The Men in Her Life

I saw this movie when I was 14 years old and it must have left quite an impression on me, even though it most likely was one of the worst ballet films ever made. I was too young and knew nothing about dance to be critical then. This was long before "The Red Shoes" or "Turning Point" which give a far truer picture of the real world of ballet. Besides, Loretta Young was certainly no ballet dancer so I wonder how she managed to present that impression. It was so long ago I have forgotten most of it, except her dressed in a short skirt which I later came to find out is called a tutu. I can remember her standing on horseback, riding around a ring in a circus and Conrad Veidt in the audience, who is a ballet master, taking her under his instruction and later making her into a world famous ballerina. In one scene, after he has put her through endless ballet exercises, she begs for water and he creully refuses. Another scene, after she has become famous, posing in the famous final dying swan pose with a spotlight on her feet. These are the only scenes that come to mind. I was still only a youngster of 14. All through the years I have looked for a video of this movie, basically to see what was in it that impressed me so much because I myself eventually became a dancer. Not because of this film but with other influences that came later on in life. There seems to be no video available and I wonder why as there are plenty of other releases of films with Loretta Young.

In the first part of this film, ballet impresario Stanislaus Rosing (Conrad Veidt) discovers a circus performer, Lina Varsavina (Loretta Young). She has great talent and tells her she COULD one day be a great dancer. On impulse, she leaves the circus and begs Stanislaus to train her. He agrees and she undergoes two grueling years of work before she is ready to perform in public. She is a sensation and Lina is thrilled when an old boyfriend comes to see her and he asks her to marry him. At the same time, her coach, Stanislaus, asks her to marry him and out of loyalty, she marries the coach...and is quite happy and incredibly successful on the stage. However, at the height of her career, he dies. This portion of the film is really, really well made and exciting.

What follows is Lina's soap opera-like life. Though she is still a brilliant dancer, she is lonely and wants the old boyfriend...but thinks he's married to another. So, out of loneliness, she marries David (Dean Jagger) who is a controlling jerk. Then, out of the blue, the old boyfriend returns...and Lina is caught cohabitating by David...who is now married to him. He is controlled but insistent that their child live with him...and in the 19th century, she was powerless. Yes, she finally has her love...but no child. There's plenty after this...including lots more soapy elements as well as an attempt at a return to the stage. But I don't want to spoil the film by saying more. Suffice to say that the soapy elements AND Lina's incredibly stupid behavior make this final part of the film a major disappointment.

Loretta Young is very good and she does a nice job dancing (when they don't use a double) and it's a nice performance...especially since she DID have to do a reasonable amount of dancing. But the plot bored me after a while. Sorry...this one just didn't do it for me. Average at best despite being a very good looking film.

Since I'm no ballet fan (why spend so much time learning to stand on tippy toe???), maybe I shouldn't judge, but the story just got on my nerves after a time. Loretta Young's usually stellar performance seemed a bit forced to me, as if she weren't sure she should have accepted the part, and the whole plot of older mentor/younger protege with the old guy getting the hots for the young girl just seems too "yuck" to me! Conrad Veldt gave a good performance in that role, however, and Shepherd Strudwick was equally good as the lovesick fool who can't forget her, no matter how many times she rejects him, both for her career and other men.

Really not worth it.