''Earl Carroll Vanities'' is a 1945 American

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as brea ...

directed by

Joseph Santley Joseph Mansfield Santley (born Joseph Ishmael Mansfield, January 10, 1890 – August 8, 1971) was an American actor, singer, dancer, writer, director, and producer of musical theatrical plays motion pictures and television shows. He adopte ...

and written by Frank Gill Jr. The film stars

Dennis O'Keefe Dennis O'Keefe (born Edward Vanes Flanagan, Jr., March 29, 1908 – August 31, 1968) was an American actor and writer. Early years Born in Fort Madison, Iowa, O'Keefe was the son of Edward Flanagan and Charlotte Flanagan, Irish vaudevill ...

Constance Moore Constance Moore (January 18, 1920 or January 18, 1921Additional on April 23, 2017. – September 16, 2005) was an American singer and actress. Her most noted work was in wartime musicals such as ''Show Business'' and ''Atlantic City'' and the ...

Eve Arden Eve Arden (born Eunice Mary Quedens, April 30, 1908 – November 12, 1990) was an American film, radio, stage and television actress. She performed in leading and supporting roles for nearly six decades. Beginning her film career in 1929 ...

Otto Kruger Otto Kruger (September 6, 1885 – September 6, 1974) was an American actor, originally a Broadway matinee idol, who established a niche as a charming villain in films, such as Hitchcock's ''Saboteur''. He also appeared in CBS's ''Perry Mason'' a ...

Alan Mowbray Alan Mowbray (born Alfred Ernest Allen; 18 August 1896 – 25 March 1969) was an English stage and film actor who found success in Hollywood. Early life Mowbray was born in London, England. He served with distinction in the British Army in Wo ...

and

Stephanie Bachelor Stephanie Bachelor (May 23, 1912 – November 22, 1996) was an American film actress. During the 1940s, Bachelor briefly achieved leading status in supporting features such as Republic Pictures Republic Pictures Corporation (currently held unde ...

. It was released on April 5, 1945 by

Republic Pictures Republic Pictures Corporation (currently held under Melange Pictures, LLC) was an American motion picture production-distribution corporation in operation from 1935 to 1967, that was based in Los Angeles. It had studio facilities in Studio City a ...

. The film's title refers to the real-life revue ''

The Earl Carroll Vanities ''The Earl Carroll Vanities'' was a Broadway revue that Earl Carroll presented in the 1920s and early 1930s. Carroll and his show were sometimes controversial. Distinguishing qualities In 1923, the ''Vanities'' joined the ranks of New York� ...

'', but the film is not related to '' Earl Carroll Sketchbook'', a film that would be released the following year.

Plot

Princess Drina returns to America where she was educated. She is traveling with her betrothed, the usually inebriated Grand Duke Paul, and with Queen Mother Elena, who wants Drina to secure a bank loan that will sustain their small republic economically. Drina encounters Tex Donnelly, an American woman who runs a nightclub, and confides that her secret wish is to sing and dance. Tex's business partner and songwriter Danny Baldwin needs a replacement when the club's star entertainer, his girlfriend Claire Elliott, sprains an ankle. Tex offers Drina a chance to perform, and she is an instant success. Meanwhile, impresario

Earl Carroll Earl Carroll (September 16, 1893 – June 17, 1948) was an American theatrical producer, director, writer, songwriter and composer. Early life Carroll was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1893. He lived as an infant in the Nunnery Hill ( Fine ...

is seeking talent for his new revue, ''

''. Danny and Claire resent the attention that Drina receives over the next two weeks, and Claire exposes the secret that Drina is actually royalty. Queen Elena insists that Drina give up showbusiness and return to her duties, but when Tex's master of ceremonies tricks her into one last appearance on stage, Drina is loved by everyone, including Danny.

Cast

References

External links

* 1945 films 1940s English-language films American musical films 1945 musical films Republic Pictures films Films directed by Joseph Santley American black-and-white films 1940s American films {{musical-film-stub