The Powers Girl

In 1943 Carole starred in the musical comedy The Powers Girl. She plays an aspiring model who tries to help her sister after she loses her job. The cast includes Anne Shirley, George Murphy, and Dennis Day.

If you want to buy The Powers Girl on DVD please contact Gwen Serna at Gmovies@aol.com

George Murphy and Carole

Anne Shirley and Carole

Secret Command

 
In 1944 Carole starred in the World War 2 drama Secret Command. Carole is Jill McGann, a secret agent who goes undercover to expose a deadly plot. Fox loaned her to Columbia to make the movie. Pat O'Brien plays Sam Gallagher who pretends to be Jill's husband while they search for spies at a ship-building plant. The cast includes Chester Morris, Ruth Warrick, and Barton MacLane. Pat was one of the film's producers and he requested that Carole be his costar. They had been friends since 1937 and would work together again in Having Wonderful Crime. Secret Command was a low budget independent film made by Torneen productions. It was based on the Saturday Evening Post story "The Saboteurs".





The original title of the movie was Pilebuck. Carole was paid $2,500 a week and she never missed a day of work even though she was suffering from the flu. Secret Command was directed by Eddie Sutherland, one of Carole's closest friends. It was filmed at Columbia Studios from January 17 until March 8, 1944. The costumes were designed by Jean Louis. Carole wore a blue butterfly dress from the film during her tour of the South Pacific in 1944. Secret Command was released on July 30, 1944. The film's tagline was "Drama...by a handful of men and women who fight the enemy within our gates". The movie received mixed reviews and was not a box-office success. It was nominated for an Oscar for Special Effects.

Three Texas Steers

In 1939 Carole starred in the B-western Three Texas Steers. She plays a circus owner who goes bankrupt and befriends three cowboys. The cast includes John Wayne, Ray Corrigan, and Max Tehune.

With John Wayne

With John Wayne

Carole's Lovers

Here is Carole with Willis Hunt Jr, her second husband. Willis was a wealthy yacht salesman with a reputation as a playboy who loved to party. He proposed to Carole two weeks after meeting her. She said "We like to do the same things. I think it will work". On July 4, 1940 they eloped in Las Vegas. He became abusive and she walked out on him two months later. They were divorced in November 1940 and Carole claimed it made her suffer a nervous breakdown. She told reporters "There I was being so happy, so ecstatic, so delirious, so willing to forsake all others. To stop being Miss Big and try being the Little Woman. He didn't want a Little Woman." Surprisingly Carole and Willis remained friends and continued to go out together. In 1969 Willis was stabbed to death by his wife at the age of fifty-five. She was charged with murder but was acquitted.

Carole and Willis in 1940

Here is Carole with Horace Schmidlapp, her fourth husband. They were introduced by her friend Jacqueline Susann. Horace was a Broadway producer from a rich family. She called him "Poppie". They were married on December 8, 1945 and honeymooned in Cuba. Carole said "He's my definition of an ideal husband. In Horace I've found a man instead of a boy". She lived with him in New York City for a while but they spent much of their marriage apart. In an interview she said  "I have now what I've always wanted in a marriage. I have the feeling of a deep security which will insure a permanent future with children of our own. I have a home now, not merely a house. My husband has a solid sense of values and brings out the best in me. We're already planning a home in the East with at least three children. When this happens, I'll commute to Hollywood for my picture assignments." Carole began having an affair with Rex Harrison and filed for divorce in March 1948. After Carole's death Horace fought with her family over her estate. He later dated Lana Turner and Sheree North. Horace died in 1987 at the age of seventy-one.

Carole and Horace on their wedding day

Here is Carole with her fiance Busby Berkeley. He was a successful choreographer and director. They met in 1937 when she auditioned for a role in Varsity Show and he helped her get a contract with Warner Brothers. Busby was twenty-three years older than Carole. Although their romance got her a lot of attention in Hollywood she claimed they were not dating. Carole said "Mr. Berkeley and I are good friends, but we certainly aren't in love". Her first husband, Irving Wheeler, sued Busby for $250,000 for "alienation of affection" but lost the case. Busby was an alcoholic and his mother did not like Carole. He broke up with her in 1938. She would later comment "I think Busby is a very grand person and I have the highest regard for him. I do hope someday he'll meet the right person to bring him happiness as a life companion. I wasn't the right person." Busby died in 1976 at the age of eighty.

Here is Carole with her fiance Gene Markey. He was a successful screenwriter and producer. Gene was twenty-three years older than her and had been married to Hedy Lamar. Carole started dating him in early 1941 but she continued to see other men.  She said "Gene Markey gives me books of plays to read, books about the theater; he talks to me about the theater and gives me the feeling we are talking about it". Gene gave Carole her beloved Great Dane Donner. Their relationship got serious in 1942 and they were engaged for a short time. When the press announced they were getting married in Washington Carole told them "I'm going to Washington for a visit, that's all. Mr. Markey is there and of course I will see him, but there are no immediate plans to announce." Soon after they parted as friends. In 1946 Gene married Myrna Loy. He died on May 1, 1980 at the age of eighty-four.

Here is Carole with her boyfriend Franchot Tone. They dated for a few months in 1940. At the beginning of their romance she told a reporter "It's just dandy - and it's already lasted two whole weeks."

Here is Carole with her boyfriend art director Cedric Gibbons. They went out on several dates in 1941.

Carole and Cedric in 1941

Here is Carole with her boyfriend attorney Greg Bautzer. They had a brief fling in 1942.

Here is Carole with her boyfriend George Montgomery. They worked together in the musical Cadet Girl.

Here is Carole with her boyfriend Tony Martin. They spent a lot of time together in 1942.

Here is Carole with her longtime lover George Jessel. They had an on-again off-again affair that lasted for years.

Out Of The Blue

In 1947 Carole starred in the comedy Out Of The Blue. She plays a housewife who bosses her husband around and causes problems for her neighbors. The cast includes Virginia Mayo, George Brent, Turhan Bey, and Ann Dvorak.

With George Brent

Rare Footage

Check out these rare clips of Carole

Carole at a 1941 parade and a London party


Carole Landis and Roy Rogers at the zoo

Carole and Tony Martin are the 1st couple shown

Carole attends Hedda Hopper's movie premiere

At the 8 second mark Carole is seen talking on the phone

Carole can be seen at the 2 minute 28 second mark dancing with the chorus

1941 Article ~ Determined Lady

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1941 Article ~ Lucky Landis

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