Jeanne Crain, debuted on screen in 1943 in, The Gang's All Here, her career lasted through the 50s. Crain was frequently cast as the "girl next door".
In 1944, she starred in the films, Home in Indiana and In the Meantime, Darling. She soon captured audience attention, which resulted in a roll in the film, Winged Victory (1944). Next she went on to co-star with Dana Andrews in the musical film, State Fair(1945). Directed by Walter Lang. The film is the first remake of the 1933 film of the same name. This version has original music by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Cast: Jeanne Crain, Dana Andrews, Dick Haymes, Vivian Blaine, Fay Bainter and Charles Winninger. This was the only musical Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote for film. The movie introduced such popular songs as "It Might As Well Be Spring" and "It's A Grand Night For Singing".
Also in 1945, Crain starred in the film, Leave Her to Heaven with Gene Tierney. The story revolves around a femme fatale who traps her husband and commits several crimes motivated by her insane jealousy.
In 1949, Crain starred in three films: A Letter to Three Wives, The Fan and Pinky, for which she was nominated for the Best Actress Oscar. Pinky was controversial, since it told the story of a light-skinned African-American woman who passes for white in the Northern United States.
In 1950, Crain starred opposite Myrna Loy and Clifton Webb in, Cheaper by the Dozen. Next, Crain paired up with Cary Grant in the film, People Will Talk (1951). The story about the life of Dr. Noah Praetorius, a physician who teaches in a medical school and founded a clinic dedicated to treating patients holistically. The plot contains two parallel story lines: a professional-misconduct challenge brought against Praetorius by Dr. Rodney Elwell, who dislikes Praetorius's methods and the struggle of a young woman named Deborah Higgins, who falls in love with Praetorius while dealing with an out-of-wedlock pregnancy.
Soon after, she starred in Charles Brackett's first film, The Model and the Marriage Broker (1951). Crain was reunited with Loy for, Belles on Their Toes (1952), the sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen.
Next, Crain played a young wife quickly losing her mind in the film, Dangerous Crossing (1953), co-starring Michael Rennie. Crain went on to star with Kirk Douglas in the film, Man Without a Star (1955).
Crain was able to show her dancing skills in, Gentlemen Marry Brunettes co-starring Jane Russell, Alan Young and Rudy Vallee. The film was based on the sequel to, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
In 1956, Crain starred opposite Glenn Ford, Russ Tamblyn and Broderick Crawford in the Western film, The Fastest Gun Alive. In 1957, she played a socialite who helps a crushed singer and comedian (Frank Sinatra) redeem himself in the film, The Joker Is Wild.
Film roles became fewer in the 1960s as Crain went into semi-retirement. She appeared as Nefertiti in the film, Queen of the Nile (1961) with Edmund Purdom and Vincent Price. She made several guest appearances on Burke's Law, a detective television series. She starred again with Dana Andrews in, Hot Rods To Hell (1967). Her last film role was in, Skyjacked (1972).
