Reviews (28)

The man who invented big band!
"The Glenn Miller Story" can be enjoyed even by someone who's not a fan of big band or jazz music. It's for everyone especially music lovers of all tastes. Jimmy Stewart is cast superbly here and at times you're thinking you're watching the actual Glenn Miller himself and not the actor. The music of Glenn Miller is brought to life so magically with its captivating soundtrack filled with his most memorable tunes and melodies like "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" and the one everyone knows: "Moonlight Serenade." The colors on this film are vivid and make you wish you'd want to be there. It was indeed tragic to lose such a great musician all too soon. You still hear his music in movies, nightclubs, theaters and more. All in all, it is a neat movie to look at and to hear remembering the trombonist who became the leader of the band: Glenn Miller.

5 stars for the music.....as for the story.....well.......
This film is a typical Hollywood b.s. story. A lot of incidents were made up for the film, for example, the Chummy McGregor-Glenn Miller friendship going back to the Ben Pollock Orchestra days, which was years before they even met! And it's too bad Miller didn't come up with his "sound" so easily!!! About the parts of the movie that are true-to-life is the relationship between Glenn and Helen, as performed by two of my favorite actors, James Stewart and June Allyson.

However, the music in this film (orchestrated by Universal Pictures staff composer, Henry Mancini) more than makes up for the deficiencies in the story. The orchestra assembled does a excellent job re-creating Miller's hits (far better than some of the ghost bands later organized by the Miller Estate).

You'll enjoy the music, especially in stereo, just don't take the story seriously.

Also, the VHS version has a couple of scenes clipped to make the movie time out to 120 minutes. Hopefully, these scenes will be restored when the movie is released on DVD (in March, 2003, as a double feature with The Benny Goodman Story, another Hollywood b.s. bio-pic).

Here's a interesting factoid: Harry (Henry) Morgan ("Chummy MacGregor") actually appeared in a film with the real Glenn Miller, "Orchestra Wives". Unfortunately, they did not appear in any scenes together.

That Sound
This was the highest grossing American film of 1954; had he wanted to, James Stewart could probably have ended up owning Universal Studios, so vastly indebted were they to him at this stage for the string of hits he'd produced for them. Director Anthony Mann too. It's a pretty easygoing look at the not-so easygoing bandleader Glenn Miller from his earliest days as a sideman trombonist and arranger to his becoming the top pop musician in the United States. Very interesting and enlightening about the way Miller searched for his own distinctive sound to set him apart from the hundreds of other jazz bands of the day. It also pretty much set the tone for the mysterioso treatment that has ever since surrounded Miller's disappearance in the European theater during WW2 in 1944. The theories are that his plane crashed in England and has yet to be found, or that returning bombers from an unsuccessful mission accidentally dumped their loads on his plane over the Channel. Neither gets any exploration here; Miller just ascends into band heaven. Pretty good performances all around, especially the wonderful and always reliable George Tobias as the theater owner/agent.

Evocative and Amazing
It happens every time. When you watch a film with James Stewart in it certain things happen.

The film begins, we see Mr. Stewart appear in character, he is the same, tall ,lanky and charismatic. As the film proceeds on..slowly but surely, Mr Stewart becomes " That" character he is playing. Soon the viewer is hooked by the total talent of Jim Stewart , he invites us in to each character he is playing.

He is Glenn Miller for us here in this film. If we didnt see Glenn Miller while he was around this is a good chance to see a close example.It does not matter how accurate the film is really.
Those who carp about accuracy should pick up a biography. Those who love the mystique will watch and enjoy the timeless Glenn Miller through James Stewart.

I cant see Krupa or Satchmo in any biography , and for sure I cant hear them. In this film I can..with superb effect. A snapshot in time of our musical history.

Finally, I was not around during during the Miller era however,

after viewing this film .. " I was there"

C Pope

Another mistreatment of a classic
Let's clarify a couple of things.

First, this movie IS INDEED anamorphic, despite the claim of another writer that the package was wrong in claiming such.

Secondly, to expect any biographical picture out of Hollywood to NOT play loosely with the facts is expecting a bit much. After all, from "The Babe Ruth Story" to "JFK", Hollywood has always subscribed to the theory of "fictional biographies".

Frankly, I found this movie to be quite enjoyable. First, ANY movie with Jimmy Stewart has something going for it. Throw in some FANTASTIC music, and a great...albeit way to short...cameo by Louis Armstrong, and this movie is a real piece of cinematic history.

Unfortunately, Universal Pictures seems to have a different opinion, as they have given this picture a very bare-bones AND shabby release.

The picture, while widescreen AND anamorphic, has a VHS quality to it. Some portions had an "out of focus" appearance. But most distracting was a frequent pulsating color...going from bright to dull to bright...ad infinitum. In some instances, this REALLY distracted from the enjoyment of...and the concentration on...the movie.

