Vintage original 8x10 in. US single-weight glossy photograph from the 1940's musical comedy/drama, DANCE, GIRL, DANCE, released in 1940 by RKO Radio Pictures and directed by Dorothy Arzner. When a troupe of danseuses becomes unemployed, one of them takes up burlesque dancing while another dreams of performing ballet. The cast includes Maureen O'Hara, Louis Hayward, Lucille Ball, Virginia Field, Ralph Bellamy, Maria Ouspenskaya, Mary Carlisle, Katharine Alexander, and Edward Brophy.

The image features a close publicity shot of Louis Hayward gazing at lovely Lucille Ball as she holds a cigarette. It is in near-fine condition with a 1 in. diagonal crease on the bottom left corner; light signs of wear on the other corners; and some small scattered creases in the image area simply from handling over time. There are no pinholes, tears, stains, writing, or other flaws.

Though she was usually dubbed in her other musicals, Lucille Ball sang for herself in this film. She  and Maureen O'Hara became inseparable friends while shooting this film, and remained lifelong friends until Ball's death in 1989. O'Hara was having lunch with her when Ball first saw her future husband, Desi Arnaz, while she was shooting the picture. On the very day she first met him, she was made-up to look like she had just emerged from a catfight with scratches, a black eye and bandages, which resulted in Arnaz not paying much attention to her. The next time he saw her, she was not in costume and he was instantly smitten. Ironically, in later years, Lucille Ball would actually buy the RKO sound stages and back lot and the former RKO real estate was incorporated into the Desilu empire. 

 

Lesbian director Dorothy Arzner's longterm love, Marion Morgan, choreographed the dance sequences. After completing editing on this film, Robert Wise reported for duty on his next project - Orson Welles' Citizen Kane (1941).