betty grable children betty grable children

The film's success led to Grable's casting in Tin Pan Alley (1940), co-starring Faye. These films included the moderately popular This Way Please (1937) and College Swing (1938). She had German, English, Irish, and Dutch ancestry. The film told the story of two aging vaudeville performers as they look back on their heyday through a series of flashbacks. Despite their lack of quality, Grable's movies were immensely popular and Fox regularly channeled the profits it received from Grable's movies into their more prestigious movies. [62], Her iconic pin-up image was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential Photographs of All Time. While in Las Vegas, she took the opportunity to begin starring in her own productions, and later productions with her husband Harry James. Harry James, proud parent of Vicki and Jessica. Grable then worked in small roles at different studios for the rest of the decade, including the Academy Award-winning The Gay Divorcee (1934), starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, where she was prominently featured in the number "Let's K-nock K-nees". [10] The same year, she made her uncredited film debut as a chorus girl in the Fox Studios all-star revue Happy Days (1929). If only this didnt come back to bite her. It was later included in the LIFE magazine project "100 Photos that Changed the World". "If that's not luck, I don't know what you'd call it", Grable said in her first interview after signing with the studio. Lillian's dream was to be a dancer. For her first role, as a chorus girl in the film Happy Days (1929), Grable was only 12 years old (legally underage for acting), but, because the chorus line performed in blackface, it was difficult to tell how old she was. It has been estimated that five million pin-ups were circulated featuring Betty, and she came out of the war the highest-paid movie star in America. Thats when it all changed. Was she really a model [28] Over the years, rumors have circulated that a rivalry existed between Grable and Faye during filming, but this has been said to be entirely untrueboth actresses denied all accusations of a feud, and each often expressed their admiration for the other. Mothers and daughters. Theres no accounting for taste, and theres definitely no accounting for Betty Grable and Harry Jamess taste in baby names. [18][19] In Hollywood, Grable studied at the Hollywood Professional School and the Ernest Blecher Academy of Dance. Realizing her time was done, Grable stepped away from the limelight in 1955and went straight to her demise. The film was an attempt by Fox to recapture Grable's reputation as the studio's biggest star, and although she was paired with Dale Robertson, the film was a critical and box-office flop. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. Why was the decision Roe v. Wade important for feminists? This made her one of the original Goldwyn Girls, along with the inimitable Lucille Ball and Paulette Goddard. . "[46] How to Marry a Millionaire was a box-office triumph when released, grossing an estimated $8 million. RE: Calisphere: Request high-resolution copy of item for Betty Grable's youngest daughter at funeral service. One way to cheer up the servicemen was through pin-up photographs of famous actresses, which they made into posters and shipped overseas. The U.S. Treasury Department in 1946 and 1947 listed her as the highest-salaried American woman; she earned more than $3 million during her career. Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark historyor the chilling secret shared by her and Louis. father: John Conn Grable (1883-1954) mother: Lillian Rose Hofmann (1889-1964) children: Jessica James, Victoria Elizabeth James Born Country: United States Actresses American Women Height: 5'4" (163 cm ), 5'4" Females Died on: July 2, 1973 place of death: Santa Monica, California, United States Ultimate Radio Shows. The two hit it off, marrying a year later. She reluctantly agreed to make Call Me Mister (1951) with Dan Dailey, a loose musical remake of A Yank in the R.A.F.. The Grable children were of Dutch, English, German, Swiss German, and Irish ancestry. As the Lily sisters, both Grable and Faye received favorable reviews for their performances. Song of the Islands. Fox became concerned that Grable might be becoming regarded as pass. She started as a child, pushed by her determined stage mother into taking all kinds of dancing and music lessons. on Pan American Jubilee (Remastered) - Single. Betty Grable had "million-dollar legs" and million-dollar taste as evinced by her beautiful, classic Hollywood home in Bel-Air. In 1943, she was the number-one box office draw in the world and, in 1947, she was the highest-paid entertainer in the United States. When she landed the role of Glenda Crawford in