Virginia Bruce

Helen Virginia Briggs was born in Minnesota in 1910, but grew up in Fargo, North Dakota. Following high school, she enrolled in a woman's college in California, but was quickly drawn to film. Virginia first landed uncredited parts at M-G-M in eight films in 1929, with her first appearance in Fugitives, a silent starring Madge Bellamy. Virginia is easily recognizable as one of Jeanette MacDonald's ladies in waiting in The Love Parade (1929) and as a "Goldwyn Girl" (along with Betty Grable) in Whoopee (1931). It was while at MGM, that she met and in 1932 married John Gilbert, bearing his child in 1933, and getting a divorce in 1934. However, prior to the marriage she honed her skills by spending some time on Broadway, appearing in the musical Smiles (Nov 18, 1930 - Jan 10, 1931), followed by America's Sweetheart, (Feb 10, 1931 - Jun 6, 1931).

The size of her roles increased in the early 1930s, and in 1934 she was awarded her first major lead on loan-out to Monogram in the title role of Jane Eyre, which co-starred Colin Clive. Though this version of Jane Eyre is generally regarded as a complete failure, Virginia was credited with making the film bearable due to her good looks and acting ability. Unfortunately, as it often happens with actresses then and now, she was given fewer good roles as she got older. However, in 1936, she was give the chance to play a character based on Marilyn Miller in The Great Ziegfeld (1936) and shined in the "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody" scene. That same year she introduced the Cole Porter standard "I've Got You Under My Skin" in the film Born to Dance. Of Virginia's 79 appearances on screen, 56 were made prior to 1940. It should be noted that in the thirties she did appear with some of the leading actors of the day, including Ricardo Cortez in Shadow of Doubt (1935), Arsene Lupin Returns (1938) with Melvyn Douglas and Warren William, and early on with John Gilbert in Downstairs (1932), and in Kongo (1932) with Walter Houston.

Virginia had a few roles in television in the 50's, but basically retired from acting. Her last film was Strangers When We Meet (1960). Virginia died February 24, 1982.

Click on the images for a larger view.

Movie Classic magazine - September, 1932
That tentative look on Virginia's face would prove justified.

Cinelandia magazine - January, 1933

Publicity still from Arsene Lupine Returns

Publicity still from Kongo.

I have only seen one other Virginia Bruce cigarette card, but there may be more.

Let' em Have It (1935) frame captures.

The Garden Murder Case (1936) frame captures.

There Goes My Heart (1938) frame captures.

The Invisible Woman (1940) frame captures.

Early publicity still.

Virginia Bruce - What do you think - Allure?