Thursday, September 16, 2021

1950's MGM musical star 'Jane Powell' dies at age 92

MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) was a movie studio who claimed that they had more "stars" than there are in heaven. Jane Powell was under contract to MGM from the 1940's and into the 1950's. She was a singer and dancer who performed mainly in musicals. Her most popular roles were, "A Date with Judy" (1948), "Royal Wedding" (1951) and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." (1954).

"Brothers" was a box office smash and Jane's most enduring role. The musical was nominated for 5 Oscars including Best Picture. It won only for "Best Scoring of a Musical Picture." The American Film Institute ranked, "Brothers" at number #21 of the 25 Best Musicals of all Time (2006). It was also entered into the "National Film Registry of the Library of Congress" (2004).

It is said that Jane Powell was one of the last remaining stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood. She was certainly one of the last "contract players" under the Hollywood studio system. It was where and when "stars" were made. It is an era long gone.... RIP Miss Powell.

Below is a scene from "7 Brides for 7 Brothers" with Jane Powell. 


(Movie Poster 1954 from MGM.).

(1951 Movie Poster from MGM with Fred Astaire & Jane Powell.).

(Getty Images. Date of photo unknown. Jane Powell.).

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