Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1948)

Bette Davis conies through again this year to win a Gold Medal Certificate as one of five leading women Greer Garson, for two years winner of the poll, is still high in popularity, rating among the top five feminine star of the year. Previously, in both 1944 and 1945, this honor went to Greer Garson. However, ever since David O. Selznick presented Miss Bergman in “Intermezzo,” a re-do of a film she originally made in the Swedish studios, she has steadily entrenched herself in the American public’s heart. Subsequent films, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” “Casablanca,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “Gaslight” caused her to be so popular with audiences in the upper-income brackets that last year, when she was one of the first five actresses, it was suggested that this year her wonderful string of releases — “Saratoga Trunk,” “Spellbound,” “Notorious” and “The Bells of St. Mary’s” — might very well find her the screen’s First Lady. Which she is. Moreover, where previously the two or three top stars in any over-all count have been men, Miss Bergman this year ranks second only to Bing Crosby. The feminine stars who follow her in popularity and will receive Gold Medal Certificates, listed alphabetically, are: Bette Davis, Judy Garland, Greer Garson, Lana Turner. These stars, with one exception, were the top five of 1945 and again ranked highest at 1946’s halfway mark. The exception is Lana Turner. Lana, whose popularity was strengthened by both “Weekend at the Waldorf” and “The Postman Always Rings Twice,” replaces Betty Grable who has not had a new picture since late in 1945. Now for the men stars. This is the third time Photoplay’s Gold Medal goes to Bing Crosby. For the third time he wins Lana Turner, one of high five, replaces Betty Grable, who hasn’t had Judy Garland was one of five leading women stars last year and maintains her place again in this year’s count a picture release since late 1945