Two Girls and a Sailor (1944)

A sailor helps two sisters start up a service canteen. The sailor soon becomes taken with gorgeous sister Jean, unaware that her sibling Patsy is also in love with him.

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Richard Connell (original screen play), Gladys Lehman (original screen play)

Stars:

Van Johnson, June Allyson, Gloria DeHaven

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Van Johnson	...	John Dyckman Brown III
June Allyson	...	Patsy Deyo
Gloria DeHaven	...	Jean Deyo
José Iturbi	...	Jose Iturbi
Gracie Allen	...	Concerto Number
Jimmy Durante	...	Billy Kipp
Tom Drake	...	Frank Miller
Lena Horne	...	Lena Horne
Henry Stephenson	...	John Dyckman Brown I
Henry O'Neill	...	John Dyckman Brown II
Ben Blue	...	Ben
Carlos Ramírez	...	Carlos Ramirez (as Carlos Ramirez)
Frank Sully	...	Private Adams
Albert Coates	...	Albert
Donald Meek	...	Mr. Nizby

Storyline

A sailor helps two sisters start up a service canteen. The sailor soon becomes taken with gorgeous sister Jean, unaware that her sibling Patsy is also in love with him.

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Plot Keywords:

sailor | sister sister relationship | skeleton | dream sequence | warehouse | 

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Genres:

Musical | Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

Two Sisters and a Sailor

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Loew's

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Frank Sully is listed in cast position #9 in the first set of cast credits, but is omitted in the second set of credits later. Hence the opening set is used first, and completed with the remaining members in the second set not yet used.

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Quotes

[after hitting a high note in the song, "Inka Dinka Doo"]
Billy Kipp: That note was given to me by Bing Crosby, and was he glad to get rid of it.

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Connections

Featured in Moments in Music (1950)

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Soundtracks

"Ritual Fire Dance"
(1915) (uncredited)
Music by Manuel de Falla
Performed on pianos by José Iturbi and Amparo Iturbi

User Reviews

A wartime morale-booster from MGM

TWO GIRLS AND A SAILOR (1944) is mindless fluff featuring a string of guest stars and musical acts, meant to cheer audiences up while WWII raged on overseas.

In the tradition of many other wartime musicals, the film is almost like sitting through a concert. A simple plot serves as an excuse for a parade of musical numbers that aim to entertain the cinema-goers as much as the in-movie club patrons. It's pure escapism. Throw in some romance, some comedy, and a dash of patriotism and you have a very pleasant movie indeed.

And TWO GIRLS AND A SAILOR is a very pleasant movie. Fluff, yes, but it's fun. June Allyson and Gloria DeHaven play showbiz sisters who sing at a nightclub and entertain servicemen at their apartment. Thanks to the generosity of a mysterious admirer, the girls are able to open their own canteen to put on shows for the men in uniform. But what happens when both sisters start falling for the same guy (Navy sailor Van Johnson)?

Both actresses are charming and do a nice job. Gloria DeHaven is very beautiful, but it is June Allyson as the protective older sister who wins us over. I've never considered myself much of a June Allyson fan, but she certainly was talented and her performance here (singing, dancing, acting, comedy) is great.

Jimmy Durante provides solid comic relief and even sings his hit "Inka Dinka Doo". Van Johnson plays an all-American good guy, a sailor who happens to be a multi-millionaire. Tom Drake is Johnson's rival for DeHaven's affections, an Army sergeant who's really kind of a jerk.

MGM showcases many of its top musical acts throughout the film, including popular trumpeter and bandleader Harry James, the exotic Xavier Cugat Orchestra, jazz vocalist Lena Horne, deadpan singer Virginia O'Brien, the singing Wilde Twins (sisters Lee and Lyn), and piano maestro Jose Iturbi. Even Gracie Allen shows up for a comedic piano number.

Thinly plotted musicals aren't always my thing, but there's something very likable about this production. Allyson, DeHaven, Johnson, Durante, and Henry Stephenson (as Johnson's grandfather) are all great. The musical acts serve as a 1940s time capsule. The story is sweet and innocent. Just sit back and be entertained.