A Life of Her Own (1950)
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56% of users liked it
(61 ratings)
Lana Turner stars as an ambitious model who seeks her fortune in New York City. She is befriended by over-the-hill cover-girl Ann Dvorak, whose performance carries the story until she commits suicide twenty minutes into the film. Turner promises herself that she won't end up burned out like… More Lana Turner stars as an ambitious model who seeks her fortune in New York City. She is befriended by over-the-hill cover-girl Ann Dvorak, whose performance carries the story until she commits suicide twenty minutes into the film. Turner promises herself that she won't end up burned out like Dvorak, but as her fame grows, she is inexorably drawn into the hectic social whirl that sealed Dvorak's doom. Enjoying the favors of wealthy Ray Milland, Turner seeks out Milland's wife (Margaret Phillips), hoping to convince the woman to give up her husband. When she meets the crippled Mrs. Milland, Turner is made painfully aware of the length and breadth of the woman's love for her husband. Turner pulls out of the relationship, and we are encouraged to believe that hers will be a much happier and more fulfilling life than that of the unfortunate Ann Dvorak (ironically, in real life Ann Dvorak's final days were relatively contented ones, while Lana Turner spent her twilight years wondering where the looks, the men and the money had gone). Though not so noted in the credits, A Life of Her Own was inspired by The Abiding Vision, a novel by Rebecca West. Bronislau Kaper's musical score was later recycled for the 1951 MGM romantic drama Invitation. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- George Cukor
- Written By
- Isobel Lennart
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Sep 1, 1950 Wide
- On DVD
- Jun 30, 1993
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Starring Lana Turner and Ray Milland, this melodrama about adultery is a minor film in George Cukor's impressive output.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
This artificially dramatic fluff piece seems as if it was ripped out of the pages of a woman's confessional magazine ... .
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Lana Turner
as Lily Branner James
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Ray Milland
as Steve Harleigh
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Tom Ewell
as Tom Caraway
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Louis Calhern
as Jim Leversoe
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Ann Dvorak
as Mary Ashlon
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Jean Hagen
as Maggie Collins
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Barry Sullivan
as Lee Gorrance
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Margaret Phillips
as Nora Harleigh
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Phyllis Kirk
as Jerry
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Sara Haden
as Smitty
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Hermes Pan
as Lily's Dance Partner
- Dorothy Abbott
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Richard Anderson
as Hosiery Man
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Whit Bissell
as Rental Agent
- Madge Blake
- Carol Brannan
- Carol Brewster
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Frankie Darro
as Bellboy
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Kenne Duncan
as Man Asking Invitation
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Elizabeth Flournoy
as Caraway Receptionist
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Kathleen Freeman
as Peg
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Beverly Garland
as Girl at Parly
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Gertrude Graner
as Woman Photographer
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Sam Harris
as Man Model
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Percy Helton
as Hamburger Proprietor
- Robert Emmett Keane
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Meredith Leeds
as People at Party
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Queenie Leonard
as Hotel Matron
- Walter McGrail
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Maura Murphy
as Vogue Receptionist
- Kerry O'Day
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Sarah Padden
as Overseer
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Hilda Plowright
as Desk Clerk
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Tom Seidel
as Bob Collins
- Beverly Thompson
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Dorothy Tree
as Caraway's Secretary
- Joan Valerie
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Geraldine Wall
as Hosiery Woman
- Bunny Waters
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Wilson Wood
as Cab Driver
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Harry Barris
as Piano Player
- Arthur M. Loew Jr.
- Bridget Carr
- Kenneth Garcia
- Alice Wallace
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Sally Cooper
as Uncredited
