Two Genes

Another unknown tale and lost opportunity for our gal Gene. In 1951, Gene Marshall’s career was still riding high at Monolithic Studios. Over at MGM, musical genius Arthur Freed thought it would be fantastic to get Gene Marshall to play opposite Gene Kelly in “Singin’ In The Rain” as Lina Lamont, the shrewish beauty with a voice unfit for the silver screen. Gene M. read the part and loved it; what an opportunity to show off her comic talents! As you can see in photo one, Gene was doted over by the makeup and wardrobe department at MGM; everyone at the studio was so excited to have Gene Marshall on the lot. Everyone except for Gene Kelly. Fearful that she might steal the movie from him, Gene made it no secret that he was against the casting of Gene Marshall as Lina Lamont. Esther Williams warned our gal Gene that Kelly could be a beast to work with; and she knew firsthand from “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.”

Taking the high road, Gene Marshall attempted to ignore Kelly’s snide remarks to her and his constant complaints about her being miscast. Shortly after this scene was filmed, Kelly said something to Gene that was inaudible to the rest of the crew, but it was enough to make Gene Marshall turn beet red...and walk off the set. MGM and Monolithic covered up the incident and quickly hired Jean Hagen to take Gene’s place, thus losing the opportunity to have two talented Genes working together in the same film.



Instead, Gene Marshall starred in the blockbuster film “Paris Moon.” In public, she always had nothing but nice things to say about dancer Gene Kelly; in private, it was a different story.

Here are some of the wardrobe shots that MGM took of Gene before she walked out, wearing the gorgeous "La Femme d'Intrigue" costume designed by Van Craig.













See more Gene Marshall photos at my regular website.

Gene Marshall: Pierrette

Yes, the shocking pink hair of Pierrette is a little strange, but I do like this particular Gene doll. I thought that in her outfit, she would look perfect with a few scenes from the 1952 Gene Kelly classic “An American in Paris” in the background. These scenes are from the Black & White Ball sequence; naturally Gene needs a little pink to help her standout from the rest! From the storycard:

It was a romantic classic; a Cinderella story for modern times.

It was Gene's film, Lover in Disguise,-and even though there was no glass slipper to try on, Gene got her Prince Charming in the last reel (played by everyone's favorite leading man, Trent Osborn).

In “Lover in Disguise,” Gene stars as a hardworking shop girl at a dress shop run by a society woman (Madra Lord at her haughtiest).

The shopgirl becomes enamoured of one of the shop's regular customers, a dashing (and apparently well-to-do) older man. Even though they're at a distance in social standing, the two click, and just as the shopgirl thinks she has a chance at happiness, into the picture walks her Prince Charming's fiancée-none other than the haughty store owner.



What to do? Should the shopgirl sit back and let her Prince Charming get away? Or should she take matters into her own hands? No time to wait for a fairy godmother-knowing that the man of her dreams will be attending a charity masquerade ball that evening, she spies a perfect costume in the shop's window display: a pretty Pierrette.

Leaving behind a now naked mannequin, our Pierrette dashes off in disguise to the ball and to the arms of her lover.

Will he recognize her? Will he admit to his true feelings? Even though they were sure of the outcome, audiences held their breath, as Pierrette made her way down the ballroom stairs.

To round out the post, here are a few other scenes from the MGM Musical:









And a painting I did a few years ago commemorating the same sequence, which is the trigger for Gene Kelly’s legendary ballet:



To see more Gene Marshall photos, visit my regular website.