Having seen other pictures from this era with wonderfully clear transfers, I can but only believe that this was merely the result of laziness, cheapness, or carelessness on the part of Universal.

As this is not considered a classic in most film circles, I doubt this movie will ever see a second release. So sad, as it could be so enjoyable with a good picture. As it is, I hate to say it, but I'd recommend against a purchase. ... Read more

Description

A nostalgic view of the golden era of show business and the man who made it glitter--George M. Cohan. His early days, triumphs, songs, musicals and romances. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Lots of Singing and Dancing
YANKEE DOODLE DANDY was released just before the legendary George M. Cohan died from cancer. It was a patriotic movie made during the first year after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II. The movie was also a musical with lots of singing and dancing - especially by James Cagney. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY should be respected mostly for its music and dancing and not for its story which was about the life of Cohan. Nobody ever credited the film with much accuracy - including Cohan himself.

Cagney considered his role as Cohan to be one of his favorites. It should have been since Cagney began his own show business career as a young hoofer in New York City.

The supporting cast of Walter Huston, Joan Leslie, Irene Manning and Rosemary DeCamp was very strong. Cagney's sister Jeanne played the part of Josie Cohan and Frances Langford appeared as a singer. Eddie Foy Jr. made a brief showing as his own real life father, Eddie Foy.

YANKEE DOODLE DANDY won Academy Awards for Best Actor (James Cagney), Scoring of a Musical Picture and Sound Recording. It was also nominated for Best Picture, Director (Michael Curtiz), Supporting Actor (Walter Huston), Original Story and Editing. The main competition for Oscars in 1942 came from MRS. MINIVER. Director Michael Curtiz won an Academy Award for CASABLANCA in 1943.

Give My Regards To Cagney
Only 1942 Hollywood could show an aging songwriter stepping in with a parade and being challenged to sing a patriotic song which he wrote. And George M. Cohan wrote quite a few.

James Cagney's Best Actor performance takes place in flashback in the White House as he is summoned to receive a Medal of Honor for his body of work. He tells his bio to President Franklin Roosevelt, whom he is portraying in his show, "I'd Rather Be Right."

Cohan describes his early life in Vaudeville, travelling America with his parents and sister, and how he matures and partners with producer Sam Harris. His ups, downs and true loves weave the well-explained circumstances of many of his 80 plays and 500 hit songs. In particular, "I'm A Yankee Doodle Dandy," "Give My Regards To Broadway," "Mary," "You're A Grand Old Flag," and of course, the rousing WWI anthem, "Over There."

Although Cagney's character is a bit glib and constantly wisecracking, his relationships with family, business associates and competitors are well-defined. And of course, his superb dancing and physical movement may come as a surprise to gangster-movie purists. This is particularly evident in a scene he admittedly ad-libbed near the film's end.

Perhaps with America again at war, a classic film like "Yankee Doodle Dandy" is just what we need to enjoy.

Where has our patriotism gone?
I saw this movie for the first time last night w/ my father. He wanted me to see this movie to see the contrast of what people were like in the 40's-50's and how society is today. I'm 23 years old and to be honest with you, I thought that I wouldn't like this movie. As it turns out, I greatly enjoyed it. It was a wonderful story, full of patriotism - it just makes you proud to be in this country. What movies are out that are like this today? None. And that makes me incredibly sad to see such anti-Americanism. For what? If you want to see a movie that puts a fire in your belly and gets your spirit going, go see this movie - you will not be disappointed!

This is a MUST Own
There aren't too many movies that I'd say are pretty near perfect...but this is one of them!

I've seen it a dozen times, and I'm always amazed at how the movie doesn't fail to hold your interest the entire time. It's rousing, it's stirring, it's high energy, all the time!

I've not seen the colorized version, but the black and white is so appropriate to its time, I'm satisfied with the movie as it.

As many reviewers have mentioned, James Cagney is so perfect in this role, you can't imagine anyone else in it! He always considered himself a song-and-dance man, though you wouldn't know it if you were a fan of his many gangster flicks. Fred Astaire turned down the role, if you believe the many stories. And, as much as I love Astaire, the film would have suffered for it. The manic energy Cagney displays in the highlight musical numbers just brings his role to perfection.

If you are looking for a classic, never-to-be-topped movie about a songwriter, Broadway, great, rousing music, 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' is your film.

VERY HIGHLY Recommended! One of the top films of all time. (The American Film Institute lists it at 100th place, but it should be moved up much higher!)

