Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)
I’ve seen several variety shows made for the troops in WWII, as well as some made during the Korean War, and Thank Your Lucky Stars is by far my favorite. If all you’ve seen are The Stage Door Canteen and Starlift, you’ve got to rent this one to put a good taste in your mouth. Not only is the premise decent, but the dialogue is hilarious and the songs are cute! In most of these types of movies, all you’ll get are terrible leftover songs that no other movie wanted, a nonexistent plot, and crummy dialogue.
S.Z. Sakall and Edward Everett Horton are putting on a star-studded variety show, and they want Dinah Shore to join their cast. However, Dinah’s tied to a contract with Eddie Cantor, and the fellows don’t want anything to do with him. He has a reputation for taking over everything, and they want to be in charge of their own show.
Speaking of taking over, Eddie Cantor plays a dual role in this movie. He also plays a lowly wannabe actor who pays his bills by giving Hollywood tours. He’s constantly stopped in the street by people who think he’s Eddie Cantor, and he can’t stand it. His pals, Dennis Morgan and Joan Leslie, are determined to break into the movie business, too, and they hope to perform in the all-star gala.
There are so many cute and catchy songs, it’s hard to choose a third favorite. Obviously, the most adorable number is Errol Flynn’s “That’s What You Jolly Well Get,” that he sings with a hilarious Cockney accent, an exaggerated mustache wiggle, and an endless quest for just one drink. He’s such a doll, and it’s the only time you’ll get to see him cut loose singing and dancing. Had he lived five more years, he would have made a perfect Alfred P. Doolittle in My Fair Lady! Second place goes to Bette Davis honoring every branch of the Armed Forces in “They’re Either Too Young or Too Old,” as she tells the camera why she’s determined to wait for her sweetheart to come home from the service.
S.Z. Sakall and Edward Everett Horton are putting on a star-studded variety show, and they want Dinah Shore to join their cast. However, Dinah’s tied to a contract with Eddie Cantor, and the fellows don’t want anything to do with him. He has a reputation for taking over everything, and they want to be in charge of their own show.
Speaking of taking over, Eddie Cantor plays a dual role in this movie. He also plays a lowly wannabe actor who pays his bills by giving Hollywood tours. He’s constantly stopped in the street by people who think he’s Eddie Cantor, and he can’t stand it. His pals, Dennis Morgan and Joan Leslie, are determined to break into the movie business, too, and they hope to perform in the all-star gala.
There are so many cute and catchy songs, it’s hard to choose a third favorite. Obviously, the most adorable number is Errol Flynn’s “That’s What You Jolly Well Get,” that he sings with a hilarious Cockney accent, an exaggerated mustache wiggle, and an endless quest for just one drink. He’s such a doll, and it’s the only time you’ll get to see him cut loose singing and dancing. Had he lived five more years, he would have made a perfect Alfred P. Doolittle in My Fair Lady! Second place goes to Bette Davis honoring every branch of the Armed Forces in “They’re Either Too Young or Too Old,” as she tells the camera why she’s determined to wait for her sweetheart to come home from the service.
Olivia De Havilland, Ida Lupino, and George Tobias have a silly little ditty to perform, but the two ladies are adorable with curly wigs, puffy sleeves, and bobby socks. Hattie McDaniel leads a catchy chorus number “Ice Cold Katie” to promote girls marrying their sweethearts before they ship off. So many people get to show off hidden talents in this movie, including Alan Hale, who sings and dances a duet with Jack Carson. Even John Garfield joins in on the fun. He’d be the first to admit he can’t really sing, but he bluffs his way through “Blues in the Night” to entertain the troops. For a bit of naughty fun, Ann Sheridan sings alongside a chorus of girls in their nightgowns, and Eddie Cantor sings the suggestive “We’re Staying Home Tonight.” Dinah Shore gets to sing the title song, and Spike Jones pumps up the energy with an entertaining big band number. Dennis Morgan and Joan Leslie sing a cute, toe-tapping country ditty, “Riding for a Fall.”
See what I mean? It’s just impossible to pick a third favorite. The songs are entertaining enough to warrant repeat viewings, but the dialogue in between is so funny, I couldn’t stop laughing. I’d never been exposed to Eddie Cantor’s humor before, but I found him hilarious, like a funnier Groucho Marx. “Let go of my toe, you heel!” I now order my kitty when she bites me, just as he said to the dogs licking maple syrup off his feet.
You’ve got to rent this movie, or better yet, buy a copy. You’re going to want to watch it over and over again. I know I will! Where else will you get to see Bette Davis do the jitterbug, Errol Flynn admitting he doesn’t sound like an opera singer, and Alexis Smith baring nearly all in a spectacular ballroom dance number? Only in Thank Your Lucky Stars. And if you need any more motivation to watch it, warm your heart with the knowledge that everyone in this movie donated their salaries to the Hollywood Canteen, founded by Bette Davis and John Garfield.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Juhi Thaker" for posting!
More Errol Flynn movies here!
More Hattie McDaniel movies here!
See what I mean? It’s just impossible to pick a third favorite. The songs are entertaining enough to warrant repeat viewings, but the dialogue in between is so funny, I couldn’t stop laughing. I’d never been exposed to Eddie Cantor’s humor before, but I found him hilarious, like a funnier Groucho Marx. “Let go of my toe, you heel!” I now order my kitty when she bites me, just as he said to the dogs licking maple syrup off his feet.
You’ve got to rent this movie, or better yet, buy a copy. You’re going to want to watch it over and over again. I know I will! Where else will you get to see Bette Davis do the jitterbug, Errol Flynn admitting he doesn’t sound like an opera singer, and Alexis Smith baring nearly all in a spectacular ballroom dance number? Only in Thank Your Lucky Stars. And if you need any more motivation to watch it, warm your heart with the knowledge that everyone in this movie donated their salaries to the Hollywood Canteen, founded by Bette Davis and John Garfield.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Juhi Thaker" for posting!
More Errol Flynn movies here!
More Hattie McDaniel movies here!