History Film / CoverGirl

%%* IdenticalGranddaughter: Rusty for Maribelle.

* AsHerself: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinx_Falkenburg Jinx Falkenburg]] has a cameo role as herself.

* DidNotGetTheGirl: John.
* DistractedByTheLuxury: Rusty is very impressed by Noel's huge ... theater.

* GenerationXerox / HistoryRepeats

* GoodLuckCharm: The elusive pearl.
* HappyDance: "Make Way for Tomorrow."

* IdenticalGranddaughter: Rusty for Maribelle.

* LoveAtFirstSight: John for Maribelle.

* TheOneThatGotAway: Maribelle, for John.
* OnTheRebound: Rusty and Noel.

* RomanticRunnerUp: Noel (and John, in the flashbacks).
* RunawayBride: Both Maribelle and Rusty.

* ShowWithinAShow: Rusty stars in the imaginatively titled ''Noel Wheaton's Revue.''

* DrowningHerSorrows: Rusty at Joe's after she finds the nightclub closed. It's also mentioned that she continues to drink in the time leading up to the wedding--a hint that something is seriously wrong, as she used to be TheTeetotaler according to Joe.

* WorldWarII: It isn't a major part of the movie, but there are several clear references to the war.
** Genius sings a comedy song about rationing ("Who's Complaining?").
** It's mentioned that Danny was wounded in North Africa.
** When Rusty gets a telegram, Genius jokes, "Maybe it's a draft notice."
** Danny and Genius go on tour entertaining the troops. On his return, Danny tells Joe, "You take a look at these guys and you don’t have to worry about who’s going to be the boss over there."

A 1944 {{Musical}} film starring Rita Hayworth, Creator/GeneKelly, and [[Series/ThePhilSilversShow Phil Silvers]]. Music is by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin.

Rusty is selected for the job largely because she reminds the publisher, John Coudair, of his [[TheOneThatGotAway lost love]] Maribelle Hicks. When he learns that Rusty is [[IdenticalGranddaughter Maribelle's]] granddaughter, he takes an even more personal interest in her career. Through flashbacks, we see the story of John and Maribelle [[ActingForTwo (also played by Hayworth)]]: Maribelle was a vaudeville star at the turn of the twentieth century, and John was the son of a wealthy family. He showered her with gifts and attention, but she insisted that she didn't belong in his world--and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to make her forget a certain piano player.

[[caption-width-right:305:Rita Hayworth as Maribelle (left) and Rusty (right)]]

Rusty is selected for the job largely because she reminds the publisher, John Coudair, of his [[TheOneThatGotAway lost love]] Maribelle Hicks. When he learns that Rusty is Maribelle's granddaughter, he takes an even more personal interest in her career. Through flashbacks, we see the story of John and Maribelle [[IdenticalGrandson (also played by Hayworth):]] Maribelle was a vaudeville star at the turn of the twentieth century, and John was the son of a wealthy family. He showered her with gifts and attention, but she insisted that she didn't belong in his world--and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to make her forget a certain piano player.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: Maurine seems friendly but will do just about anything to get ahead--including sabotaging Rusty's chances of getting the modeling job (see GenkiGirl).

* TheMusicalMusical: It's largely a backstage story, and most of the characters are professional performers. Most, but not all, of the musical numbers are stage performances within the show.

* GenkiGirl: Based on some catty advice from a rival, Rusty acts like one in her interview, nearly blowing her chances of getting the job. Stonewall later describes her as "a redheaded nervous breakdown" and tells Coudair, "That one isn't a girl, John--she's a leaping thyroid."

* IdenticalGranddaughter: Rusty and Maribelle.

* RomanticFalseLead: Noel (and John, in the flashbacks).

* AsHerself: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinx_Falkenburg Jinx Falkenburg]] has a minor role as herself.

* DeadpanSnarker: "Stonewall" Jackson, John Coudair's assistant (played by Eve Arden).

* FieryRedhead: Averted; neither Rusty nor Maribelle is particularly fiery.

* TheHeart: Genius. This is particularly evident when he becomes upset as soon as he sees a hint of coolness between Danny and Rusty after Rusty gets a telegram summoning her to John Coudair's office.

* [[IdenticalGrandson Identical Granddaughter]]: Rusty and Maribelle.

* ShipTease: Genius and Stonewall flirt a bit, but it's not resolved within the movie.

* WorldWarII: It isn't a major part of the movie, but there are several clear references to the war:

** When Rusty gets her telegram, Genius jokes, "Maybe it's a draft notice."

Rusty is selected for the job largely because she reminds the publisher, John Coudair, of his lost love Maribelle Hicks. When he learns that Rusty is Maribelle's granddaughter, he takes an even more personal interest in her career. Through flashbacks, we see the story of John and Maribelle [[IdenticalGrandson (also played by Hayworth):]] Maribelle was a vaudeville star at the turn of the twentieth century, and John was the son of a wealthy family. He showered her with gifts and attention, but she insisted that she didn't belong in his world--and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to make her forget a certain piano player.

