"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
Carole with Ruth Warrick and Pat O'Brien
