Pin Up Girl
Theatrical poster
Directed by	H. Bruce Humberstone
Produced by	William LeBaron
Written by	Libbie Block Robert Ellis Helen Logan Earl Baldwin
Starring	Betty Grable
Music by	James V. Monaco
Cinematography	Ernest Palmer
Editing by	Robert L. Simpson
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date(s)	April 25, 1944
Running time	84 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Pin Up Girl is a 1944 20th Century Fox Technicolor musical film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone. It stars Betty Grable, John Harvey, Martha Raye, and Joe E. Brown. The film capitalized on Grable's iconic pin-up status during World War II, even using her famous swimsuit photo in portions of the film.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production and release 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Plot

Lorry Jones is a woman working as a hostess at the local U.S.O canteen in Missoula, Missouri. She is contributing for the soldiers and entertains them by working as a singer. It is her job to keep them happy, thus having to accept every marriage proposal from a soldier. One of them, Marine George Davis, does not realize she has no real intention of marrying him. Meanwhile, Lorry and her best friend Kay Pritchett have accepted jobs as stenographers in Washington, D.C., but tell the soldiers they will go on the U.S.O. tour. The last night before leaving town, they go out partying in New York City.

When arriving in New York by train, they are welcomed by Navy hero Tommy Dooley, who fought at the Battle of Guadalcanal. That night, they try to get into the Club Chartreuse, but are not allowed to go in without escorts. Lorry doesn't want to leave and lies she is meeting Tommy and his friend Dud Miller in the club. She is not aware Tommy is best friend with Eddie Hall, the club's owner. When Eddie is told Lorry and Kay are escorts of Tommy, he lavishes them with champagne. When Tommy and Dud arrive, Tommy thinks Eddie has set them up in blind dates with the girls. Dud believes the two women are actresses. Before Tommy can prove Dud wrong, Kay drunkenly tells them she and Lorry are in the Broadway musical Remember Me.

Molly McKay, star singer at the club, doesn't believe Kay, until Lorry, telling everyone her name is Laura Lorraine, performs a song without trouble. Lorry and Kay eventually spend their night dancing with Tommy and Dud and leave for Washington the next morning. The men lose the women's address by accident. Two weeks later, Lorry and Kay are insulted with not having heart from their beaus. Meanwhile, Lorry is bored with her life as stenographer, until Tommy and Dud surprisingly show up in Washington. Lorry is demanded to be his stenographer, but doesn't want him to find out her real career. She decides to disguise herself, so he won't recognize her as Laura.

Lorry sets up a date between Tommy and "Laura". At their date, Tommy tells her he loves dating an actress. Lorry is hurt and tells him she is going to give up her stage life. Tommy responds by offering her a job at Eddie's club. Molly is jealous when she finds out, but sees an opportunity to get rid of her when George comes to town and recognizes her as Lorry. She introduces George to Tommy, who is insulted when he hears the truth. When Lorry finds out what has happened, she tells George she has no intention of marrying him. She next dresses back to stenographer Lorry and visits Tommy to beg him to give "Laura" another chance. Things don't go her way, however, so she decides to reveal she is both Lorry and Laura. Tommy eventually forgives her.

[edit] Cast

• Betty Grable as Lorry Jones/Laura Lorraine
• John Harvey as Tommy Dooley
• Martha Raye as Molly McKay
• Joe E. Brown as Eddie Hall
• Eugene Pallette as Barney Briggs
• Dorothea Kent as Kay Pritchett
• Dave Willock as Dud Miller

[edit] Production and release

In October 1942, Linda Darnell and Don Ameche were set to star.^[1] However, it was decided the film would be made as a musical film, thereby replacing Darnell by musical actress Betty Grable. She was seven months pregnant when the film was completed.^[2]

When the film was released, it received mixed reviews from critics. Variety wrote: This is one of those escapist filmusicals which makes no pretenses at ultra-realism, and if you get into the mood fast that it's something to occupy your attention for an hour and a half. It's all very pleasing and pleasant.^[3] The New York Times critisized the script, stating it was a "spiritless blob of a musical". However, it praised Grable.^[4]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Pin Up Girl at the Internet Movie Database