Thousands Cheer (1943)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

George Sidney

Writers:

Paul Jarrico (story) and
Richard Collins (story) ...

Release Date:

January 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance

Plot:

Acrobat Eddie Marsh is in the army now. His first act is to become friendly with Kathryn Jones, the colonel's pretty daughter...

Plot Keywords:

Variety | Acrobat | Show | Army Base | Concert

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars.

Cast

Kathryn Grayson	...	Kathryn Jones
Gene Kelly	...	Private Eddie Marsh
Mary Astor	...	Hyllary Jones
John Boles	...	Colonel Bill Jones
Ben Blue	...	Chuck Polansky
Frances Rafferty	...	Marie Corbino
Mary Elliott	...	Helen Corbino
Frank Jenks	...	Sergeant Koslack
Frank Sully	...	Alan
Dick Simmons	...	Captain Fred Avery
Ben Lessy	...	Silent Monk
Mickey Rooney	...	Himself - Emcee at the Show
Judy Garland	...	Herself
Red Skelton	...	Himself
Eleanor Powell	...	Herself

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #9145) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Some cast members in studio records/casting call lists did not appear or were not identifiable in the movie. These were (with their character names): Connie Gilchrist (Taxicab driver), Daisy Bufford (Maid), Pierre Watkin (Alex), Edmund Mortimer (Guest) and Lionel Barrymore (Announcer). Bryant Washburn Jr. was announced as a cast member, but only his father, Bryant Washburn, had a role in the movie. Gus Schilling was also announced as a cast member, but he was not in the movie either. Barrymore is referenced by a comic impersonation performed by Mickey Rooney.

Quotes:

Private Eddie Marsh: From now on I only kiss women I know.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Test Pilot (1938)

Soundtrack:

Yankee Doodle

This kind of escapist fare clicked at the box-office during wartime...

And because it clicked, MGM did what all the other major studios were doing--hiring their big stars to do cameos in a picture obviously aimed at entertaining the troops overseas. Paramount did it with STAR SPANGLED RHYTHM, Warners with THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS, Universal with FOLLOW THE BOYS, so it was only a matter of time before MGM came up with THOUSANDS CHEER.

If nothing else, it serves as a good showcase for the talents of KATHRYN GRAYSON (their newest singing bird) and GENE KELLY (although his dancing is limited here). For good measure they gave them MARY ASTOR and JOHN BOLES for parents, a story about a girl who wants to get her mom and dad back together again (where have we heard that one before?), and a whole bunch of MGM's brightest stars or character players in a "let's put on a show for the boys" routine.

Too bad the only thing missing is a good script. Otherwise, just sit back and enjoy the gorgeous Technicolor, the dreamy close-ups of Kathryn Grayson at her musical best, and guest stars like LUCILLE BALL, JUDY GARLAND, LENA HORNE, FRANK MORGAN, VIRGINIA O'BRIEN, RED SKELTON and MICKEY ROONEY to perk up interest in a sagging script for the second half of the movie.

Summing up: Could have been a lot better. If this is your kind of ticket, check out THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS for a better star-filled time.