Down Argentine Way (1940), the public finally took notice of this shining bright star. Betty Grable was a Sagittarius and was born in the G.I. The studio refused, and she went on strike, which led to her being replaced by Marilyn Monroe in the movie adaptation of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)[44] and by June Haver in the musical comedy The Girl Next Door (also 1953). After the highs of It Girl-dom wore off, Grable was all too aware of her objectification. She is survived by her brother, Bill Hansen, seven children (Bonnie, Betty, Jackie, Billie, Gary, Lary and Lori), 20 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren, two. The second movie, I Wake Up Screaming, released in November, had Grable receiving top billing as Jill Lynn, the sister of a young model who is murdered. She signed a contract with Paramount Pictures in the late 1930s. By now, you, your parents, your grandparents, and most of the world for that matter have seen Betty Grables pin-up photo, even if you dont remember it. Walter Sanders The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock Original caption: "Betty poses the legs for a still shot on a studio beach set. While on set, she met debonair bandleader Harry James, who also starred in the film. Call Me Mister, proved to bring only moderate box-office success. First Name Betty #9. She was born Elizabeth Ruth Grable in St. Louis, Missouri to John Conn Grable (18831954) and Lillian Rose Hofmann (18891964). After the release of the 1951 poorly reviewed musical, Meet Me After the Show, Grable took a break from acting; turning down the lead role in The Girl Next Door, a role that would eventually go to rival June Haver. [ 2] Filmografi i urval [ redigera | redigera wikitext] This song was introduced in the film by Helen Forrest. She played the title role in the musical film, Sweet Rosie OGrady in 1943. Despite her success, she suffered from a fear of crowds and sleepwalking. She portrayed a burlesque queen in a dance hall in Chicago. At the start of WWII, Hollywood opened up the Hollywood Canteen for enlisted men who were on the verge of service. Once they saw Bettys face, producers were all too happy to believe it. Afterward, Grable wanted the role of Miss Adelaide in the 1956 film Guys and Dolls, but the role went to Vivian Blaine after Grable skipped a meeting with the film's producer, due to the fact that her pet dog was sick. children and others? Grable's final film role was in the comedy film, How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955) with newcomer Sheree North. Grable and Coogan divorced later that same year (October 1939). Actress Born in Missouri #20. Hows that for a legacy. Following the release of her 1939 movie . As a child, her materialistic mother put her under intense pressure to become a performer. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Betty Grable's legacy and her million-dollar legs still lives on almost 50 years after her death. In 1943, she married trumpeter Harry James. The musical Mother Wore Tights is considered her signature film. Join Facts Verse as Betty Grables daughter shares new details on pin-up career.Betty Grable's Daughter Shares New Details on Pin-Up Career It is steeped in lurid stories about deceased stars who would die if they rea What are the Physical devices used to construct memories? [14] Despite the studio's effort to introduce Grable to the mainstream movie audience, her performance was overlooked by audiences and critics in favor of Judy Garland. In 1945, she made Diamond Horseshoe with Dick Haymes. Some thought Grable and Monroe wouldn't get along but Grable was quoted as saying (to Monroe): "Go and get yours honey! [26] The role had originally been assigned to Alice Faye, Fox's most popular musical film star, but she had to decline the part due to an unspecified illness. They had two children together. Here's What She Thought About That", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Betty_Grable&oldid=1131562425, United Service Organizations entertainers, Short description is different from Wikidata, TCMDb name template using non-numeric ID from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 4 January 2023, at 18:37. Her iconic bathing suit photo made her the number-one pin-up girl of the World War II era. In 1947, the United States Treasury Department noted that she was the highest paid star in America, earning about $300,000 a year - a phenomenal sum even by today's standards. The film was moderately successful and quickly was followed by Meet Me After the Show (1951), co-starring Macdonald Carey, Rory Calhoun, and Eddie Albert. It was, however, a box-office hit, earning more than $3.7 million. Who were the models in Van Halen's finish what you started video? The film was a moderate box-office success. The announcement . Betty