Jean Louis, Columbia's head designer received an Academy Award nomination for his work in Pal Joey. Rita Hayworth played the role of Vera Simpson, a nightclub entertainer whose career began as a burlesque house queen known as 'Vanessa The Undresser'. The film was Hayworth's last with Columbia and ..It was to be her last musical, her last film at her old alma mater... and the last time she played a role which in every way was that of RITA HAYWORTH - MOVIE STAR.