Under My Skin
Author: Scott O'Brien
Genre: Biography/Entertainment
Hardcover; Digital Book (Paperback Available)
ISBN #: 9781629330273
BearManor Media
504 Pages
$43.14; $9.95 Amazon
October 8, 2008
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In Born to Dance (1936), Virginia Bruce tempted James Stewart while introducing Cole Porter's "I've Got You Under My Skin." Thyat same year she dazzled as the archtypical showgirl in the Oscar-winning "The Great Ziegfeld." Fans and critics saw her poied for major stardom at MGM.
Delve into her turbulent life and career. In James Robert Parish's Foreword, he notes Virginia's quiet charisma, the haunted, distracted lookj of her eyes, her vibrant voice, and her "off screen life...far more exciting and exotic than any role she experienced on camera."
Love was very important to Virginia. She fell hard for screen idol John Gilbert during their filming of Downstairs (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 A Star Is Born (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.
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I love classic films and own thousands of them. I also read as many of the Golden Age of Hollywood biographies that I can find, and own hundreds. When I saw this one of Virginia Bruce, I knew I had to read it. I also think that Scott O'Brien is a wonderful biographer. He does his research, and he never diminishes his subject, nor shows disdain for them. His biographies are honest, warts and all. Which made me rather sad to read this, but nevertheless happy that I did.
I love Virginia Bruce. Her voice, her stature. I think she was one of the great natural beauties of Hollywood. But above all -- those sleepy eyes. Her eyes were most expressive, and as much a part of her beauty as anything else. It is what drew me first when I saw her in a film with Ricardo Cortez (another actor I am fond of).
Virginia never put her career first in her life. She wanted love, and she fell hard for silent actor John Gilbert. He had a wonderful smile, and charisma on screen. Off screen, he'd been married three times, and Virginia was his fourth wife. She'd loved him when she first met him when they were working on a film together, and married him without hesitation. Unfortunately, John had his own demons he could not fight, including the fact that his wife's star was rising while his was fading. Even after the birth of their daughter, Susan Ann, John couldn't think of anything but his career. This was his own downfall.
When they divorced, Virginia was crushed. But his death soon after left her with more than just memories. Their daughter became her whole life, and she would dedicate it to Susan Ann, even at the cost of her career. Virginia could have been a greater star if she had pushed a bit, but she didn't like contention and took the roles offered to her. While they may seem insignificant by today's standards, watch the films. She is mesmerizing in her performances.
Virginia found love again with J. Walter Ruben; they fell in love while on the set of another of her films which he was directing, and she married him as soon as it was completed. Her life, it seemed, had taken another turn, and she was finally happy, welcoming a son, Christopher Ruben. Although her happiness wasn't to last.
When she fell in love with Turk Ali Ipar, it was a mistake; but Virginia would not hear anyone telling her so. In my opinion, this man was a scoundrel. He destroyed her life and she was never the same again. In the quest for love, Virginia found the ultimate heartbreak, although she would never describe it the way I have, nor the way Mr. O'Brien has categorized it. He did not offer any judgement; but I have no such qualms. Ipar was exactly as I described him, and Virginia would have been a much more well-known star without him. She could have soared, but didn't.
In the end, her life did leave a legacy with her films. If you have not seen any of them, I urge you to do so. She deserves at least this. Highly recommended.
More on Scott O'Brien's Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Scott-OBrien/author/B002BLLB6I?ref=
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