Excellent Musical
With gloriously entertaining numbers and top notch direction. Among the best biopics of all time. A great, amazing, brilliant performance from Cagney; and excellent jobs from Walter Huston (Tresure of the Sierra Madre) and Michael Curtiz (Casablanca) who got help in the musical numbers by George M. Cohan himself. Watch for the marvellous performance from Cagney; but the musical numbers are great too. This is a good edition; Warner has been earning great merit in the DVD world lately. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Sorry, but I do not agree that this is "censorship"
"Melody Time," the 1948 collection of shorts that was not only the last but also the best of this type of Disney film, is not the focus point of an interesting controversy. When bringing out the video/DVD versions of this film, Disney altered the animation in the Pecos Bill segment. Originally Bill had a cigarette hanging from his lip and at one point shot a cigarette into a little kid's mouth, but those images and scene have been exorcised from the film....I have to admit I am not that upset by this [censorship]....

Now back to reviewing "Melody Time."

Here are the segments in this film: Frances Langford sings "Once Upon a Wintertime," done as a greeting card come to life. "Bumble Boogie" features a bumbleebee being chased by musical instruments and notes during a jazz version of "The Flight of the Bumblebee." Dennis Day does the voice of "Johnny Appleseed" in the story of the hero of folklore. The Andrews Sisters sing "Little Toot," about a young tugboat trying to make his father proud. "Trees" sets Joyce Kilmer's famous poem to music sung by Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians. Donald Duck teams up with Joe Carioca (from "The Three Caballeros) in "Blame It on the Samba," a giant cocktail with some interesting affects. Finally, the controversial "Pecos Bill," spung by Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers.

"Melody Time" is a solid blend of both musical and animation styles, which means it is going to be someting of a hit and miss proposition for small children, just like "Fantasia." There is always going to be a segment the kiddies want to fast-forward through to get to their favortie. "Melody Time" was never reissued, with Disney choosing instead to cut up the segments and rerelease them separately. "Trees" and "Bumble Boogie" became a short entitled "Contrasts in Rhythm" while five of the other sequences were combined with four from "Make Mine Music" in the "new" 1955 feature film "Music Land."

Hypo(or is it Hyper?)-criticism in the Disney studios
This is a nice glimpse of what Disney passed as a "feature" during and after the war, and it shows a willingness by whoever's in charge of the Disney studios to be faithful to Disney's original intentions(it would have been easy for the money men to chop up this feature, "Make Mine Music", "Salugos Amigos" and other collections, bundle them up with other shorts and release them separately).

BUT...

That honour only goes so far! They're willing to reissue a feature as Walt originally intended, but that feature has been "edited for content"(as the green screen at the beginning of the feature says). And it's not just "Melody Time"; "Make Mine Music", "The Three Caballeros" and others all carry that familiar distinction.

Why do they persist in "homogenizing"(for lack of a better word)Disney's classic works, while the modern studios are going full force in what they're censoring from the past? I mean, they take out a few seconds worth of Pecos Bill's cigarette, but the old lady character from "Atlantis" smokes like a chimney!

This says to me that there are too many cooks in the kitchen; doesn't everyone wish that there was someone who could be the strong head of Disney the way Walt was? Overseeing everything from story construction in animated features to the foundation and expansion of Disneyland, all without missing a step?

Better than Make Mine Music but doesn't equal to Fantasia.
The third attempt to remake Fantasia Disney comes across better. In this film they are telling little stories than really little musical dittys that we saw in Make Mine Music. The plots are more gripping, and the characters are more iconic. The highlights of the movie are Pecos Bill and Johnny Appleseed. I highly reccomend this for a whimsical good time.

Quackeriffic!
Melody Time (1948) was the third of the Disney Orchestral cartoons.Produced and illustrated by Walt Disney (1902-1966).I remember watching this in 2nd grade.The only cartoon in this movie I remember is the Johny Appleseed sequence.It's about a man named Johny(Appleseed isn't really his last name,you knoW)and why he likes apples and why they call him Appleseed.Of course,Mr Applessed isn't just made up.But why do they have Donald on the boxes?I didn't see Donald in this.It's sort of a 2nd sequel to Fantasia(1940) but it's not.Fantasia only has one sequel:Fantasia 2000(1999).Make Mine Music (1946) was nicknamed the 1st sequel to Fantasia.If you like Melody Time,buy Fantasia,Fantasia 2000 or Make Mine Music today!

Disney's 10th Animated Masterpiece!
Melody Time is the 3rd of Disney's package features and probably one of the best, I love many of the shorts featured in this film, specially "Little Toot" and "Blame it on the Samba". Little Toot is the story of a mischevious little boat getting into a lot of trouble for accidentally crashing a ship into the city by the shore and Blame ot on the Samba is a fun, musical cartoon featuring Disney's Donald Duck and Joe Carioca. The shorts are wonderfully animated and very colorful. I do believe that this package feature is one of the few that wasn't edited, so I suppose it makes a great gift to any Disney fan, or just a great addition to your own Disney collection.