John Coudair and his friend, theatrical producer [[RomanticFalseLead Noel Wheaton,]] pressure Rusty to leave the nightclub for Broadway. She hesitates out of loyalty to Danny, but their relationship becomes increasingly strained. Coudair plays on Danny's insecurities, urging him to let Rusty move on to a better life, while Noel shows her his luxurious theatre to [[DistractedByTheLuxury give her a taste of what he could offer her.]] This causes her to miss the Friday night oysters, and Danny, after [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy tortuous self-reflection]] expressed by [[TheManInTheMirrorTalksBack tap-dancing with a ghostly double of himself,]] decides to [[CruelToBeKind sever his relationship with her]]. The next day, Rusty is late for rehearsal, and Danny gives her song to another girl to perform. They argue, and Rusty storms out of the club, bound for Broadway.

* AsHerself: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinx_Falkenburg Jinx Falkenburg]] has a supporting role as herself.

* DrowningHerSorrows: Rusty at Joe's after she finds the nightclub closed. It's also mentioned that she continues to Drown Her Sorrows in the time between then and the wedding--a hint that something is seriously wrong, as she used to be TheTeetotaler according to Joe.

* GenkiGirl: Based on some catty advice from a rival, Rusty acts like one when she goes in for her interview, nearly blowing her chances of getting the job. Stonewall later describes her as "a redheaded nervous breakdown" and tells Coudair, "That one isn't a girl, John--she's a leaping thyroid."

* IllTellYouWhenIveHadEnough: Rusty at Joe's. She's clearly had several already as the scene begins with the following exchange:

* RomanticFalseLead: Noel.

* ShowWithinAShow: Rusty stars in the imaginatively titled ''Noel Wheaton's Revue.''

** Genius sings a comedy song about rationing.

John Coudair and his friend, theatrical producer [[RomanticFalseLead Noel Wheaton,]] pressure Rusty to leave the nightclub for Broadway. She hesitates out of loyalty to Danny, but their relationship becomes increasingly strained. Coudair plays on Danny's insecurities, urging him to let Rusty move on to a better life, while Noel shows her his luxurious theatre to [[DistractedByTheLuxury give her a taste of what he could offer her.]] This causes her to miss the Friday night oysters, and Danny, after tortuous self-reflection expressed by tap-dancing with a ghostly double of himself, decides to [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy sever his relationship with her]]. The next day, Rusty is late for rehearsal, and Danny gives her song to another girl to perform. They argue, and Rusty storms out of the club, bound for Broadway.

Rusty becomes a star, and Noel asks her to marry him. She promises him an answer the next day and then goes to Danny's nightclub, but finds it closed. The watchman tells her that Danny and Genius are on a tour entertaining the troops. Depressed, she goes to Joe's Oyster Bar and [[DrowningMySorrows gets drunk.]] When Coudair and Noel find her there, she agrees to marry Noel.

* DistractedByTheLuxury: Rusty is very impressed at Noel's huge ... theater.
* DrowningHerSorrows: Rusty at Joe's after she finds the nightclub closed.

* SelfMadeMan: Danny's work ethic--as he puts it, it's better win fame with your feet instead of with your face.

John Coudair and his friend, theatrical producer Noel Wheaton, pressure Rusty to leave the nightclub for Broadway. She hesitates out of loyalty to Danny, but their relationship becomes increasingly strained. Coudair plays on Danny's insecurities, urging him to let Rusty move on to a better life, while Noel shows her his luxurious theatre to give her a taste of what he could offer her. This causes her to miss the Friday night oysters, leading Danny, after tortuous self-reflection expressed by tap-dancing with a ghostly double of himself, to decide to [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy sever his relationship with her]]. The next day, Rusty is late for rehearsal, and Danny gives her song to another girl to perform. They argue, and Rusty storms out of the club, bound for Broadway.

Rusty becomes a star, and Noel asks her to marry him. She promises him an answer the next day and then goes to Danny's nightclub, but finds it closed. The watchman tells her that Danny and Genius are on a tour entertaining the troops. Depressed, she goes to Joe's Oyster Bar and gets drunk. When Coudair and Noel find her there, she agrees to marry Noel.

Rusty Parker (Hayworth) is a showgirl in a Brooklyn nightclub owned by Danny [=McGuire=] (Kelly). Danny also lives across the hall from Rusty, and the two have romantic feelings for each other. On Friday nights, they go to Joe's Oyster Bar along with fellow club performer Genius (Silvers) and order oysters, looking for a pearl to bring them luck. This cozy routine is disrupted when Rusty wins a modeling opportunity as a cover girl for ''Vanity'' magazine.

Rusty is selected for the job largely because she reminds the publisher, John Coudair, of his lost love Maribelle Hicks. When he learns that Rusty is Maribelle's granddaughter, he takes an even more personal interest in her career. Through flashbacks, we see the story of John and Maribelle ([[IdenticalGrandson also played by Hayworth]]): Maribelle was a vaudeville star at the turn of the twentieth century, and John was the son of a wealthy family. He showered her with gifts and attention, but she insisted that she didn't belong in his world--and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to make her forget a certain piano player.

[[caption-width-right:305:Rita Hayworth as Maribelle and Rusty]]

[[caption-width-right:300:Rita Hayworth as Maribelle and Rusty]]