was just 13 but her mother arranged for her false identification papers so that she could perform. In fact, Grable and Monroe got along famously; Grable reportedly told Monroe: "Go and get yours, honey! The Dolly Sisters earned more than $4 million at the box office and was Fox's second-highest earning movie of the year, behind Leave Her to Heaven. In fact, grossly enough, he was known for his endurance and his indiscriminate taste. And that wasnt all. Nicknamed "Betty" as a child, she was pressured by her mother to become a performer. Grable retired from screen acting in 1955 after she withdrew from her Fox contract, but she continued to perform on the stage and on television. Critics called the film a "slight, but cheerful, item", and proclaimed it "does serve to bring Betty Grable back to the screen". Thanks for your time! She attended the Hollywood Professional school but Lillian lied about her daughter's age and Betty (real age 13), landed several minor parts as a chorus girl in early musicals (Whoopee! However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. [14] Their marriage, which lasted for 22 years, was beset by alcoholism and infidelity, and they divorced in 1965. School for Romance. Her life was an active one, devoid of the scandals that plagued many stars in one way or another. In the 1960s, Grable found herself broke and out of the Hollywood studio system that had once rocketed her to fame. There are fifteen Thoroughbreds in the Grable-James stables. Following the major success of, A Yank in the RAF, Grable was assigned to, I Wake Up Screaming, in 1941, a black-and-white film noir, co-starring Carole Landis and Victor Mature. Spouse/Ex-: Harry James (m.1943-1965), Jackie Coogan (m.1937-1939), children: Jessica James, Victoria Elizabeth James, place of death: Santa Monica, California, United States, Ancestry: Dutch American, German American, British American, Irish American, (Thriller, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Film-Noir), See the events in life of Betty Grable in Chronological Order, (Actress and Dancer Best Known for Her Films: Mother Wore Tights and How to Marry a Millionaire), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETTNGKZlbKY. Elizabeth Ruth "Betty" Grable ( 18. joulukuuta 1916 Saint Louis, Missouri - 2. heinkuuta 1973 Santa Monica, Kalifornia) oli yhdysvaltalainen laulaja, malli, nyttelij ja tanssija. As a publicity stunt, Grables studio went and actually insured her stems for a literal million dollars at the height of her fame. Grable was particularly noted for having the most beautiful legs in Hollywood and studio publicity widely dispersed photos featuring them. [27], Down Argentine Way was a critical and box-office success at the time of its release, and many critics proclaimed Grable to be the successor to Alice Faye. Grable was voted the number-one box-office draw by American movie exhibitors in 1943; she outranked Bob Hope, Gary Cooper, Greer Garson, Humphrey Bogart, and Clark Gable in popularity. She got so incensed at their refusal, she eventually got her contract out, walked into studio head Darryl Zanucks office, and tore the papers up into shreds right in his face. Betty's father, Conn Grable, lives permanently at the ranch and oversees things. She also has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame, and was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians in 2009. http://www.house.mo.gov/famous.aspx?fm=52. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. During World War II, GI locker doors and warship . Betty Grable had several nicknames during her career like: "the girl with the million dollar legs," "the quick-silver blonde," "the queen of the Hollywood musical," and "the darling of the forties." Copyright 2023 by Factinate.com. She was a heavy smoker for most of her life, and the disease had advanced frighteningly. 2013. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. Granted, beautiful Betty won most of the pageants, but Lillian didnt stop there. Grable came back to the spotlight with the 1947 film,The Shocking Miss Pilgrim, but the film was overshawdowed by her succeeding project Mother Wore Tights, with one of her most frequent co-stars Dan Dailey. Grable's legs were famously insured by her studio for $1,000,000 with Lloyds of London. She was 86 years old. Most Popular #45061. Grable was the banner actress for the era before the advent of Playboy and other publications designed to satisfy the lust of the heterosexual male, an era that objectified women but in a more wholesome, less pornographic way that was designed to reinforce all-American values. View source record on After a string of super hit films like 'Moon over Miami', 'Springtime in the Rockies', and 'Coney Island', she posed for a photograph in her bathing suit showing off her shapely legsthis picture soon achieved iconic status. They were so popular, they even spawned a lyric in song sung by WWII GI's,"I want a gal, just like the gal, who married Harry . What is are the functions of diverse organisms? The shining starlet of Hollywood's Golden Age secured her place as one of America's top pinup . [47][48], After refusing the leading female role in Irving Berlin's There's No Business Like Show Business (1954), Grable again was suspended from her contract. