Secret Command (1944)

"In the future when you bring a lady home, do it at night." ~ Jill McGann

In 1944 Carole starred in the World War 2 drama Secret Command. She had the leading role of Jill McGann, a secret agent who goes undercover to expose a deadly plot. 20th Century Fox loaned her to Columbia to make the movie. The cast includes Pat O'Brien, Chester Morris, Ruth Warrick, and Barton MacLane. Pat O'Brien was one of the producers and had requested that Carole be his co-star. She and Pat had been friends since they worked together in the 1937 film Women Are Like That. Secret Command was based on the Saturday Evening Post story "The Saboteurs".

Carole and Pat O'Brien

The movie was directed by Eddie Sutherland who became one of Carole's closest friends. It was filmed at Columbia Studios in Los Angeles from January 17 until March 8, 1944. Carole was paid $2,500 a week and never missed a day of work even though she was suffering from the flu. Her costumes were designed by Jean Louis. She wore a blue butterfly dress from the film during her tour of the South Pacific and was later buried in it. Secret Command was released on July 30, 1944. The movie received mixed reviews and was not a box-office success. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Special Effects.

Carole and Pat O'Brien

Secret Command is available to watch on the Internet Archive