After playing a bit part in "State Fair" (1945), she became pregnant and briefly stopped working, only to return a year later as the love interest of the character played by John Wayne in "Red River" (1948), which was shot in 1946 but held for release until 1948. Gray appeared in two 1947 films noir: In "Kiss of Death" as Victor Mature's ex-con character's wife and Richard Widmark's character's target; and in "Nightmare Alley" as Tyrone Power's character's carnival performer wife, "Electra." In 1950, Gray used her musical abilities as she sang her part (rather than having her voice dubbed) opposite Bing Crosby in "Riding High", directed by Frank Capra. "Riding High" was not a success and Fox ended her contract in 1950.