THE GIRL WHO HAD EVERYTHING

US, 1953, 69 minutes, Black and white.
Elizabeth Taylor, Fernando Lamas, William Powell, Gig Young, James Whitmore, Robert Burton, Bill Walker.
Directed by Richard Thorpe.

The Girl Who Had Everything is an adaptation of the 1931 MGM film A Free Soul with Norma Shearer and Lionel Barrymore (who won an Oscar for his role).

This is a very streamlined version, running for under seventy minutes. Elizabeth, aged twenty-one at the time of making the film, looks at her most beautiful – and is given a wide range of gowns and clothes to wear to emphasise this. Fernando Lamas who had come from Argentina and been in such films as The Merry Widow, Rich Young and Pretty, is the Latin American gangster (from Bolivia) who wants to reform. William Powell gives a familiar performance, reminiscent of so many in the 1930s, as the lawyer who is adviser to the gangster but who is the father of Elizabeth Taylor and does not want her to marry him. She, of course, is wilfulness personified. Gig Young appears as her fiancé. James Whitmore is the associate of the gangster.

The film reflects the senate house hearings of the time, this time about gangsterism and gambling. It was a period of anticommunism, the Mc Carthy hearings, the aftermath of the House Committee for Un American activities and the film reflects this.

Elizabeth Taylor is just herself in this role. Fernando Lamas is romantic – though a bit wooden. William Powell is his suave self – as he was in so many films. He was to make only How to Marry a Millionaire and Mr Roberts after this film. Direction is by Richard Thorpe, veteran of MGM films from the 1930s, making action adventures at this time including Ivanhoe, Knights of the Round Table and Quentin Durward.

1. Popular MGM entertainment? Adaptation of the film, A Free Soul?

2. The black and white photography, the affluent world of the period? Kentucky, the mansion, horse-breeding? The contrast with New York City, the world of gangsters? Washington and the senate hearings? The musical score (by Andre Previn)?

3. The title, Jean and her wealth, her love for her father, her wilfulness, her relationship with Vance? Falling in love with Victor?

4. The credibility of the plot? Victor Raimondi as a gangster, his past, coming from Latin America, building up his empire? The legitimate means? Working with Chico? The murders? His wanting to change? His relying on Steve Latimer? His presentation at the hearings? On television? Meeting Jean, falling in love with her? His buying the colt and giving it to her as a present – and her father telling her to give it back? Her meetings with him, going out, the restaurants, the society club, dancing? His determination to marry her? His meeting with Chico, going back to New York, business? The plans to topple him? The rumblings in his group, Steve telling him off? His violence with Jean? His being killed?

5. Jean, age, experience, problems at school, her dead mother, love for her father, her attitude towards him? His watching television, her infatuation with Victor? Going to the hearing? The visits with Victor, showing him round the mansion? The sales, the auction? Her going to Victor’s house? Confrontations with her father, his pulling out all the stops, her going on the his holiday, her boredom, returning to Victor? The determination to marry him? In New York, her father confronting Victor, his violence towards her, his wanting to change, her walking out? Giving the information to the press? Supporting her father?

6. Steve Latimer, smooth lawyer, always winning, the death of his wife, absent from his daughter’s events in her life? Wanting to make up for this? Spoiling her? His approval of Vance, hoping for the marriage? His going to the hearing, being persuaded by his lawyer friend? His smart answers in the hearing? Rebuffing the senator? The dubious connection with Victor? His persuading Victor not to answer the questions except from the script? Success? His observing of Victor, Victor coming to Lexington, the house, the horse and his demand that Jean give it back? His disapproval, persuading her to go on the holiday? His decision to turn evidence against Victor? The confrontation with Victor, the fight, the threats? His reaction to Victor’s death?

7. Vance, political ambitions, genial young man, in love with Jean, the outings, asking her to marry him, her hesitating? His reaction to the auction, the colt, to Victor?

8. Chico, the long friendship with Victor? His advice – the meeting of the gangster group? His sanctioning the killing of Victor?

9. John Ashmond, Victor’s lawyer, on the television?

10. Julian, the servant in the house, the African American servant – friend of Steve, treatment by Jean? African American servants in the films of the 1950s?