The DVD brings a few extra musical cartoons, not much, but I suppose there isn't much documentary on this title so I suppose this DVD edition is the best we might be getting, that's why I would recommend it. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Irving Berlin sends Ronald Reagan off to fight World War II
On the 4th of July in 1942, "This Is the Army" opened on Broadway with book, lyrics and music by Irving Berlin, who persuaded the War Department to let him have 300 service men to do the show and thereby raise $10 million for Army Relief. The 1943 movie version, directed by Michael Curtiz for Warner Brothers, starred a pair of future California politicians, (Senator) George Murphy and (Governor) Ronald Reagan, as the father and son of Jerry and Johnny Jones (think of it as the "Predator" of its generation). Reagan had just entered the military and was assigned to making "This Is the Army" before moving on to military training films.

Scenarists Casey Robinson and Claude Binjoy came up with a story lined that worked in material from Berlin's legendary 1917 soldier show "Yip, Yip, Yiphank." Set during World War I, Murphy plays a Broadway song and dance man who is drafted and put in charge of an army show. Murphy sings and dances to "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "My Sweetie" and "We're On Our Way to France." After the final performance the cast marches off to war, where Jerry Jones receives a leg wound. Then we jump to the start of World War II, Jerry is now a Broadway producer and son Johnny is his assistant. History repeats itself, this time with Johnny enlisting and taking time to marry his sweetheart, Eileen Dibble (Joan Leslie), before marching off to the swelling strains of "This Time We Will All Make Certain."

The film offers Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" and Berlin himself singing "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning." This show also includes "This is the Army, Mr. Jones," which is probably the only other song contemporary audiences might still recognize, if you are old enough. Certainly "This Is the Army" is dated, but if you remember the time and place it does its duty well as a patriotic film, although the difference between sending the troops out to fight that war and the one currently being waged is rather dramatic. The film won the Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture for "Ray Heindorf."

Irving Berlin sends Ronald Reagan off to fight World War II
On the 4th of July in 1942, "This Is the Army" opened on Broadway with book, lyrics and music by Irving Berlin, who persuaded the War Department to let him have 300 service men to do the musical and raise $10 million for Army Relief. The 1943 movie version, directed by Michael Curtiz for Warner Brothers, starred a pair of future California politicians, (Senator) George Murphy and (Governor) Ronald Reagan, as the father and son of Jerry and Johnny Jones. Reagan, who had just earnedd the best notices of his career for his work in "King's Row," entered the military and was assigned to making "This Is the Army" and then military training films. Scenarists Casey Robinson and Claude Binjoy came up with a story lined that worked in material from Berlin's celebrated 1917 soldier show "Yip, Yip, Yiphank." Set during World War I, Murphy plays a Broadway song and dance man who is drafted and put in charge of an army show. After the final performance the cast marches off to war, where Jerry Jones receives a leg wound. Then we jump to the start of World War II, Jerry is now a Broadway producer and son Johnny is his assistant. History repeats itself, this time with Johnny enlisting and taking time to hurry up and marry his sweetheart, Eileen Dibble (Joan Leslie), before marching off. The film offers Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" and the special treat of Berlin himself singing "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning." This show also includes "This is the Army, Mr. Jones," which is probably the only other song contemporary audiences might still recognize, if you are old enough. Certainly "This Is the Army" is dated, but if you remember the time and place it does its duty well as a patriotic film.

Special Version on Original Release.
I recall screening this movie to packed audiences in 1944, so much so that the police had to control the box office. Every performance (3 times daily) played to capacity audiences, so I know all the songs especially MY BRITISH BUDDY, which no doubt U.S. Viewers have never even heard off.
In 1943, BRITISH versions included an Irving Berlin song, sung by Irving called MY BRITISH BUDDY, (We are as different as can be, he thinks he's winning the war and I think its ME! But we are in this to the finish, and on one thing we agree, when the war is won, and the job is done, we'll be joining hands across the sea)
I have yet to see this section on American TV versions, and wonder if it is included in American VHS versions. (which I doubt) It does demonstrate however just how close the Bros; Warner worked with the State Department, and orther Government agencies. perhaps they had a special version for France as well?

