Editing Love Me or Leave Me (film) (section)

==Plot==
Nineteen-twenties [[Chicago]] [[nightclub singer]] and [[Taxi dancer|dime-a-dance girl]] Ruth Etting is in jeopardy of losing her job for kicking a customer for his unwelcome attention.  Martin Snyder, known as "The Gimp" because of his game leg, intervenes on her behalf.  A man of considerable clout, he owns a laundry business as a front and runs a thriving protection racket.

Etting is desperate to get into show business. Snyder gets her a job dancing in a floor show, then pays for a singing coach, Johnny Alderman, who is also attracted to her.
[[File:Tri-City Drive-In Ad - 28 June 1955, Loma Linda, CA.jpg|150px|thumb|left|[[Drive-in theater|Drive-in]] advertisement from 1955.]]
Etting and Alderman are grateful, but Snyder makes it clear he expects Etting to travel to [[Miami]] with him, not for business but for pleasure. Etting declines, but Snyder's interest in her continues. Through an agent, Bernie Loomis, he arranges a radio program to feature Etting, followed by a job with the [[Ziegfeld Follies]]. His crude behavior and violent temper cause Etting multiple problems.

Johnny continues to woo Etting, but under heavy pressure from Snyder she marries him instead. His heavy-handed management continues as her career blossoms. Goaded to enter the entertainment business, Snyder decides to open a nightclub of his own, sinking his wealth heavily into it. Upset at sensing a relationship resuming between Etting and Johnny during their filming of a Hollywood movie, Snyder strikes her; she runs off and seeks a divorce. Snyder then catches them together, shoots Johnny and is arrested.

Horrified but conflicted because of all Snyder has done for her career, Etting arranges for Loomis to bail him out of jail. At his nightclub which he expects to find deserted, Snyder arrives to find Etting performing there herself. At first enraged by what he perceives as an act of charity, Snyder finally realizes this is Etting's way of showing her appreciation, even if she can't be part of his life any longer.