Follow the Boys (1944)

Director:

A. Edward Sutherland

Writers:

Lou Breslow (original screenplay) and
Gertrude Purcell (original screenplay)

Release Date:

4 December 1944 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | War

Tagline:

Hollywood's Biggest Stars Come Together For A Great Cause!

Plot:

During World War II, all the studios put out "all-star" vehicles which featured virtually every star...

Plot Keywords:

Actor | Hollywood | Japan | Magician | Enemy

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

George Raft	...	Tony West
Vera Zorina	...	Gloria Vance
Jeanette MacDonald	...	Herself - Guest Star
Orson Wells' Mercury Wonder Show	...	Themselves - Guest Stars
Marlene Dietrich	...	Herself - Guest Star
Dinah Shore	...	Herself - Guest Star
Donald O'Connor	...	Himself - Guest Star
Peggy Ryan	...	Herself - Guest Star
W.C. Fields	...	Himself - Guest Star
The Andrews Sisters	...	Themselves - Guest Stars
Artur Rubinstein	...	Himself - Guest Star
Carmen Amaya and Her Company	...	Themselves - Guest Stars
Sophie Tucker	...	Herself - Guest Star
Delta Rhythm Boys	...	Themselves
Leonard Gautier's Bricklayers	...	Themselves

Also Known As:

Three Cheers for the Boys (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

122 min | USA:110 min (edited version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #9986) | Sweden:Btl | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Naval Training Center, San Diego, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

In the "Beyond the Blue Horizon" number (previously used in Monte Carlo (1930)) the lyric "rising sun" were chanced to "shining sun", to avoid any associations to the Japanese flag.

Quotes:

Gloria Vance: You have no inhibitions, have you?
Tony West: I can't afford them.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Marlene Dietrich: Her Own Song (2001)

Soundtrack:

Pennsylvania Polka

Entertaining The Troops

Follow The Boys was one of several "entertaining the troops" films made during World War II. The plots often revolved around personal conflict for the characters that is war related. The films usually pat show business on the back for what it's doing for the troops. Finally, there are lots of speciality numbers by popular performers of the day. Follow The Boys stays true to the formula, but with some interesting touches. First, it provides some background on the organization necessary to put entertainment units together. Second, some footage was shot at actual performances before audiences of service men and women.

George Raft plays the main character, a dancer turned show organizaer. His dancing makes us realize he is better at organizing shows. As is often the case in these films, the high spots are the speciality numbers, particularly Loius Jordan, Dinah Shore, and amazingly enough, Arthur Rubenstein here. Orson Welles does a fascinating magic act. Jeanette McDonald does a number in a hospital ward singing to injured soldiers. It's contrived, yet moving. Follow The Boys is an interesting, if uneven, WWII artifact.