Douglas was the subject of the documentary Girl 27 documenting her 1937 rape by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) salesman David Ross and the aftermath.

Douglas dropped out of school at the age of 14 and focused on pursuing a film career, working as a dancer and extra, appearing in Gold Diggers of 1933 and So This Is Africa.

The district attorney at the time was Buron Fitts, a personal friend of MGM studio chief Louis B. Mayer.

[1] The grand jury hearing dominated the news cycle, despite other significant stories such as the marriage of the abdicated Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, and the death of actress Jean Harlow.

[2] When the grand jury refused to indict Ross, Douglas filed a civil suit against studio personnel and the other party attendees.

[1] Douglas left the industry after her assault and struggled with her relationships in life as a result of the mental and emotional trauma she experienced from the rape and subsequent smear campaign by MGM.