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life. It proved to be Grable's final film appearance. and the stresses split the couple up by 1939. Closing the decade, Grable starred in The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (1949), an oddball movie that unevenly mixed musical numbers with Western clichs. The book A House Full of Daughters has a plot set in a small Why do people say that forever is not altogether real in love and relationship. Grable grabbed her own personal polish and gave Monroe a pedicure herself. The 1942 classic Springtime in the Rockies was a hit for everyone involved, but Grable got a lot more than box-office moolah out of the dealshe also got steamy romance. When Monroe withdrew from the production, she was replaced with Sheree North. After Tin Pan Alley, Grable was teamed again with Ameche in the hit musical Moon Over Miami (1941), which co-starred up-and-coming actress Carole Landis. Darryl F. Zanuck had the film Wabash Avenue (1950) tailored to fit Grable's talents. The Shocking Miss Pilgrim (1947) was her first film back at Fox. Did she mean-girl the bombshell and let her get photographed with chipped nails? In 1946-1947, the Treasury Department noted that she was the highest paid woman in America, receiving $300,000 a year. Instead of taking a step back and saying Hmm, maybe I shouldnt force my daughter into child labor, Lillian just grew more unhinged and determined. AfterPigskin Parade, she suddenly found herself typecast as a naive college student, starring in a series of humdrum roles and even duller films. During production, Grable and Monroe falsely were rumored to be at odds with each other. He was also a rabid gambler and drinker, and as time wore on, he began to use Grables hard-earned success as his meal ticket. 2011. Soon after James and Grable started seeing each other, she had an unpleasant visit from the Ghost of Boyfriends Past. Betty Grable avled 56 r gammal i lungcancer 1973. Grable, Betty,--1916-1973--Family All Saints' Episcopal Church (Beverly Hills, Calif.) Daughters--California--Los Angeles Funeral rites and ceremonies--California--Beverly Hills Undertakers and undertaking--California--Beverly Hills Church buildings--California--Beverly Hills Anglican church buildings--California--Beverly Hills In 1943, Grable starred in two of her most well-known Technicolor musicals, Sweet Rosie O'Grady and the smash-hit Coney Island. Were always looking for your input! She continued to be popular until the mid-1950s, when musicals went into a decline. The film was a remake of the 1935 film of the same name. When the United States entered WWII, Hollywood began producing content for the Americans serving abroad. Like many manipulative stage mothers, she lied about Bettys age to producers, saying the tween had just turned 15. [12] [7] Personal life [ edit] Her funeral occurred two days after her passing away, and both of her ex-husbands, Jackie Coogan and Harry James, attended. Housekeepers, nannies and themselves. In 1929, when Betty was just 12 years old, they packed up from St. Louis, Missouri and moved to Hollywood to try and hit it big. Betty Grable was born Elizabeth Ruth Grable in Saint Louis, Missouri on 18 December 1916. Betty Saunders has written: Her 1951 film Meet Me After the Show was one of the last musicals she appeared in. She made her film debut at the age of 12 as a chorus girl in the film Happy Days. View source image As well see, Grable didnt have the best judgment when it came to her love lifeand when she married the classic comedian and child actor Jackie Coogan in 1937, their relationship was a full-on mess. Making distraction rewarding since 2017. Grable has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6525 Hollywood Boulevard. He married Ava Gardner and had an affair with Rita Hayworth. It co-starred Douglas Fairbanks Jr and originally was directed by Ernst Lubitsch. did not even attend Betty Grables funeral. She was born as Elizabeth Ruth Grable to John Conn Grable and Lillian Rose Hofmann. The play was an instant success for the first time in Grables life, and she used it to get back at the studios that had wronged her. Ex-wife of Harry James and John Leslie "Jackie" Coogan 2013. While working on How to Marry a Millionaire, Grable was under no illusions that her star was fading, or that Monroe and her ample bosom were about to