The I Don't Care Girl (1953)

The story of Eva Tanquay (Mitzi Gaynor), one of the most famous stars of vaudeville at its height (the early 1900s to the early 1920s). Directed by Lloyd Bacon (MARKED WOMAN), this is the usual movie musical biography of its era, highly fictionalized and an excuse for some lavish musical numbers. The movie is interesting for its RASHOMON like telling as a movie producer (George Jessel playing himself) attempts to get a screenplay together by interviewing those who knew her and getting different stories from each interviewee. That's about as close to originality that the movie gets. The film only comes alive during the musical sequences splendidly choreographed by the great Jack Cole and some high kicks by Gaynor, who transcends the movie's mediocrity when she dances. With David Wayne, Oscar Levant, Hazel Brooks, Warren Stevens and Bob Graham.