Seven Days' Leave (1942)

Soldier Johnny Grey is engaged to marry singer Mapy Cortes, but his plans go awry when he learns that he is the heir to $100,000 from his great-grandfather -- a bequest that comes with a ... See full summary »

Director:

Tim Whelan

Writers:

William Bowers (original screenplay), Ralph Spence (original screenplay),

Stars:

Victor Mature, Lucille Ball, Harold Peary

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Victor Mature	...	Johnny Grey
Lucille Ball	...	Terry Havalok-Allen
Harold Peary	...	Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve (as Harold Peary {The Great Gildersleeve})
Mapy Cortés	...	Mapy (as Mapy Cortes)
Ginny Simms	...	Herself
Freddy Martin	...	Himself (as Freddy Martin and His Orchestra)
Les Brown	...	Himself (as Les Brown and His Orchestra)
Marcy McGuire	...	Mickey Havalok-Allen
Arnold Stang	...	Bitsy Slater
Lynn Royce & Vanya	...	Specialty Dancers (as Lynn, Royce & Vanya)
Ralph Edwards & Co.	...	Themselves
Peter Lind Hayes	...	Pvt. Pete Jackson
Walter Reed	...	Ralph Bell
Wallace Ford	...	Sgt. Mead
Buddy Clark	...	Buddy Clark

Storyline

Soldier Johnny Grey is engaged to marry singer Mapy Cortes, but his plans go awry when he learns that he is the heir to $100,000 from his great-grandfather -- a bequest that comes with a catch: before claiming the money, Johnny must marry a descendant of his great-grandfather's Civil War enemy, General Havelock-Allen. Not wanting to disrupt his planned marriage to Mapy, Johnny must figure out how to concoct a temporary marriage-of-convenience with the descendant -- who turns out to be the beautiful Terry Havelock-Allen.

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Plot Keywords:

u.s. army | military maneuver | sister | engagement | pie in the face | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 November 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

7 imeres efthyhias

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Russell Hoyt, Frank Martinelli and Richard Martin are listed in studio records/casting call lists playing uncredited "Members of Financial Trio," and some references picked up that credit. However, no financial discussions takes place in the movie, other than those with the main characters. Since Richard Martin was seen in the film as a soldier and has virtually no lines, it can be assumed the other two are soldiers also and that the trio's participation in the plot was cut from the film.

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Soundtracks

"Please Won't You Leave My Girl Alone"
(1942)
Music by Jimmy McHugh
Lyrics by Frank Loesser
Played during the opening credits
Sung and danced by the soldiers in the barracks, including Victor Mature, Peter Lind Hayes and Arnold Stang
Reprised at he end by soldiers on the ship and civilians waving goodbye
Played often as part of the score

User Reviews

What I'd Do For Money

Unless you are of that age and those are some of our most senior citizens nowadays or familiar with the culture of the times, Seven Days Leave will probably be way out of the league of some of our younger viewers.

Through the magic of cable television, today's viewers are of course familiar with leading lady Lucille Ball. Her name will be what attracts viewers to this film. She's a descendant of a Confederate general and a girl with some means. And according to the screwball plot of this film, Victor Mature means to marry her and get some means because he's the last descendant of a Union general who wanted one of his offspring to marry one of the Confederate heirs and bind the nation's wounds so to speak.

Mature is just a buck private, not quite like Abbott&Costello were, but still a buck private and a man with a way with the ladies. I think you can figure out where this one is going.

The film and its silly plot just serve as an excuse to showcase some radio shows and big bands and other assorted acts from the World War II era. Mature is found on a real popular radio program of the day that traced missing heirs and he also appears on Truth Or Consequences with Ralph Edwards. And Harold Peary makes an appearance as the Great Gildersleeve and unless you are familiar with that popular radio comedy you probably won't understand Peary and his significance in being in Seven Days Leave.

Singer Buddy Clark is in the film and when I saw his name in the credits I looked forward to hearing him. Sad his numbers probably wound up on RKO's cutting room floor. I'm sure that bothered him no end.

Seven Days Leave is one terribly dated World War II era film that folks not brought up in that culture will not really enjoy.