Betty Grable: Biography of a Pin Up - Part Four

Betty Grable: Biography of a Pin Up - Part Four

Looking For New Talent

Daryl F. Zanuck was looking for new talent for 20th Century-Fox Studios. He saw some of Betty's pictures, which she made for Paramount, and he offered her a contract. Although Zanuck did not have a specific project in mind for Betty, he wanted to keep her within reach, so before working on any films for 20th Century-Fox Betty was released by Zanuck to work on a musical called Dubarry Was A Lady on Broadway. She was in the company of Ethel Merman, Bert Lahr and Benny Baker in this production. Betty was an overnight sensation, especially notable was her duet with Charles Walters in a song that would later be associated with Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, Well Did You Evah. The show ran for a full year throughout 1940, however Betty had to leave the show in June of 1940 for a project Zanuck had in mind for her. It was a film in which Alice Faye was to star, who became ill prior to shooting. Zanuck summoned Betty back to Hollywood to take part in the musical Down Argentine Way. This film was to be her journey to movie stardom.

Betty was cast leading lady opposite of one of Zanuck's favorite actors, Don Ameche. Supporting the cast were J. Carroll Naish, Charlotte Greenwood (the Rubber Leg Lady) and Leonid Kinsky. Also, making her Hollywood debut was the charming and vivacious Carmen Miranda. The whole production was to be filmed in Technicolor, which had been considerably improved, and enhanced Miss Grable's peaches and cream complexion. Then before Down Argentine Way was even released, she began working on her next assignment, playing Alice Faye's sister in Tin Pan Alley. Originally written for Faye, Tyrone Power and Don Ameche to follow up 20th Century-Fox's very successful Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938), The male leads were given to Jack Oakie and John Payne. Betty's part was written in when Zanuck realized he had signed someone very special. As the day approached for filming to begin, anxieties ran high as the cast and crew nervously anticipated a flare-up between the two lovely ladies, as sometimes happened. It never came as Betty and Alice hit it off right away, and became lifelong friends. Betty never showed any temperament on the set, preferring to get on with the job and do her very best, while helping others in whatever way she could. Surprisingly, in view of the importance of their new star, the film was shot in black and white.

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