producer lee schubert, who was bowled over by her persona, convinced her to try her luck in new york. hollywood soon fell for carmen; she signed a contract with twentieth century fox for her first movie 'down argentine way', with betty grable, which was followed by six other films.

this period would prove to be the zenith of her film career, where her latin spirit, her energy and outlandish costumes captured the imagination of the world, her famous fruit hats still irreplaceable.