Always outshining her contemporaries, Ann Miller’s latter day gothic film career entry was not a slasher or a horror comedy. She actually played two characters, both named Coco, in David Lynch’s much lauded, eternally creepy Hollywood tale Mulholland Drive. This dual take allowed Miller to play with both sassy kindness and a more cryptic coolness, especially in her final scenes.

That perfected chill often played well during her major player days at MGM. Often cast as the other woman, Miller frequently tried to make life rough for her female co-stars. Whether it was Judy Garland, Jane Powell or Anne Francis, Ann continually used her feminine wiles to try to steal their men.

Of course, while all the roles were definitely of a certain type, Nadine Hall in Easter Parade was probably her penultimate creation. After dumping Fred Astaire’s smitten Don Hewes to achieve greener career pastures on her own, Hall about faces, mischievously trying to win him back after he finds success (and potential love) with Garland’s sweet Hannah.

Always playing this underhandedness with a bright smile, Miller also performs her iconic Shaking the Blues Away number here.

Impressively, she nailed this arduous routine while still recovering from a broken back, her physical agony making the victory of her performance here all the more significant. Importantly, this feat still echoes today, proving that, with grit and determination, absolutely anything can be obtained.