Will we ever know?
Ah Well
JD. July 2002

Irving Berlin sends Ronald Reagan off to fight World War II
On the 4th of July in 1942, "This Is the Army" opened on Broadway with book, lyrics and music by Irving Berlin, who persuaded the War Department to let him have 300 service men to do the musical and raise $10 million for Army Relief. The 1943 movie version, directed by Michael Curtiz for Warner Brothers, starred a pair of future California politicians, (Senator) George Murphy and (Governor) Ronald Reagan, as the father and son of Jerry and Johnny Jones. Reagan had just entered the military and was assigned to making "This Is the Army" and then military training films. Scenarists Casey Robinson and Claude Binjoy came up with a story lined that worked in material from Berlin's 1917 soldier show "Yip, Yip, Yiphank." Set during World War I, Murphy plays a Broadway song and dance man who is drafted and put in charge of an army show. After the final performance the cast marches off to war, where Jerry Jones receives a leg wound. Then we jump to the start of World War II, Jerry is now a Broadway producer and son Johnny is his assistant. History repeats itself, this time with Johnny enlisting and taking time to marry his sweetheart, Eileen Dibble (Joan Leslie), before marching off. The film offers Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" and Berlin himself singing "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning." This show also includes "This is the Army, Mr. Jones," which is probably the only other song contemporary audiences might still recognize, if you are old enough. Certainly "This Is the Army" is dated, but if you remember the time and place it does its duty well as a patriotic film.

Irving Berlin sends Ronald Reagan off to fight World War II
On the 4th of July in 1942, "This Is the Army" opened on Broadway with book, lyrics and music by Irving Berlin, who persuaded the War Department to let him have 300 service men to do the musical and raise $10 million for Army Relief. The 1943 movie version, directed by Michael Curtiz for Warner Brothers, starred a pair of future California politicians, George Murphy and Ronald Reagan, as the father and son of Jerry and Johnny Jones. Reagan had just entered the military and was assigned to making "This Is the Army" and then military training films. Scenarists Casey Robinson and Claude Binjoy came up with a story lined that worked in material from Berlin's 1917 soldier show "Yip, Yip, Yiphank." Set during World War I, Murphy plays a Broadway song and dance man who is drafted and put in charge of an army show. After the final performance the cast marches off to war, where Jerry Jones receives a leg wound. Then we jump to the start of World War II, Jerry is now a Broadway producer and son Johnny is his assistant. History repeats itself, this time with Johnny enlisting and taking time to marry his sweetheart, Eileen Dibble (Joan Leslie), before marching off. The film offers Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" and Berlin himself singing "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning." This show also includes "This is the Army, Mr. Jones," which is probably the only other song contemporary audiences might still recognize, if you are old enough. "This Is the Army" is dated, but if you remember the time and place it does its duty well as a patriotic film. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Irving Berlin sends Ronald Reagan off to fight World War II
On the 4th of July in 1942, "This Is the Army" opened on Broadway with book, lyrics and music by Irving Berlin, who persuaded the War Department to let him have 300 service men to do the show and thereby raise $10 million for Army Relief. The 1943 movie version, directed by Michael Curtiz for Warner Brothers, starred a pair of future California politicians, (Senator) George Murphy and (Governor) Ronald Reagan, as the father and son of Jerry and Johnny Jones (think of it as the "Predator" of its generation). Reagan had just entered the military and was assigned to making "This Is the Army" before moving on to military training films.

Scenarists Casey Robinson and Claude Binjoy came up with a story lined that worked in material from Berlin's legendary 1917 soldier show "Yip, Yip, Yiphank." Set during World War I, Murphy plays a Broadway song and dance man who is drafted and put in charge of an army show. Murphy sings and dances to "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "My Sweetie" and "We're On Our Way to France." After the final performance the cast marches off to war, where Jerry Jones receives a leg wound. Then we jump to the start of World War II, Jerry is now a Broadway producer and son Johnny is his assistant. History repeats itself, this time with Johnny enlisting and taking time to marry his sweetheart, Eileen Dibble (Joan Leslie), before marching off to the swelling strains of "This Time We Will All Make Certain."

The film offers Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" and Berlin himself singing "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning." This show also includes "This is the Army, Mr. Jones," which is probably the only other song contemporary audiences might still recognize, if you are old enough. Certainly "This Is the Army" is dated, but if you remember the time and place it does its duty well as a patriotic film, although the difference between sending the troops out to fight that war and the one currently being waged is rather dramatic. The film won the Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture for "Ray Heindorf."

