First a Girl (1935): Cast & Plot

In 1930s London, Elizabeth, Jessie Matthews quits her dull job at a posh luxury fashion shop and, caught in a rainstorm, finds shelter in a crowded coffeehouse where she sits opposite Victor, a gifted yet struggling actor who dreams of Shakespeare but makes his living in a music-hall persona called “Victoria.” After a brief exchange, Victor hurries away to his boarding house to fetch a message inviting him to perform that evening, only to discover he has laryngitis brought on by the storm. Seeing a spark of opportunity, he hatched a bold plan: Elizabeth could step in, sing, and perform as a female impersonator. That night, Elizabeth’s debut is a sensational success, and promoter McLintock, Alfred Drayton, rushes backstage with a contract in his hand.