She’s Working Her Way Through College (1952), Virginia Mayo, Ronald Reagan

She’s Working Her Way Through College is a 1952 American musical comedy starring Virginia Mayo, Ronald Reagan, and Gene Nelson. Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone, the film was produced by Warner Bros. and released in Technicolor.

Virginia Mayo plays Angela Gardner, a burlesque performer known as “Hot Garters Gertie,” who has been working to save enough money to attend college and pursue her dream of becoming a writer. She enrolls at Midwest College, where she meets her former teacher, Professor John Palmer, played by Ronald Reagan.

Angela soon becomes involved in college life and helps the struggling dramatic arts department prepare a musical production. However, her past as a performer creates problems when her secret is revealed, leading to jealousy, misunderstandings, and a conflict with the college authorities.

With its combination of comedy, romance, music, college life, and classic Hollywood entertainment, the movie offers a colorful look at 1950s musical comedies.

Year: 1952
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Starring: Virginia Mayo, Ronald Reagan, Gene Nelson, Don DeFore
Director: H. Bruce Humberstone
Production: Warner Bros.
Runtime: 1 hour 41–44 minutes (sources vary; AFI records 100–101 or 104 minutes).