In 1942 Carole starred in the World War 2 drama Manila Calling. She had the leading role of Edna, a beautiful American showgirl who gets trapped on an island with a group of soldiers. At the time she was under contract at 20th Century Fox. The cast includes Lloyd Nolan (who plays her love interest), Cornel Wilde, Elisha Cook Jr., and James Gleason. Carole and Loyd Nolan had worked together before in It Happened In Flatbush.
She was the only woman in the entire cast! Her costumes were designed by Herschel. Manila Calling was directed by Herbert I. Leeds. It was filmed at 20th Century Fox studios in Los Angeles from June 5 until July 3, 1942. Some scenes were filmed at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden in Arcadia. The movie was released on October 16, 1942. It received mix reviews and was only a modest hit.