replace her and her legs in the public consciousness. This was the beginning of the seductive image she would soon turn into worldwide success. The celebrated "pin-up girl" of World War II, American actress Betty Grable was the daughter of a stockbroker and an aggressive "stage mother." When her older sister Marjorie balked at a show business career, Grable was taken in hand by her mother and trained to sing, dance, tell jokes and play the ukulele and saxophone. But behind closed doors, they hid dark secrets. Birthday: December 18, 1916 (Sagittarius), Born In: St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Betty Grable Popularity. John passed away at barely two years of age the same year Betty was born. So, how much is Betty Grable worth at the age of 57 years old? In 1952, Grable began renegotiating her contract with Fox. Grables pin-up photo was so popular during WWII that approximately 5 million men serving overseas had it. When she was 12, she played an adult chorus girl in the film Happy Days - a feat. Grables lack of belief in her acting abilities came back to haunt her in 1947. In 1965, Grable finally worked up the courage to stand up for herself again, and divorced James on the grounds of extreme cruelty. Yep, sounds about right. [60], Grable has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6525 Hollywood Boulevard. She was preceded in death by her husband Jack, who passed away on September 8, 2011. (1930), starring Eddie Cantor. Nicknamed Betty as a child, she was pressured by her mother to become a performer. contributor's website. The film was an immediate hit, Grable's biggest success to date, grossing more than $2 million. In 1939, she appeared opposite her then-husband Jackie Coogan in Million Dollar Legs,[14] a B-movie comedy that gave Grable her famous nickname. It was one of the highest grossing films of that year. Thrill of a Lifetime. Down Argentine Way. As soon as Betty arrived in Lansing, Governor Williams, his spouse and three youngsters referred to as on her. (1930), starring Eddie Cantor. Most of Grable's immediate ancestors were American, but her distant heritage was of Dutch, Irish, German and English stock. "I Had the Craziest Dream", the ballad from Springtime in the Rockies, was played on the church organ. We want our readers to trust us. When Grable saw the win, she might have been stung. Was she really a model wife and. Harry death. Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe. She starred along with Dan Dailey as married vaudeville performers whose children are embarrassed of their parents profession. Betty, Harry and the children go out on weekends and live the life of ranch hands. Wabash Avenue was released in May 1950, and was a box-office hit. She told the studio she wanted a raise. Coney Island, released in June 1943, was a Technicolor "gay nineties" period musical and co-starred George Montgomery. The Farmer Takes a Wife. Betty Grables sly smile turned toward the camera is one of the most iconic images in history. Stardom came in such comedies as Coney Island (1943) and Sweet Rosie O'Grady (1943).The public was enchanted with Betty. [59], In the Our Miss Brooks episode "Lulu, the Pin-Up Boat", Mitchell mistakes the pin-up photo of Grable that Conklin confiscated from Walter and put into his desk drawer with Connie and Conklin's discussion about Conklin's boat Lulu. In actuality, though Betty Grable and Alice Faye had never even met each other before shooting began on Tin Pan Alley, the actresses got along famously almost immediately after encountering each other on set. But this union was doomed to heartache. Their response was swift and brutal. I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. All body measurements and statistics of Betty Grable, including bra size, cup size, shoe size, height, hips, and weight. The movie was a big commercial hit. The film earned more than $3.5 million at the box office and was well received by critics. In 1947, she starred in the highly popular film, Mother Wore Tights in which she was cast opposite Dan Dailey. Describing her film career, Grable said "I became a star for two reasons, and I'm standing on them." Grable was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the youngest of three children of Lillian Rose (ne Hofmann; 1889-1964) and John Conn Grable (1883-1954), a stockbroker. From a disturbingly young age, she suffered from intense fits of sleepwalking as well as a fear of crowds, known as demophobia. Huh, wonder where she got that from. The biggest box office star of the 1940s and the most desired WWII pin-up girl, acting-singing-dancing triple-threat Betty Grable became the stuff of Hollywood legend after her studio reportedly . Fox, being a bunch of money-grubbing men, staunchly denied Grables request. She was entered in multiple beauty contests, many of