Virginia ** (1941, Madeleine Carroll, Fred MacMurray, Sterling Hayden) – Classic Movie Review 11,095

Director Edward H Griffith’s 1941 too-serious, overlong Paramount Pictures romantic drama Technicolor film Virginia stars Madeleine Carroll and Fred MacMurray.

Virginian charmer Stonewall Jackson Elliott (Fred MacMurray) tries to persuade New York career gal Charlotte Dunterry (Madeleine Carroll) not to sell her old Southern family plantation home after the chorus girl comes home to claim the plantation and finds herself having to choose between two contrasting men.

The proven, tried and tested star team still works though, (they also made Café Society, Honeymoon in Bali, One Night in Lisbon and Don’t Trust Your Husband together), the scenery is pretty in lovely Technicolor, and there is a star-making performance from the 6′ 5″ Sterling Hayden (who was to marry Carroll the next year) in his film debut, as Norman Williams. It is just that the story by Virginia Van Upp and Edward H Griffith isn’t that interesting.

Carroll and Hayden were married from 14 February 1942 to 8 May 1946 (divorced). Hayden was cast as Quint in Jaws (1975) but was unable to play the role because of tax problems. his last film was Venom (1981). He died of cancer in 1986, aged 70.

Paramount Pictures advertised it as: ‘MEET Paramount’s newest discovery–STERLING HAYDEN. He’s gay, he’s handsome… he’s six-feet-four.’

Also in the cast are Helen Broderick, Paul Hurst, Marie Wilson, Louise Beavers, Wilson Benge, Jan Buckingham, John Hyams, Darby Jones, Sam McDaniel, Wanda McKay, George Melford, George Mitchell, Charles R Moore, William Russell, Tom Rutherford, Edward Van Sloan, Carolyn Lee, Thomas Louden and Leigh Whipper.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,095

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