JOAN LESLIE

She wasn’t exactly a household word. In fact, even Mr. Movie had never heard of her and had to look her up. But Joan Leslie, who died recently at 90, had an incredible movie career, and a good life to boot. She starred in three classics and appeared in two more quality films. After a blazing start, she just dropped out of show biz altogether for about 10 years. She raised her two daughters, both of whom are physicians on university faculties. And she was married to the same man for 50 years, the union ending only with his death. Wow! A life well-lived indeed. Her career started in 1936, but didn’t really take off until
High Sierra (1941). In this early John Huston classic, Humphrey Bogart plays a hard-nosed con (Roy Earle) just released from prison and in on a new heist. On the way, he meets Velma (Joan Leslie) who suffers from a deformed foot. He sympathizes with her plight and pays for corrective surgery. Though immensely grateful, she turns down his marriage proposal to return to her hometown sweetheart. Roy Earle continues on to the planned robbery, which goes terribly wrong. Unhappy endings were not the usual material of Hollywood in those days (although bad guys ending up badly was formula stuff).
In Sergeant York (1941) Gary Cooper plays the title character. We see him at first as a hard-drinking hard-fighting hillbilly, but his life is changed on meeting Gracie Williams, ably portrayed by Joan Leslie. He goes on to become one of the most famous soldiers of World War I, a decorated hero. Mr. Cooper won an Oscar for his performance, and the movie was nominated for five more statues.
Next up for Ms. Leslie was the incredibly entertaining Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942). It features James Cagney (yes, him!) as legendary song and dance man George M. Cohan. Joan Leslie plays Mary, his lovely wife, dancing partner and co-star. 
The film was nominated for nine Oscars and won four, including Mr. Cagney as Best Actor. 
Joan Leslie as a dancer was no fluke. Her next movie involved dancing with the Grand Master: Fred Astaire! The Sky’s The Limit (1942) may not be Astaire’s best, but it’s still Astaire, There are the usual number of great dance numbers, all of which were choreographed by Astaire himself. And Ms. Leslie leads him a merry chase that of course ends happily. And- she holds her own dancing with a legend. 
Finally, the rather hokey but nonetheless entertaining Rhapsody In Blue (1945), a somewhat iffy biopic about George Gershwin. Joan Leslie plays Julie Adams, a Gershwin sweetheart, one of many fictional characters in the film. The music is great!
After that, Joan Leslie drops out of sight for many years and never really hits it big again. All of the movies in this article are available on DVD and for streaming. All are fine for all ages.