Image copyright © by Marcus Trahan

Cover Girl

(1944)

Gene Kelly runs a small nightclub, his girlfriend (Rita Hayworth) works in the chorus. A wealthy man who was once in love with her mother gives her a chance to make it in the Big Time. Kelly, not wanting to stand in her way—or at least that’s how he stupidly rationalizes it to himself—pretends he doesn’t love her anymore, so she leaves him and makes it big. She’s about to marry the producer, but it all turns out well in the end. For Gene, anyway, but I suspect his ego won’t let her be a bigger cheese than he is. I predict disaster. But musicals back then always ended happy, and you weren’t supposed to think about what might come next. Phil Silvers is the comic sidekick. Great dancing and color, and a great “solo” by Kelly where he dances with a ghostly version of himself.