Irving Berlin sends Ronald Reagan off to fight World War II
On the 4th of July in 1942, "This Is the Army" opened on Broadway with book, lyrics and music by Irving Berlin, who persuaded the War Department to let him have 300 service men to do the musical and raise $10 million for Army Relief. The 1943 movie version, directed by Michael Curtiz for Warner Brothers, starred a pair of future California politicians, (Senator) George Murphy and (Governor) Ronald Reagan, as the father and son of Jerry and Johnny Jones. Reagan, who had just earnedd the best notices of his career for his work in "King's Row," entered the military and was assigned to making "This Is the Army" and then military training films. Scenarists Casey Robinson and Claude Binjoy came up with a story lined that worked in material from Berlin's celebrated 1917 soldier show "Yip, Yip, Yiphank." Set during World War I, Murphy plays a Broadway song and dance man who is drafted and put in charge of an army show. After the final performance the cast marches off to war, where Jerry Jones receives a leg wound. Then we jump to the start of World War II, Jerry is now a Broadway producer and son Johnny is his assistant. History repeats itself, this time with Johnny enlisting and taking time to hurry up and marry his sweetheart, Eileen Dibble (Joan Leslie), before marching off. The film offers Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" and the special treat of Berlin himself singing "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning." This show also includes "This is the Army, Mr. Jones," which is probably the only other song contemporary audiences might still recognize, if you are old enough. Certainly "This Is the Army" is dated, but if you remember the time and place it does its duty well as a patriotic film.

Special Version on Original Release.
I recall screening this movie to packed audiences in 1944, so much so that the police had to control the box office. Every performance (3 times daily) played to capacity audiences, so I know all the songs especially MY BRITISH BUDDY, which no doubt U.S. Viewers have never even heard off.
In 1943, BRITISH versions included an Irving Berlin song, sung by Irving called MY BRITISH BUDDY, (We are as different as can be, he thinks he's winning the war and I think its ME! But we are in this to the finish, and on one thing we agree, when the war is won, and the job is done, we'll be joining hands across the sea)
I have yet to see this section on American TV versions, and wonder if it is included in American VHS versions. (which I doubt) It does demonstrate however just how close the Bros; Warner worked with the State Department, and orther Government agencies. perhaps they had a special version for France as well?

Will we ever know?
Ah Well
JD. July 2002

Irving Berlin sends Ronald Reagan off to fight World War II
On the 4th of July in 1942, "This Is the Army" opened on Broadway with book, lyrics and music by Irving Berlin, who persuaded the War Department to let him have 300 service men to do the musical and raise $10 million for Army Relief. The 1943 movie version, directed by Michael Curtiz for Warner Brothers, starred a pair of future California politicians, (Senator) George Murphy and (Governor) Ronald Reagan, as the father and son of Jerry and Johnny Jones. Reagan had just entered the military and was assigned to making "This Is the Army" and then military training films. Scenarists Casey Robinson and Claude Binjoy came up with a story lined that worked in material from Berlin's 1917 soldier show "Yip, Yip, Yiphank." Set during World War I, Murphy plays a Broadway song and dance man who is drafted and put in charge of an army show. After the final performance the cast marches off to war, where Jerry Jones receives a leg wound. Then we jump to the start of World War II, Jerry is now a Broadway producer and son Johnny is his assistant. History repeats itself, this time with Johnny enlisting and taking time to marry his sweetheart, Eileen Dibble (Joan Leslie), before marching off. The film offers Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" and Berlin himself singing "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning." This show also includes "This is the Army, Mr. Jones," which is probably the only other song contemporary audiences might still recognize, if you are old enough. Certainly "This Is the Army" is dated, but if you remember the time and place it does its duty well as a patriotic film.

Irving Berlin sends Ronald Reagan off to fight World War II
On the 4th of July in 1942, "This Is the Army" opened on Broadway with book, lyrics and music by Irving Berlin, who persuaded the War Department to let him have 300 service men to do the musical and raise $10 million for Army Relief. The 1943 movie version, directed by Michael Curtiz for Warner Brothers, starred a pair of future California politicians, George Murphy and Ronald Reagan, as the father and son of Jerry and Johnny Jones. Reagan had just entered the military and was assigned to making "This Is the Army" and then military training films. Scenarists Casey Robinson and Claude Binjoy came up with a story lined that worked in material from Berlin's 1917 soldier show "Yip, Yip, Yiphank." Set during World War I, Murphy plays a Broadway song and dance man who is drafted and put in charge of an army show. After the final performance the cast marches off to war, where Jerry Jones receives a leg wound. Then we jump to the start of World War II, Jerry is now a Broadway producer and son Johnny is his assistant. History repeats itself, this time with Johnny enlisting and taking time to marry his sweetheart, Eileen Dibble (Joan Leslie), before marching off. The film offers Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" and Berlin himself singing "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning." This show also includes "This is the Army, Mr. Jones," which is probably the only other song contemporary audiences might still recognize, if you are old enough. "This Is the Army" is dated, but if you remember the time and place it does its duty well as a patriotic film. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Irving Berlin sends Ronald Reagan off to fight World War II
On the 4th of July in 1942, "This Is the Army" opened on Broadway with book, lyrics and music by Irving Berlin, who persuaded the War Department to let him have 300 service men to do the show and thereby raise $10 million for Army Relief. The 1943 movie version, directed by Michael Curtiz for Warner Brothers, starred a pair of future California politicians, (Senator) George Murphy and (Governor) Ronald Reagan, as the father and son of Jerry and Johnny Jones (think of it as the "Predator" of its generation). Reagan had just entered the military and was assigned to making "This Is the Army" before moving on to military training films.

