Coming up next is 1943's "This Is The Army", a film full of patriotic fervor about an army show that spanned two world wars and touched people across the United States. The film's cast includes George Murphy, Ronald Reagan, Joan Leslie, George Tobias, Alan Hale, Charles Butterworth, Una Merkel, Stanley Ridges, Rosemary DeCamp, Ruth Donnelly, Frances Langford, Joe Louis, Kate Smith, Irving Berlin, Hayden Rorke, Julie Oshins, and Victor Moore.
It's 1917, and World War I is in full force. Patriotic fever is sweeping the United States as people sign up to help end the war. Military bands play "It's Your Country and My Country" in the streets to arouse national pride.
Singer/dancer Jerry Jones is also visited by the war. During one of his performances at a local theater, he receives his draft notice. He marries his sweetheart that night and is packed off into the army.
Jerry leads a group of guys in a show that raises money for the war effort. It's a tremendous success.
On the final night of the show, instead of the finale, the men march to off the stage and out the front doors while singing "We're On Our Way To France". They've been assigned that night to their combat divisions. As they depart the theater, they get a standing ovation from the audience.
Eventually, the war comes to an end, but not without its casualties. Jerry Jones is injured, and his days as a song and dance man are over. He begins to run a music store.
Decades later, a new war is going on. National pride is again sweeping the nation. Kate Smith sings a new song "God Bless America" that captures the spirit of America.
And singers like Frances Langford sing songs called "What Does He Look Like?" to raise the morale of those soon to be going overseas.
Jerry Jones's son Johnny is one such young man headed for combat. He's in love with Eileen, but he doesn't want to marry her because he doesn't want her to be a widow should he die in battle. She wants to get married no matter what, but he doesn't budge.
Johnny and some of his friends (sons of the original army show members) stage another show to raise funds for the war effort. They open the show with a song called "This Is The Army, Mr. Jones".
There is also some pretty spectacular acrobatic feats as well.
The guys even get their army drill sergeant involved when he has to fill in for someone who can't make it. Unfortunately for him, the number he has to do is a drag sequence called "Ladies Of The Chorus". The guys have a good time ribbing him.
The navy also gets involved in the show. They do a number called "How About A Cheer For The Navy?". The onstage set features guns that fire spectacularly at the end of the number.
Their show is a huge hit. The men tour the United States in one success after another.
They eventually get a call from Washington D.C., and the men put on a command performance for President Roosevelt.
The show continues to delight the audience. Songs like "I Left My Heart at the Stage Door Canteen" and "American Eagles" cause the audience to applaud constantly. I love the line the pilots sing that says, "How I yearn to return with my head in the clouds to the one I love on the ground."
Irving Berlin even makes a guest appearance and sings the humorous "Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning".
Eileen makes Johnny sees sense and he agrees to marry her after she gives him an impassioned speech. "We’re all in this fight together, women as well
as men. Let’s share our responsibilities.I want to be a part of you, Johnny.A part that goes with you on the battlefield,
someone to come back to.This is a free
United States!Doggone it!If we want to get married, let’s get married!"
Just like in the first war, after the final song the men are to join their combat units. As they sing "This Time", the audience proudly applauds them. "This time we will all make certain that this time is the last time," sings the men as they march. Cast rundown:
George Murphy......................................Jerry Jones
Ronald Reagan......................................Johnny Jones
Joan Leslie............................................Eileen Dibble
George Tobias........................................Maxie Twardofsky
Alan Hale..............................................Sgt. McKee
Charles Butterworth................................Eddie Dibble
Una Merkel............................................Rose Dibble
Stanley Ridges.......................................Major John B. Davidson
Rosemary DeCamp.................................Ethel Jones
Victor Moore..........................................Soldier's Father And that's all for This Is The Army. This film became the number one moneymaker of 1943. Bette Davis insisted that the head of Warner Bros. donate all the profits from the film to the war effort. It's really a spectacular look at the way America was feeling during World War II. I'm proud to have watched it. As always, if you wish to leave a comment, please remember our posting rules.
No comments:
Post a Comment