Hollywood Canteen (1944)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Delmer Daves

Writer:

Delmer Daves (writer)

Release Date:

15 December 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

62 Stars in Warners' Biggest Ever!

Plot:

Two soldiers on sick leave spend three nights at the Hollywood Canteen before going back to active duty...

Plot Keywords:

Hollywood | Soldier | Kiss | Hollywoodland | Sound Stage

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars.

Cast

Laverne Andrews	...	Herself (as The Andrews Sisters)
Dane Clark	...	Sgt. Nowland
Maxene Andrews	...	Herself (as The Andrews Sisters)
Robert Hutton	...	Cpl. Ed 'Slim' Green
Patty Andrews	...	Herself (as The Andrews Sisters)
Jack Benny	...	Himself
Joe E. Brown	...	Himself
Eddie Cantor	...	Himself
Kitty Carlisle	...	Herself
Jack Carson	...	Himself
Joan Crawford	...	Herself
Helmut Dantine	...	Himself
Bette Davis	...	Herself
Faye Emerson	...	Herself
Victor Francen	...	Himself

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Cole Porter's genial, "unsophisticated" cowboy song, "Don't Fence Me In," via the Decca recording by Bing Crosby (who did not appear in the picture) and The Andrews Sisters, reigned as the number-one "Billboard" single for eight weeks, between December 23, 1944 and February 10, 1945.

Goofs:

Continuity: When "Slim" is sightseeing in Hollywood at the beginning of the film his infantry division patch (40th Div) is shown on his left shoulder. However, in one scene (right after the swimming pool), the patch is displayed on his right shoulder.

Quotes:

[after unintentionally scaring away a marine sergeant]
Peter Lorre: [sadly] All I wanted to ask him is to join me in a cigarette!
Sydney Greenstreet: He didn't trust us, Peter.
Peter Lorre: No... and we are such gentle people!
Sydney Greenstreet: ...Are we?
Peter Lorre: [Backs away, frightened]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Stardust: The Bette Davis Story (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

What Are You Doin' the Rest of Your Life

Very entertaining/history/love story

Be ready to sit back and be gloriously entertained for 2 hours. The Hollywood Canteen was a real place that was the idea of John Garfield who enlisted the help of Bette Davis and they took it from there. Bette got Jules Stein (head of Warner Brothers) involved and it really took off from there. Then they made the movie, the bulk of the proceeds went to the Hollywood Canteen. The stars just keep on coming and they all put on a show. Here is your chance to see them virtually in their prime or heading into their prime. Nothing boring here. Then there is the love story between Joan Leslie and Robert Hutton (there was a tremendous chemistry between them on the screen). Sure it would never happen in real life but it certainly would be every soldier's fantasy that it could happen. And that would keep a lot of spirits up in cold fox holes. I can see why it was such a success when it came out. The Hollywood Canteen closed after V-J day. It had $500,000 left in bank account. That was used to set up a foundation to fund projects for the armed services and it is still going today!