Rita Hayworth in The Big Show (scene from "Cover Girl"

Cover Girl is a 1944 American comedy musical film starring Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly. The film tells the story of a chorus girl given a chance at stardom when she is offered an opportunity to be a highly paid cover girl. The film was directed by Charles Vidor, and was one of the most popular musicals of the war years.

Primarily a showcase for Rita Hayworth, the film has lavish costumes, eight dance routines for Hayworth, and songs by Jerome Kern and Ira Gershwin, including the classic "Long Ago (and Far Away)".

Hayworth had a torturous, tragic private life, starting with being sexually abused by her own father as a child, which led her into many disastrous relationships with men. However I deeply respect how she protected her daughter after divorcing Prince Aga Khan.

During the custody fight over their daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, the prince said he wanted her to be raised as a Muslim. Hayworth wanted the child to be raised as a Christian. Hayworth rejected his offer of $1 million if she would rear Yasmin as a Muslim from age seven and allow her to go to Europe to visit with him for two or three months each year, stating:

"Nothing will make me give up Yasmin's chance to live here in America among our precious freedoms and habits. While I respect the Moslem faith, and all other faiths, it is my earnest wish that my daughter be raised as a normal, healthy American girl in the Christian faith. There isn't any amount of money in the entire world for which it is worth sacrificing this child's privilege of living as a normal Christian girl here in the United States. There just isn't anything else in the world that can compare with her sacred chance to do that. And I'm going to give it to Yasmin regardless of what it costs."

Wow.

Rita Hayworth had it going on. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore. I remember when she passed President Reagan released a nice statement.

Statement on the Death of Rita Hayworth
May 15, 1987
“Rita Hayworth was one of our country’s most beloved stars. Glamorous and talented, she gave us many wonderful moments on stage and screen and delighted audiences from the time she was a young girl. In her later years, Rita became known for her struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Her courage and candor, and that of her family, were a great public service in bringing worldwide attention to a disease which we all hope will soon be cured. Nancy and I are saddened by Rita’s death. She was a friend who we will miss. We extend our deep sympathy to her family.”
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/statement-death-rita-hayworth

>I have “Stayin Alive”. Anyone who can perform excellently with both Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly is the greatest.

Fred Astaire later in life was asked whether his long time dance partner Ginger Rodgers was his favorite dance partner. He said in all honesty my favorite partner was Rita.

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