She Went to the Races

If you want to see a crystal clear example of star quality this little B is a perfect place to look.

It's a cute comedy with a wonderful cast of supporting actors and it moves along well enough with its nominal leads James Craig, a second string Clark Gable wannabe, and Frances Gifford, an efficient if somewhat colorless leading lady, getting the job done.

But then suddenly a breathtaking on the rise Ava Gardner turns up and wipes both of them off the screen. Where they function within the story she pulls the camera's focus to her and holds it in a way only a born star can. While they work to put their scenes over she just seems so comfortable with the lens's gaze she just owns her scenes. You wait for her to show up and miss her terribly when she's gone. She's the reason to seek this out.