Cairo (1942)

Reporter Homer Smith accidentally draws Marcia Warren into his mission to stop Nazis from bombing Allied Convoys with robot-planes.

Director:

W.S. Van Dyke (as Maj. W.S. Van Dyke II)

Writers:

John McClain (screen play), Ladislas Fodor (based on an idea by)

Stars:

Jeanette MacDonald, Robert Young, Ethel Waters

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeanette MacDonald	...	Marcia Warren
Robert Young	...	Homer Smith
Ethel Waters	...	Cleona Jones
Reginald Owen	...	Philo Cobson
Grant Mitchell	...	O.H.P. Boggs
Lionel Atwill	...	Teutonic Gentleman
Eduardo Ciannelli	...	Ahmed Ben Hassan (as Edward Ciannelli)
Mitchell Lewis	...	Ludwig
Dooley Wilson	...	Hector
Larry Nunn	...	Bernie
Dennis Hoey	...	Colonrl Woodhue
Mona Barrie	...	Mrs. Morrison
Rhys Williams	...	Strange Man
Cecil Cunningham	...	Mme. Laruga
Harry Worth	...	Bartender

Storyline

After the Cavity Rock, California Times Leader newspaper is chosen as America's typical small town newspaper, reporter Homer Smith gets to abroad and report on the war in a series of articles to be shared with other small-town newspapers. He has a number of adventures including having his ship sink while en route to Cairo. He meets another survivor, Philo Cobson, who gives him a message to deliver to a woman in Cairo - should he survive. He delivers the message but convinces himself that an American singer-actress, Marcia Warren, is a spy. She in turn believes he's the spy. Mistaken identities abound but it all works out in the end.

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Plot Keywords:

small town | reporter | spy | mistaken identity | california | 

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Taglines:

There's never been a pyramid scheme like this!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 August 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Shadow of a Lady

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jim Davis' first film.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Homer Smith: Have you ever been in San Francisco?
Marcia Warren: Yes, once with Gable and Tracy and the joint fell apart!

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Crazy Credits

dedication...opening card: To the authors of "spy" dramas -- those unsung heroes of the pen without whose inspiration international spies could not possibly be as clever as they are -- this picture is irreverently dedicated...

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Connections

References The Courtship of Andy Hardy (1942)

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Soundtracks

Keep the Light Burning Bright
(1942) (uncredited)
Music by Arthur Schwartz
Lyrics by Howard Dietz and E.Y. Harburg
Sung by Jeanette MacDonald (uncredited) and The King's Men (uncredited)
Reprised by all at the party at the end

User Reviews

Robert Young vs. Waters and Wilson

This would be OK as a wartime musical, praying that ships get back to the harbours of Home. But Robert Young's character in infuriating. The gags, the pratfalls aren't funny, or they require the mindset of the Three Stooges. This is supposed to be an investigative reporter? Classy Jeanette MacDonald is supposed to fall for this goofball? But what saves the movie, as other have noted, is Ethel Waters. Sure, she's dressed as a maid until she gets to do a stage number. And Dooley Wilson, who watches that number, is dressed as an "A-rab." And of course there's nobody else they can pair up with. But they steal the show, and inspire even MacDonald to move her hips for a moment. Not Robert Young's character, still out of it.