Scenarists Casey Robinson and Claude Binjoy came up with a story lined that worked in material from Berlin's legendary 1917 soldier show "Yip, Yip, Yiphank." Set during World War I, Murphy plays a Broadway song and dance man who is drafted and put in charge of an army show. Murphy sings and dances to "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "My Sweetie" and "We're On Our Way to France." After the final performance the cast marches off to war, where Jerry Jones receives a leg wound. Then we jump to the start of World War II, Jerry is now a Broadway producer and son Johnny is his assistant. History repeats itself, this time with Johnny enlisting and taking time to marry his sweetheart, Eileen Dibble (Joan Leslie), before marching off to the swelling strains of "This Time We Will All Make Certain."

The film offers Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" and Berlin himself singing "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning." This show also includes "This is the Army, Mr. Jones," which is probably the only other song contemporary audiences might still recognize, if you are old enough. Certainly "This Is the Army" is dated, but if you remember the time and place it does its duty well as a patriotic film, although the difference between sending the troops out to fight that war and the one currently being waged is rather dramatic. The film won the Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture for "Ray Heindorf."

Irving Berlin sends Ronald Reagan off to fight World War II
On the 4th of July in 1942, "This Is the Army" opened on Broadway with book, lyrics and music by Irving Berlin, who persuaded the War Department to let him have 300 service men to do the musical and raise $10 million for Army Relief. The 1943 movie version, directed by Michael Curtiz for Warner Brothers, starred a pair of future California politicians, (Senator) George Murphy and (Governor) Ronald Reagan, as the father and son of Jerry and Johnny Jones. Reagan, who had just earnedd the best notices of his career for his work in "King's Row," entered the military and was assigned to making "This Is the Army" and then military training films. Scenarists Casey Robinson and Claude Binjoy came up with a story lined that worked in material from Berlin's celebrated 1917 soldier show "Yip, Yip, Yiphank." Set during World War I, Murphy plays a Broadway song and dance man who is drafted and put in charge of an army show. After the final performance the cast marches off to war, where Jerry Jones receives a leg wound. Then we jump to the start of World War II, Jerry is now a Broadway producer and son Johnny is his assistant. History repeats itself, this time with Johnny enlisting and taking time to hurry up and marry his sweetheart, Eileen Dibble (Joan Leslie), before marching off. The film offers Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" and the special treat of Berlin himself singing "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning." This show also includes "This is the Army, Mr. Jones," which is probably the only other song contemporary audiences might still recognize, if you are old enough. Certainly "This Is the Army" is dated, but if you remember the time and place it does its duty well as a patriotic film.

Special Version on Original Release.
I recall screening this movie to packed audiences in 1944, so much so that the police had to control the box office. Every performance (3 times daily) played to capacity audiences, so I know all the songs especially MY BRITISH BUDDY, which no doubt U.S. Viewers have never even heard off.
In 1943, BRITISH versions included an Irving Berlin song, sung by Irving called MY BRITISH BUDDY, (We are as different as can be, he thinks he's winning the war and I think its ME! But we are in this to the finish, and on one thing we agree, when the war is won, and the job is done, we'll be joining hands across the sea)
I have yet to see this section on American TV versions, and wonder if it is included in American VHS versions. (which I doubt) It does demonstrate however just how close the Bros; Warner worked with the State Department, and orther Government agencies. perhaps they had a special version for France as well?

Will we ever know?
Ah Well
JD. July 2002

Irving Berlin sends Ronald Reagan off to fight World War II
On the 4th of July in 1942, "This Is the Army" opened on Broadway with book, lyrics and music by Irving Berlin, who persuaded the War Department to let him have 300 service men to do the musical and raise $10 million for Army Relief. The 1943 movie version, directed by Michael Curtiz for Warner Brothers, starred a pair of future California politicians, (Senator) George Murphy and (Governor) Ronald Reagan, as the father and son of Jerry and Johnny Jones. Reagan had just entered the military and was assigned to making "This Is the Army" and then military training films. Scenarists Casey Robinson and Claude Binjoy came up with a story lined that worked in material from Berlin's 1917 soldier show "Yip, Yip, Yiphank." Set during World War I, Murphy plays a Broadway song and dance man who is drafted and put in charge of an army show. After the final performance the cast marches off to war, where Jerry Jones receives a leg wound. Then we jump to the start of World War II, Jerry is now a Broadway producer and son Johnny is his assistant. History repeats itself, this time with Johnny enlisting and taking time to marry his sweetheart, Eileen Dibble (Joan Leslie), before marching off. The film offers Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" and Berlin himself singing "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning." This show also includes "This is the Army, Mr. Jones," which is probably the only other song contemporary audiences might still recognize, if you are old enough. Certainly "This Is the Army" is dated, but if you remember the time and place it does its duty well as a patriotic film.

