Career Girl (1944)

In the heart of a Mid-Western small town, a star is born as Joan Terry, fueled by dreams of stage lights and applause, decides to leave behind her quaint life for the grandeur of New York. As she steps into the hustle and bustle of the city, she finds refuge in a professional boarding house populated by a band of hopeful talents - Thelma Mason, Sue Collins, Polly, Glenda Benton, and Ann. Recognizing Joan's innate charisma and potential, her fellow boarders and their wise landlord, "Pop" Billings, form a unique alliance named “Talent, Inc.”, pooling their resources to propel Joan into stardom. Navigating her way through auditions and rejections, Joan becomes smitten with Steve Dexter, a charming city dweller. However, her past resurfaces as James Blake, her old flame from Kansas City, arrives with a single-minded purpose — to coax Joan into abandoning her dreams and return with him as his wife. As this emotional tug-of-war ensues, the ambitious Glenda stumbles upon a script penned by Sue. Realizing it's the perfect platform for Joan's talent, she persuades two producers to bring the show to life. Unbeknownst to them, James, in a desperate attempt to reclaim Joan, buys out the producers, intending to shutter the show and force Joan into matrimonial submission. As Joan stands on the precipice of her dreams and dilemma, will she choose the lure of the stage or the comfort of familiar love? The answer lies within the captivating narrative of 'Career Girl', a tale about ambition, love, and the journey of a small-town girl in the big city.

Career Girl is a music movie featuring Frances Langford and directed by Wallace Fox.

Career Girl is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on The Film Detective and Tubi TV and it's also available on Amazon Prime Video, MGM Plus Amazon Channel, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, Pure Flix and fuboTV.

It is also possible to buy Career Girl on Amazon Video.