The 1930's for Joan were her Hollywood golden years - producing the best films she made for MGM. The vivacious flapper of the 1920's was now transformed into the 'shop girl' of the Depression who rose from rags-to-riches, and managed to find love along the way. These films always showcased Joan in stunning fashions created especially for her by Metro's top designer Adrian.

Above: Joan with MGM costumer Adrian. Joan (photographed by the great George Hurrell) wearing Adrian's famous creation made for the film Letty Lynton.

 

Above: Joan with second husband Franchot Tone whom she married in 1935.

 The 'shop girl' formula was established early on in 1930 when she appeared with Robert Montgomery (with whom Joan was to co-star with numerous other times) in Our Blushing Brides. A more important actor in her life with was Clark Gable. The two were from similar backgrounds, and their chemistry together was apparent both on and off screen. The two carried on an affair until Joan married actor Franchot Tone (she had seperated from Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in 1933). Joan discovered new interests under the cultivated Franchot's guidance. She began to study opera and classical literature, and performed in several dramatic plays for radio with her husband. Unfortunately, Joan's second marriage was no more permanent than that with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. She and Franchot divorced in 1939.
 

In 1932 Joan joined a star-studded cast that included Greta Garbo, Wallace Beery, and John and Lionel Barrymore in Grand Hotel. Joan played an ambitious stenographer whose story is interwoven with those of the other guests at a luxurious hotel in Berlin. Joan was a great admirer of Garbo, and it was a great regret to her that they had no scenes together. The film won the Oscar for Best Picture for that year.


One of Joan's more interesting roles at this time was that of the prostitute Sadie Thompson in Rain. Audiences, who were used to seeing Joan in her rather type cast parts, were unfavorable to the film and to Joan's performance. Always sensitive to criticism, Joan returned to familiar ground as a dancer in Dancing Lady, co-starring Clark Gable in 1933.


Above: Joan with Clark Gable at a studio party.

Throughout the 1930's, Joan continued as a romantic lead though she sensed that audiences were beginning to tire of her predictability (Joan herself certainly was). In 1939, she took the risky part of gold-digging, husband-stealing Crystal Allen in the all female ensemble The Women. The witty dialogue, and the excellent cast (including Norma Shearer, Rosalind Russell, Paulette Goddard, and Joan Fontaine) directed by George Cukor made the movie a box office hit.

 

Above: Director George Cukor with his all female cast from The Women.

Unable to have children herself, Joan adopted a baby girl she named Christina in the same year. She was followed by a brother Christopher in 1943, and two little girls called Cindy and Cathy in 1947. Joan's relationship with her younger daughters was to always remain close. Yet with her other two children it was quite the opposite as Christina was to reveal to the world years later.