Rita Hayworth, Gene Kelly, Lee Bowman

Cover Girl was one of the big hits of Rita Hayworth's run as movie queen (and World War II pinup girl), a splashy musical geared to the talents of its redheaded star. Be warned: this is the kin...( read more  read more... )d of movie in which a single magazine cover turns an unknown dancer into the toast of her own Broadway show, virtually overnight. The corn runs high, but so do the spirits; plus, Eve Arden is around to toss in her trademark one-liners. Gene Kelly, as Hayworth's sulky choreographer and part-time boyfriend, stops the movie cold with his brilliant dance alongside his own reflection. The Jerome Kern-Ira Gershwin songs are middling, except for the lovely "Long Ago and Far Away." One number presents a parade of magazine cover girls come to life (great snapshot of an era). And check out the movie's hats: a parade of insane creations, perched uncertainly on many beautiful women's heads. --Robert Horton

Flixster Users

75% liked it

3,004 ratings

Critics

89% liked it

9 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Charles Vidor

Release Date: March 30, 1944

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DVD Release Date: August 19, 2003

Stats: 140 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (140)


  • March 16, 2007
    I think there's still a place for some of this in today's cinema. The musical numbers were too long, but that dancing on the street was a lot of fun. Think of what they could do with that Gene Kelly dancing with himself scene today.

    Now I know what all the fuss was about in Sh...( read more)awshank. Rita Hayworth is a fox.
  • September 3, 2009
    An exceptional musical, made just prior to the hopelessly overdone musicals to come. Simple, subtle and with an amazingly good pairing of Rita Hayworth and Fred Astaire. Great score and musical numbers, excellent costumes and art direction. Fantastic support from Phil Silvers an...( read more)d especially Eve Arden.
  • July 13, 2008
    This was the first film I ever saw starring Rita Hayworth, up until then the only thing I ever saw of her was a short clip from the beginning of Gilda, and a A&E Biography about her. That was years ago, and for the life of my I don't know why I waited so long to see her movies, b...( read more)ecause I love so many of them now.

    Rita plays a duel role here, first as young Rusty Parker, the afformentioned Showgirl, who loves Danny Mcguire (Gene Kelly) the Night club owner and Choreographer. Secondly she plays Maribelle Hicks, Rusty's Grandmother, in Publisher John Coudair's flashbacks. In both roles she is absolutely stunning, The classic 1900's attire suits here just as well as the then contemporary 1940's styles. She plays both roles very well, and performs beautifully in both time periods' musical numbers.

    Gene Kelly, as I said plays Danny Mcguire, Rusty's fiance/boss/choreographer. This was his breakout role, before this he did alot of small time roles over at MGM. When MGM couldn't figure out where to put him in 1944, they loaned him to Columbia Studios for this picture. Little did they (MGM) know that they had been misusing him all this time, and Columbia finally let him shine. Columbia gave him full control of his dance numbers, and he wowed the world with them. This was a great role for Gene, it showed his acting chops and it finally let people know what a great hoofer he was.

    The supporting cast was very good too, particularly Eve Arden and Phil Silvers.

    Eve Arden is now mostly remembered for her role as the Principal of Rydell High in Grease, but she had alot of good supporting roles in her younger days. she was quite adept at playing the wise-cracking side-kick, and she really had great timing and delivery of her witty quips that she became known for. She also did quite a bit of Radio work and some TV work in the 1950s.

    Phil Silvers was a great comedian in Radio, film, and Television. He's mostly remembered as Sgt. Bilko, his most famous character, which also inspired the cartoon Top Cat. Phil was a great talent, as we see here, he cracked jokes, he sang, he danced, its just too bad he didn't get alot of solo work in films like Bob Hope or Jerry Lewis did.

    This film is classic 1940's musical fare, and it was a real priveledge to watch it. It remains one of my favorite musicals of all time along with the work of MGM Producer Arthur Freed. Its a very sweet film (in a good way), go check it out.
  • July 3, 2008
    A classic movie about a girl trying to make the big times and finding out that what she had was what she wanted.
  • May 12, 2008
    Hi every one, Me and my girlfriend have a Nude painting done by Earl Moran Of Rita Hayworth , We are looking to sell, it has been Authenticated by Clars in San Fracisco, We love this painting but we Think this should be with Family or at least some one who can care for it e.g.:...( read more) museum Art collector so on, it is in perfect condition If you are family or you are a collector and are interested please feel free to email us at
    bfposey@scif.com or angiecerda_73@yahoo.com, this is a one of a kind painting and no low ballers please we would rather keep her than let her go to a bad home.
  • April 7, 2008
    Great dancing and singing...Ms. Hayworth is very beautiful, and Phil Silvers is a riot! :)
  • April 4, 2008
    the trio of Kelly-Hayworth-Silvers is almost as charming and electrifying as the Kelly-Reynolds-O'Connor trio to follow in later years. a terrific Hollywood musical with a great story and some absolutely outstanding dance numbers--Gene Kelly's dance with his reflection is a true...( read more) artform. it's a real crime they don't make movies like this anymore.
  • March 18, 2008
    I didn't like this film.
  • January 14, 2008
    Not my favorite Gene Kelly performance, but a great film. Funny, touching, and beautifully filmed.
  • December 8, 2007
    love it!! Awesome movie.

Critic Reviews


Comments


  • angiecerda73
    May 12, 2008
    Hi every one, Me and my girlfriend have a Nude painting done by Earl Moran Of Rita Hayworth , We are looking to sell, it has been Authenticated by Clars in San Fracisco, We love this painting but we Think this should be with Family or at least some one who can care for it e.g.: museum Art collector so on, it is in perfect condition If you are family or you are a collector and are interested please feel free to email us at
    bfposey@scif.com or angiecerda_73@yahoo.com, this is a one of a kind painting and no low ballers please we would rather keep her than let her go to a bad home.

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Cover Girl Trivia


  • At what age did the little girl from 'Crash' get the protection cover from her dad?  Answer »
  • On the front cover of what movie does a girl have no mouth? (HINT:) The name of it has the word hill/hills in it.  Answer »
  • In what two movies did actor, Gene Kelly have the same character name of Danny McGuire?  Answer »
  • Who plays the Cover Girl in the film of the same name?  Answer »

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