Irving Berlin sends Ronald Reagan off to fight World War II
On the 4th of July in 1942, "This Is the Army" opened on Broadway with book, lyrics and music by Irving Berlin, who persuaded the War Department to let him have 300 service men to do the musical and raise $10 million for Army Relief. The 1943 movie version, directed by Michael Curtiz for Warner Brothers, starred a pair of future California politicians, George Murphy and Ronald Reagan, as the father and son of Jerry and Johnny Jones. Reagan had just entered the military and was assigned to making "This Is the Army" and then military training films. Scenarists Casey Robinson and Claude Binjoy came up with a story lined that worked in material from Berlin's 1917 soldier show "Yip, Yip, Yiphank." Set during World War I, Murphy plays a Broadway song and dance man who is drafted and put in charge of an army show. After the final performance the cast marches off to war, where Jerry Jones receives a leg wound. Then we jump to the start of World War II, Jerry is now a Broadway producer and son Johnny is his assistant. History repeats itself, this time with Johnny enlisting and taking time to marry his sweetheart, Eileen Dibble (Joan Leslie), before marching off. The film offers Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" and Berlin himself singing "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning." This show also includes "This is the Army, Mr. Jones," which is probably the only other song contemporary audiences might still recognize, if you are old enough. "This Is the Army" is dated, but if you remember the time and place it does its duty well as a patriotic film. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Soap Opera in the Cornfield
Lum & Abner (Chester Lauck and Norris Goff) were a popular radio team for 25 years beginning in 1931, and they moved to the big screen in 1940 for DREAMING OUT LOUD, which was popular enough to lead to half a dozen sequels (the last, a belated fare-thee-well, was produced in 1956). It is one heck of a strange film, part backwoods comedy, part heart-tugging drama; it's as if a soap opera broke out in the cornfields of HEE-HAW.

Proprietors of the Jot `em Down General Store in Pine Ridge, Arksansas, Lum Edwards and Abner Peabody have a nice perch with which to comment on the goings-on in town (what goings-on there are, if any) and get involved as Mary Worth-type helpers to young lovers, kids with dark secrets, the town drunk, and anybody else stumbling through. (Note that Lauck and Goff were in their mid-30s when this film was produced, but were made up to appear 30 to 50 years older).

The first third of the picture is pure corn, as our heroes discuss changing the signs in front of the store (one says "Fall Clearance Sale", t'other says "Spring Sweep Sale", and they finally decide to leave `em both up in case'n they ever decide to have another one of either). There's a shiftless gentleman who sleeps by the stove all day; Abner explains that he has been tryin' ter get a position as steamboat captain on a riverboat. "There ain't no river near here," Lum retorts. "He'll wait," Abner responds. Perhaps the funniest scene has the two of them playing checkers; when Lum quits, Abner decides to go right on playing checkers by his lonesome, only he gets in a big argument when he accuses himself of cheating.

From this urbane, witty photoplay we slip right into the crisis, when the spunky young daughter of the town's drunk becomes the victim of a hit-and-run driver. The drunk sobers up and becomes the town's assistant constable, and Lum and Abner help him look for the man who hit his daughter. They also assist the town doctor who's had a stroke, advise the doctor's son in his romance with the town's beautiful young postmistress, and try and talk the town's mean old rich lady into donating some much-needed medical supplies. I was sitting there thinking, "Gosh, if only somebody would burst out into song, this movie would be perfect." Within seconds, Frances Langford (the aforementioned postmistress) begins warbling "Dreaming Out Loud", thereby giving the film its title.

The best thing about this mishmash is the supporting cast; you'll find Frank Craven (SON OF DRACULA), much-used character actor Irving Bacon, Clara Blandick (Auntie Em in WIZARD OF OZ), Robert Wilcox (MYSTERIOUS DR. SATAN), and Phil Harris! Director Harold Young also gave us THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL (1934) and a trio of Universal horrors, THE MUMMY'S TOMB (1942), THE FROZEN GHOST (1945) and JUNGLE CAPTIVE (also 1945).

DREAMING OUT LOUD and some of its sequels are available on DVD from Alpha. DREAMING's print and transfer are okay, a bit jumpy and seeming to be missing a little footage, but quite acceptable if you're really in the mood for a Lum and Abner festival.
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