Andrea Leeds

Leeds' fortunes seemed set, but her subsequent films were mostly unworthy of her. One exception was the lumpy but fairly decent "Letter of Introduction" (1938), which at least was a showcase vehicle, cashing in on her earlier success by casting her as another struggling actress. "The Goldwyn Follies" (1938), though, was a dreadful patchwork musical, with only a few specialty numbers worthy of note. Other, better films used her only as requisite romantic interest: production values dominated "Swanee River"; action scenes highlighted "The Real Glory"; and Jascha Heifetz's violin playing was the focus of "They Shall Have Music" (all 1939). With her sweet, wholesomely unglamorous style and wistful, wide-eyed expression, Leeds always performed creditably, but her career was stalling. The point, however, soon become moot--Leeds retired abruptly after marrying millionaire sportsman Robert S. Howard, and later bred race horses, leaving behind only traces of what might have been.