The dazzlingly gorgeous Billie Dove is appropriately cast as the title character in American Beauty. This is the story of Millicent Howard (Dove), who banks upon her good looks to achieve wealth and luxury. Her efforts reach a pinnacle when millionaire Claverhouse (Walter McGrail) pops the question. But Millicent suddenly decides that Love is more important than Money, sacrificing all for the sake of comparatively impecunious Jerry Booth (Lloyd Hughes). Knowing full well what the audience wanted and expected, the screenwriters contrived to include several scenes in which the heroine strips down to her skivvies. Despite the "money isn't everything" throughline of American Beauty, Billie Dove is best-known today for her lengthy, well-publicized romance with zillionaire Howard Hughes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi