Frances Gifford

Frances Gifford, While visiting the studios of Samuel Goldwyn to watch a film being made she was spotted by a talent scout who brought her to the attention of Goldwyn, who signed her on an acting contract. After only performing in minor roles, she moved on to RKO where she was cast in several uncredited supporting roles in the film, Stage Door (1937) starring Katharine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers.

In 1938 at the age of 18, she married character actor James Dunn and in 1939 performed her first leading role, in Mercy Plane, opposite her husband. she performed in another uncredited role in, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). She played several more minor roles before she was, loaned to Republic Pictures and cast in the role which Frances would be best known for as the girl, Nyoka in Jungle Girl(1941), a 15-chapter movie serial, based on the novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Soon after, She left RKO for Paramount Pictures where she acted in several films including, The Glass Key (1942). In 1943 she made another Tarzan type movie with Johnny Weissmuller in Tarzan Triumphs at RKO. That year she also left Paramount and moved to the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio.

At MGM she performed in many leading roles in such films as: Our Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945) and She Went to the Races (1945) and The Arnelo Affair (1947). She also played in supporting roles including, Thrill of a Romance (1945) with Esther Williams,(pictured below) and Luxury Liner (1948) with Jane Powell.

She Went to the Races(1945). A NECK-TO-NECK FINISH!

She Went To the Races(1945). Director: Willis Goldbeck. Cast Frances Gifford, James Graig and Ava Gardner.

I did not get home in time to see the movie Heavenly Body, but.. I did catch the movie, She Went to the Races. I was surprised that it was such a cute movie to watch while I was cooking dinner.

When Dr. Ann Wotters, a young scientist at the Brockhurst Institute of Research, learns that her uncle Dr. Homer Pecke, is being forced to retire because the institute could not raise the $20,000 needed for his research, she wants to do something to help. Dr. Gurke, Dr. Pembroke and Dr. Collyer, are also worried about Homer, and they learn a quick way to raise money from, the janitor,who tells them about his winnings at the racetrack. Gurke, Pembroke and Collyer come up with a "scientific" formula to predict the outcome of future races. After, they let Ann in on their plans, they head off for Pasadena, where they hope to look for a place to stay and conduct thier experiments. Soon the scientists find out that all the hotels are booked. Not to be stopped, Ann talks her way into a hotel room that has been reserved for Steve Canfield, a horse owner. When Steve arrives in his room, Ann charms him into letting her stay. After, falling in love with Steve, Ann's troubles begin when socialite Hilda Spotts, the beautiful ex- girlfriend of Steve's, who owns a competing horse, shows up. (Ava Gardner, who steals the picture). Gurke, Pembroke and Collyer belive that Steve's horse, Mr. McGillicudy, will win the upcoming race, but Steve tries to discourage Ann from betting on his horse, saying that he cannot win in the rain. Will Ann win big at the racetrack and her new man?




I thought She Went to the Races, was a very cute romantic comedy. The supporting cast, is what really made this movie work for me.. Edmund Gwenn and Sig Rumann, as well as Ava Gardner in a well-played role as the other woman.