The Perils of Pauline (1947)

A seamstress in a sweatshop, Pearl White, portrayed here by Betty Hutton, discovers a change in careers when a set of circumstances leads her to starring in her own series of silent movies. A fairly standard biopic of the era, it focuses more on romance and songs than any adherence to reality. I’m not generally a fan of Hutton’s broad humor, but her fans will probably like her performance here. I’m fascinated about White’s history as a film pioneer, but that fascination isn’t to be fulfilled here. 

Oscar Nomination: Best Music, Original Song