In 1940 Carole starred in the sex-change comedy
Turnabout. This was the second film she made while under contract with Hal Roach. She plays Sally Willows, a frustrated housewife who magically
switches bodies with her husband. John Hubbard was cast as Tim Willows, Sally's unhappy husband. Since their voices were dubbed in many scenes John and Carole had to learn all of each others lines. She also studied his mannerisms so she would be believable playing a man trapped in a woman's body. Turnabout was based on the book by Thorne Smith. It was produced and directed by Hal Roach. The large cast includes Adolphe Menjou, Mary Astor, Marjorie Main, Donald Meek, Joyce Compton, Yolande Donlan, and Margaret Roach (Hal Roach's daughter). It was filmed in Hollywood from February 19 until March 17 of 1940. Before production began Carole lost twenty pounds and had cosmetic surgery on her nose.
Carole and John Hubbard
Her costumes were designed by Royer. She loved the pink dress from the finale so much that she later wore it to the 1941 Academy Awards. Turnabout was
released on May 17, 1940. It's tagline was "A Model Man Was He ... Until The Stock Made A Mistake". The plot was very controversial especially a scene where a man finds out he is pregnant. The Legion of Decency gave the movie an objectionable rating. Carole brought her boyfriend Willis Hunt and her mother Clara to the premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theater. The movie became a modest hit and she got rave reviews for her comedic performance. She later said it was one of her favorite films. Carole and John Hubbard would work together again in Road Show. Tragically in 1946 Donald Meek would commit suicide. Turnabout was made
into a short-lived television series starring Sharon Gless and Rick Springfield in 1979.