which she won or for which she achieved considerable attention. Above, Harry, Jessica, Vicki and Betty Grable . Try our quiz and enter to win $500!Click below to check the trivia question Betty Grable had been pushed into performing by her mother and started performing as a chorus girl at the age of just 13 due to her mother lying about her age. Geni requires JavaScript! At the time of its release, the film received positive reviews, with many critics singling out the obvious on-screen chemistry between Grable and Power. She briefly returned to filming to make a cameo in Do You Love Me (1946), in which she appeared as a fan of her husband Harry James' character. The results were scandalous. Three for the Show, was released by Columbia Pictures; making the film Grable's first film away from 20th Century Fox, since she signed with them in 1940. Undaunted by this, Betty Grable was presented at the casting offices of Samuel Goldwyn Productions and was on her way with a contract; at the age of 13, she was playing a chorus girl in a Hollywood film. Betty Grable was in relationships with John F. Kennedy (1943), George Raft (1942), Victor Mature (1941), Robert Stack (1940 - 1941), Mickey Rooney (1940), Artie Shaw (1939), George Stevens (1935), Alexis Thompson, Peter Lawford and Oleg Cassini. Arrives by Wed, Mar 15 Buy Betty Grable - Betty Grable & Co-Stars: The 20th Century Fox Years Volume 2: 1945-1948 - CD at Walmart.com This was said because Monroe was replacing Grable as 20th Century Fox's leading sex symbol movie-star; with Grable meaning she felt no threat, as she was nearing retirement. It was a major box-office success, becoming the fourth-most popular movie of the year.[30][31]. As a result, she finds herself "engaged" to just about every guy she dances with. She preferred to star in up-beat and outlandish musicals, many of which followed the generic boy-meets-girl story tack. In another classic act of studios taking advantage of gossip, Fox cast both Faye and Grable inTin Pan Alley before the dust had even settled on the nascent feud. On Feud, Shipka portrays a young version of B.D. Gambling, smoking, affairs, Betty was far On July 2, 1973, at age 56, she died of lung cancer. Grable, being generally kind-hearted and very in love, somehow let him. The black-and-white image, taken in 1943, became the most requested . Grable finally obtained a role as a 'Goldwyn Girl' in Whoopee! [34] As her star continued to ascend, Fox chief Darryl F. Zanuck expressed interest in broadening Grable's range as an actress. $15.33 18 Used from $4.19 1 Collectible from $12.47. 'Passionate attachments' -- subject(s): Fathers and Betty Grable was an adorable, rosy-cheeked, blonde little girl. He was under considerable stress from a lawsuit against his parents over his childhood earnings and the couple divorced in 1939. Grable was reluctant to continue her film career, but Fox was desperately in need of her return. If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. The film was a success but Grable's next film The Dolly Sisters, co-starring rival June Haver, was Fox's second biggest success of the year; with the first being Leave Her to Heaven. Her former home has been listed at $12.25 million. The No.1 pin-up girl of the World War II era, her photograph in a bathing suit pose went on to achieve iconic status and was included in the project "100 Photographs that Changed the World" by the Life magazine. 'Daughters and mothers: mothers and daughters' -- subject(s): Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. Elizabeth Ruth Grable (December 18, 1916 July 2, 1973) was an American actress, pin-up girl, dancer, model, and singer. Billie abandoned her husband and other daughter, dragging Betty from St. Louis to Hollywood. Her two daughters Victoria and Jessica were brought up by anyone available. [8] Describing her film career, Grable said "I became a star for two reasons, and I'm standing on them. Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/factsverse?sub_confirmation=1 Or, watch more videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkXAntdjbcSKgHx6EQVOwNKVz1cR2hKVDo you think you know a lot about TV? Betty Grable's pinup snap made LIFE magazine's "100 Photos that Changed the World." (Getty Images) Grable set a record of 12 consecutive years in the top 10 of box office stars. Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone, the movie was a traditional black-and-white film noir, containing a combination of suspense and romance. [35], After five years of constant work, Grable was allowed time off for an extended vacation. In was in 1940 that she landed her first leading roleshe was chosen to play Glenda Crawfordin the musical film Down Argentine Way which also had Don Ameche, Charlotte Greenwood and Carmen Miranda in the star cast. 25 Feb/23. contributor's website.