Betty Grable and Dan Dailey.

Dan Dailey was musical performer during the 1940's through the 1950's. He may not be as sophisticated as Astaire and did not have the strong personality like Kelly. Dan's dancing had a certain style all his own, a very charming "song and dance man".

Grable and Dailey's first film together was, Mother Wore Tights(1947)and was Betty Grable's most popular film, with her favorite costar, Dan Dailey. They play a married vaudeville performers. I have not seen this film yet. So, I can not tell you much about it other than it will be on TCM: Feb. 13, 2011.



Their second performance together was in the film, When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948). Directed by Walter Lang. The film is about, Bonny Kane and 'Skid' Johnson, who are vaudeville performers. They begin to have trouble in their marriage when when Skid gets an offer to perform on Broadway while Bonny gets left behind. Things get worse with Skids drinking and that he is spending more time with his beautiful co-star.

Third of four movies that paired Betty Grable and Dan Dailey. My Blue Heaven(1950). Jack and Kitty, are performing on their radio show, when Kitty, breaks the news to Jack that she is pregnant. On their way home from their baby shower, Kitty and Jack are in a terrible car accident and Kitty loses the baby and learns that she may never be able to have children.

Later, Jack and Kitty visit Walter and Janet on their farm, where they are welcomed by their 6 children. Janet tells them both that the two oldest children are adopted, as she and Walter thought they would never have children, but the other four are their own children. Kitty and Jack make the decision to adopt, so they talk to an adoption agency. The Foundation's Miss Gilbert, tells Kitty and Jack that they may take up to a year, while a their background is being investigated. Kitty and Jack make their first TV appearance, on PBS, for their sponsor Cosmo Cosmetics. Miss Gilbert and Miss Evers, drop in unexpectedly to tell them that they have a baby boy for them, but... first they will have to meet with Mrs. Johnston. After Kitty and Jack pick up the baby boy, Mrs. Johnston decides that she will return with them to check out their apartment. Unfortunately, Mrs. Johnston does not like what she sees and refuses to allow the baby to stay there. This begins their long journey to have a career and family. Will their dreams of having children ever come true?



The last performance of Betty Grable and Dan Dailey in a film was, Call me Mister(1951). Set in Japan during the period between World War II and the Korean War. Betty Grable, performed as American USO entertainer Kay Hudson, who runs into former husband Shep Dooley, who wants to win her back.

This movie was really put together to showcase Grable and Dailey dancing skills in routines choreographed by Busby Berkeley.

Happy Birthday: Betty Grable!

Betty Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973). Dancer, singer, and actress. Her bathing suit photo made her the number-one pin-up girl of the World War II era. It was included in the Life magazine project "100 Photos that Changed the World". Grable was known for having the most beautiful legs in Hollywood. Grable's legs were insured by her studio for $1,000,000 with Lloyds of London. In 1943, she married trumpeter and big band leader Harry James. The couple had two daughters, Victoria and Jessica. The couple divorced in 1965. Grable entered into a relationship with a dancer, Bob Remick several years her junior. Though they did not marry, their romance lasted until the end of Grable's life. I think my first Betty Grable movie was, How to Marry a Millionaire(1953). A romantic comedy film, directed by Jean Negulesco and produced and written by Nunnally Johnson. The screenplay was based on the plays The Greeks Had a Word for It by Zoe Akins and Loco by Dale Eunson and Katherine Albert. The music score was by Alfred Newman and the cinematography by Joseph MacDonald. The costume design was by Travilla. Cast: Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, and Lauren Bacall as fortune hunters with William Powell, David Wayne, Rory Calhoun, Cameron Mitchell, Alexander D'Arcy, and Fred Clark.

MOON OVER MIAMI (1941)

MOON OVER MIAMI (1941). Kay(Betty Grable) and Barbara Latimer(Carole Landis), both holding down jobs, singing at the Texas drive-in restaurant as car hops, with their aunt Susan, who is flipping burgers. Waiting for the mailman to bring their inheritance check of $55,000. Only to read the disappointing news they will only receive only $4,000. They talk Susan, into spending the money on a trip to Miami, to find rich husbands. Barbara, comes up with a plan to pretend to be Kay's secretary, and Susan her maid. They fly off to the Flamingo Hotel and make quick friends with Jack, a bartender who tells them he will protect them from the Gold Diggers.

Kay tricks Jeff (Robert Cummings) into an invitation, to his party. Where she also meets Phil (Don Ameche), heir to the McNeil Mines. Close friends Jeff and Phil, begin a playful competition for Kay affections. Kay finds herself not able to choose whom she would like to marry. Her sister Barbara has secretly fallen in love with Jeff.

The women find themselves in financial trouble, after a couple weeks of living it up at the fancy hotel. They need $150 to pay their hotel bill. Kay, has plans to go dancing with her two friends later that evening. Kay invites Barbara, to come along so she can dance with Jeff, while she talks with Phil. Phil admits to her that he is broke. Kay, also admits, that she came to Miami, to find a rich husband. They decide that they are not right for each other. Phil searches out Jeff to tell him that Kay loves him, after which they becomes engaged . As the women are packing to leave for Jeff's families island, Jack overhears them talking about their Gold Digging plans, and threatens to tell Jeff. Jack finds himself locked in the bathroom, while the women quickly leave for the island.

Phil, decides he can not live without Kay, and comes up with a plan to stop the wedding. The woman are surprised to see Jack, who came to inform Jeff that Kay, is not really love him.
Will Phil get there in time to stop the wedding, or ...Will Jack ruin the girls plans?

I really enjoyed watching Betty Grable sing and dance in this fun/colorful movie. I also really enjoyed the location scenes of Cypress Gardens and Silver Springs.
Cast: Don Ameche, Betty Grable, Robert Cummings, and Carole Landis.