| When I was first getting into watching older classic films, I asked a very knowledgeable, older friend what the appeal was about Ruby Keeler. While she was charming, she didn't sing or act that well, look outstanding, or even dance in a particularly noteworthy way (other than sometimes looking at her feet). My friend said it was because her association with those great Busby Berkeley musicals, and that audiences kind of identified with her and found her endearing in a way since they really thought they could maybe perform about as well as she could. Who could ever live up to, say, Eleanor Powell? But Ruby Keeler, sure. It also didn't hurt that she married superstar Al Jolson heeding her father's advice that it would help her career. |
