Best Foot Forward (1943)

Lucille Ball accepts a cadet's invitation to a military academy's senior prom in order to boost her career.

Director:

Edward Buzzell

Writers:

Irving Brecher (screenplay), Fred F. Finklehoffe (screenplay) (as Fred Finklehoffe)

Stars:

Lucille Ball, William Gaxton, Virginia Weidler

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lucille Ball	...	Lucille Ball
William Gaxton	...	Jack O'Riley
Virginia Weidler	...	Helen Schlesinger
Tommy Dix	...	Bud Hooper
Nancy Walker	...	Nancy - Blind Date
June Allyson	...	Ethel
Kenny Bowers	...	Dutch Miller
Gloria DeHaven	...	Minerva
Jack Jordan	...	Hunk
Beverly Tyler	...	Miss Delaware Water Gap, Vocalist
Chill Wills	...	Chester Short
Henry O'Neill	...	Maj. Reeber
Sara Haden	...	Miss Talbert
Donald MacBride	...	Capt. Bradd
Bob Stebbins	...	Greenie (as Bobby Stebbins)

Storyline

Bud Hooper, a cadet at Winsocki Military Academy, sends an invitation to movie star Lucille Ball to come to Winsocki's big dance. Ball's publicity-hungry agent convinces her to go in order to boost her career. Complications arise when Bud's girlfriend Helen Schlesinger unexpectedly shows up, too.

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Plot Keywords:

military academy | prom | redheaded woman | actress playing herself | teenage boy | 

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Taglines:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Honey of a Musical

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Genres:

Musical | Comedy

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Rainha dos Corações

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$1,162,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min 100 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First president of Disneyland, Jack Lindquist, sang a line in the opening number, "Wish I May, Wish I Might" and danced as a cadet in several other scenes.

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Goofs

Lucy and her manager Jack seem to share a room at the Eagle Hotel in Winsocki. It seems unlikely that an unmarried couple would openly share a hotel room in 1943.

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Quotes

Jack O'Riley: You are mighty long for a fellow named short.
Chester Short: People always say that and it always strikes me as funny.

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Alternate Versions

The DVD release of the movie includes a 4 minute Overture and a 2 minute Exit Music.

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Connections

Featured in Private Screenings: Stanley Donen (2006)

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Soundtracks

Wish I May
(1941)
Music and Lyrics by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane
Performed by June Allyson, Kenny Bowers, Gloria DeHaven, Jack Jordan (dubbed by Ralph Blane),
Sara Haden and Donald MacBride

User Reviews

Delightful farce, full of laughs!

Based upon the 1941 Broadway musical, I found this to be a fun,charming, and well written screenplay that entertains from beginning to end. Although not her best film, Lucille Ball is more than adequate playing herself in this early teen romp. June Allyson, Gloria DeHaven, Virginia Weidler, Beverly Tyler, and Sara Haden are great as the quirky,loud-mouthed, obnoxious teenagers hell-bent on ruining Lucy's night at the prom. But, this film is completely and utterly stolen by Nancy Walker as the way-over-the-top "Blind Date" girl. She is hilarious, and talented in this, her 1943 film debut. Her comedic genius is in full view in this film for which she should have received an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actress, but did not. Tommy Dix does a fine job as the star cadet the screenplay revolves around, and Harry James' music is more-than-worth watching the movie. When combined together, the above make this film a worthwhile watch; your belly will hurt from the hearty laughs you will emit!