

Writers:

Eleanor Smith (novel), Frederick Kohner (screenplay),

Stars:

Loretta Young, Conrad Veidt, Dean Jagger

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview:
Loretta Young	...	Lina Varsavina
Conrad Veidt	...	Stanislas Rosing
Dean Jagger	...	David Gibson
Eugenie Leontovich	...	Marie
Shepperd Strudwick	...	Roger Chevis (as John Shepperd)
Otto Kruger	...	Victor
Paul Baratoff	...	Manilov
Ann E. Todd	...	Rose (as Ann Todd)
Billy Ray	...	Nurdo (as Billy Rayes)
Ludmila Toretzka	...	Mme. Olenkova
Tommy Ladd	...	Lina's Dancing Partner (as Tom Ladd)

Storyline

A circus performer becomes a ballerina and then begins her life of a career versus marriage and a home-life. She marries her first husband, her mentor and instructor, primarily out of gratitude. After his death, she marries an American thinking that can be her escape from the world of ballet. But she leaves him to return the dancing. She has a child but does not tell her husband. When her daughter is two-years-old, the husband finds out and takes the child to America. The ballerina continues to dance until her best dancing days have gone by.

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Plot Keywords:

ballerina | gratitude | circus | circus performer | mentor | 

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 October 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

Roman einer Tänzerin

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gregory Ratoff Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

The life of a 19th century ballerina, her triumphs and loves.

This is a charming and sincere film (and all too rarely seen), starring Loretta Young in one of her very finest performances as a 19th century circus performer who wants to dance. It details her being discovered and trained by a mentor, whom she marries out of gratitude and two ardent suitors who follow her career. The film begins in the late 1850s and ends in the early 1870s. Ms. Young is totally believable as the enraptured want to be and later as the disillusioned ballerina. The supporting cast is fine and the film has an earnest feel to it, both in its look at the hard work it takes to become an artist and the difficulty of maintaining a private life as a star. One is often reminded of Vivien Leigh in Ms. Young's poise and movements. She performs on toe for a number of simple moves and her real dances are done by a stand-in shot from afar, in shadows or in close-ups of her feet. The film was deservedly Oscar nommed for Sound but also deserved (but did not get) a nom for its excellent Scoring. All in all - well worth seeking out for any balletomane and for romantic audiences in general.