Ella Raines in White Tie and Tails

Ella Raines made a pair of cheap, relatively unknown films for Universal in 1946: The Runaround and White Tie and Tails. She was portrayed quite favorably in these movies and proved that she was the best looking and most watchable actress of the time. And while White Tie and Tails is not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, it is certainly unabashedly fun and well worth it's brief 80 minute runtime.

Ella Raines is infinitely appealing as the female lead of White Tie and Tails. In the film (which was apparently retitled The Swindlers somewhere down the line), Ella Raines plays the daughter of rich man who falls under the charm of a butler who is pretending to be wealthy. The actress gets to wear some great fashions throughout the movie and brings a great wide-eyed enthusiasm to her role as well as her requisite sultriness.

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Here are some images of Ella Raines in White Tie and Tails:

Ella Raines and Clarence Kolb

Ella Raines and Dan Duryea

Ella Raines lights up a smoke

Ella Raines and William Bendix

Ella Raines talks White Tie and Tails

White Tie and Tails was afforded a fair amount of press during 1946. The film, starring Ella Raines alongside Dan Duryea and William Bendix, was essentially a B picture and it's short length signified that it was to be played as part of a double bill. Still, the movie had enough star power to get it some newspaper coverage.

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First, Ella Raines comments on her co-star Dan Duryea. The actor, primarily known for playing rough-edged bad guys on film, was playing a well-mannered butler in White Tie and Tails:

Here's a great article about Ella Raines and her expensive wardrobe for White Tie and Tails featuring several of quotes from the actress:

And finally a pair of contemporary summaries/reviews of White Tie and Tails:

Clip of Ella Raines in White Tie and Tails

Here's a clip of Ella Raines alongside actors Dan Duryea and Richard Gaines from the 1946 movie White Tie and Tails. This scene from early in the film shows how stars Ella Raines and Dan Duryea first meet.