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IMDbPro

Best Foot Forward

  • 19431943
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
976
YOUR RATING
Lucille Ball and Harry James in Best Foot Forward (1943)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer1:42
1 Video
26 Photos
MusicalComedy
Lucille Ball accepts a cadet's invitation to a military academy's senior prom in order to boost her career.Lucille Ball accepts a cadet's invitation to a military academy's senior prom in order to boost her career.Lucille Ball accepts a cadet's invitation to a military academy's senior prom in order to boost her career.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
976
YOUR RATING
    • Edward Buzzell
  • Writers
    • Irving Brecher(screenplay)
    • Fred F. Finklehoffe(screenplay)
    • John Cecil Holm(book)
  • Stars
    • Lucille Ball
    • William Gaxton
    • Virginia Weidler
    • Edward Buzzell
  • Writers
    • Irving Brecher(screenplay)
    • Fred F. Finklehoffe(screenplay)
    • John Cecil Holm(book)
  • Stars
    • Lucille Ball
    • William Gaxton
    • Virginia Weidler
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 27User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Best Foot Forward
    Trailer 1:42
    Watch Best Foot Forward

    Photos26

    Lucille Ball, Kenny Bowers, Tommy Dix, William Gaxton, and John Allbule in Best Foot Forward (1943)
    Lucille Ball and Harry James in Best Foot Forward (1943)
    Virginia Weidler in Best Foot Forward (1943)
    Tommy Dix and Virginia Weidler in Best Foot Forward (1943)
    Lucille Ball and Tommy Dix in Best Foot Forward (1943)
    Tommy Dix in Best Foot Forward (1943)
    Lucille Ball in Best Foot Forward (1943)
    Lucille Ball and Tommy Dix in Best Foot Forward (1943)
    Lucille Ball in Best Foot Forward (1943)
    Lucille Ball in Best Foot Forward (1943)
    June Allyson, Gloria DeHaven, and Nancy Walker in Best Foot Forward (1943)
    Tommy Dix in Best Foot Forward (1943)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lucille Ball
    Lucille Ball
    • Lucille Ball
    William Gaxton
    William Gaxton
    • Jack O'Riley
    Virginia Weidler
    Virginia Weidler
    • Helen Schlesinger
    Tommy Dix
    Tommy Dix
    • Bud Hooper
    Nancy Walker
    Nancy Walker
    • Nancy - Blind Date
    June Allyson
    June Allyson
    • Ethel
    Kenny Bowers
    Kenny Bowers
    • Dutch Miller
    Gloria DeHaven
    Gloria DeHaven
    • Minerva
    Jack Jordan
    • Hunk
    Beverly Tyler
    Beverly Tyler
    • Miss Delaware Water Gap, Vocalist
    Chill Wills
    Chill Wills
    • Chester Short
    Henry O'Neill
    Henry O'Neill
    • Maj. Reeber
    Sara Haden
    Sara Haden
    • Miss Talbert
    Donald MacBride
    Donald MacBride
    • Capt. Bradd
    Bob Stebbins
    Bob Stebbins
    • Greenie
    • (as Bobby Stebbins)
    Darwood Kaye
    Darwood Kaye
    • Killer
    Morris Ankrum
    Morris Ankrum
    • Col. Harkrider
    Nana Bryant
    Nana Bryant
    • Mrs. Dalrymple
      • Edward Buzzell
    • Writers
      • Irving Brecher(screenplay)
      • Fred F. Finklehoffe(screenplay)
      • John Cecil Holm(book)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Film debut of Nancy Walker and first full-length feature of June Allyson who reprise their roles from the Broadway play upon which this film is based.
    • Goofs
      June Allyson is credited onscreen as Minerva and Gloria DeHaven as Ethel. However, Allyson is called Ethel and DeHaven is called Minerva and 'Min' in the film.
    • Quotes

      Lucille Ball: [as she steps off the train at Winsocki, encounteirng nobody but a barking dog] My public!

    • Alternate versions
      The DVD release of the movie includes a 4 minute Overture and a 2 minute Exit Music.
    • Connections
      Featured in That's Entertainment! III (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      Buckle Down, Winsocki
      (1941)

      Music and Lyrics by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane

      Performed by the MGM Studio Orchestra and chorus during the opening credits

      Reprised at the prom

      Reprised at the graduation in the finale, and performed by Tommy Dix and chorus

    User reviews27

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Enjoyable if unexceptional diversion
    'Best Foot Forward' is a long way from perfect, having its fair share of flaws. This said it is an enjoyable diversion even if falling well short of being great. It does decently with what it set out to do, knows what it wants to be and tries not to do any more than it needs to.

    The weak link is the story, which is as paper thin and nonsensical as they come. The songs are pleasant enough, but with the exception of one they are overlong, easily forgettable after a few hours and are mostly sloppily choreographed. The script is uneven, some of it is amusing and sparkles but other parts are leaden, corny and hopelessly out of date now.

    Not all the cast work, with the ladies faring far better than the men. Kenny Bowers is very feeble with very little charisma, while Jack Jordan has the opposite problem of overacting and being insufferably irritating.

    Lucille Ball however looks as though she is thoroughly enjoying herself and she is terrifically supported by glamorous and scene-stealing Gloria De Haven, peppy June Allyson and especially zesty and often hilarious Nancy Walker (who actually steals the show). Harry James is also great, as is William Gaxton. While Tommy Dix has his bland moments, he is more often than not appealing.

    'Best Foot Forward' looks great, love the colours and handsome production design. Of the musical numbers, coming off best by far is the rousing in every sense of the word "Buckle Down Winsocki". Edward Buzell directs reasonably competently if slightly undistinguished.

    Overall, enjoyable if unexceptional. 6/10 Bethany Cox
    helpful•4
    1
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Feb 11, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 8, 1943 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 34 minutes

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