I've been watching her movies for a couple weeks on TCM. She's very attractive and a great actress but as the tough cowgirl she is SMOKING hot!
shareThis was the first Ella Raines movie I had seen and I think she was awesome! She stole the show and that's pretty hard to do in a John Wayne movie! She was gorgeous in my opinion and I just wish she had more movies.
Another favorite of mine is the noir movie The Phantom Lady.
This movie made me a huge fan as well, and I've watched everything I can find that she's in ever since. Still, I don't think I've ever seen her look more beautiful than she is here. That scene in the cabin where she throws the knife at Wayne was magic.
Also, I'd be willing to bet that this movie offers more lingering shots of a woman's derriere in pants than just about any before or since (like fighter pilots, actresses tend to protect their "six" even today). Try to find another scene where the camera follows a woman's butt like it does Ella's when she storms off outside the saloon where she first encounters and threatens Wayne after he's called her brother out for trying to cheat at cards.
Also, for another scene that will astound you for its time, watch Ella take a swim about halfway through the 1943 WWII nurse drama "'Cry Havoc." You won't believe what you see when she climbs out on that rock.