The Gang's All Here (1943)

A soldier falls for a chorus girl and then experiences trouble when he is posted to the Pacific.

Director:

Busby Berkeley

Writers:

Walter Bullock (screenplay), Nancy Wintner (story)

Stars:

Alice Faye, Carmen Miranda, Phil Baker

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Alice Faye	...	Edie Allen
Carmen Miranda	...	Dorita
Phil Baker	...	Phil Baker
Benny Goodman	...	Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman and His Orchestra	...	Benny Goodman's Orchestra (as Benny Goodman Orchestra)
Eugene Pallette	...	Andrew Mason Sr.
Charlotte Greenwood	...	Mrs. Peyton Potter
Edward Everett Horton	...	Peyton Potter
Tony De Marco	...	Tony
James Ellison	...	Andy Mason
Sheila Ryan	...	Vivian Potter
Dave Willock	...	Sgt. Pat Casey
Bando da Lua	...	Dorita's Orchestra

Storyline

Playboy Andy Mason, on leave from the army, romances showgirl Eadie Allen overnight to such effect that she's starry-eyed when he leaves next morning for active duty in the Pacific. Only trouble is, he gave her the assumed name of Casey. Andy's eventual return with a medal is celebrated by his rich father with a benefit show featuring Eadie's show troupe, at which she's sure to learn his true identity...and meet Vivian, his 'family-arrangement' fiancée. Mostly song and dance.

---

Plot Keywords:

national film registry | song and dance | brass band | disembodied head | man wearing a top hat | 

---

Taglines:

Watch for this great hit from 20th Century-Fox, makers of musical miracles. (Trade paper ad).

---

Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Portuguese

Release Date:

24 December 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

Banana split

Filming Locations:

Stage 16, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Busby Berkeley was free to do this film because Arthur Freed had him fired from Girl Crazy (1943) after he shot the film's ending number, "I Got Rhythm", due to Judy Garland's collapse due to overwork. Norman Taurog took over the direction of "Girl Crazy" and, rather than pay him his contract salary for not working, MGM loaned Berkeley to 20th Century-Fox for this film.

---

Goofs

Boom mic shadow on wall as Edie enters Vivian's bedroom.

---

Quotes

Dorita: [singing] Some people say I dress too gay, but every day I feel so gay, and when I'm gay I dress that way, is something wrong with that? Noooo!

---

Connections

Featured in Vito (2011)

---

Soundtracks

Paducah
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Leo Robin
Played by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
Sung by Benny Goodman and Carmen Miranda
Danced by Carmen Miranda and Tony De Marco

User Reviews

Dreamy Faye and the genius of Busby Berkeley in vintage lavish musical...

Some of ALICE FAYE's close-ups in THE GANG'S ALL HERE convince me that Technicolor was made to show off the charms of certain actresses--as Fox well knew with such beauties as Betty Grable and Linda Darnell under contract. Faye's blue eyes get all misty-eyed when she sings a ballad--and when she's supported by someone like CARMEN MIRANDA for colorful contrast, well--you can bet it's a musical worth seeing and hearing.

In this case--mostly worth seeing because of Busby Berkeley's magical treatment of all the musical numbers. Who can ever forget CARMEN MIRANDA and all those waving bananas??? Or the kaleidoscope effect of several top numbers in an imaginative use of color and camera effects, the kind that only Berkeley was a master of.

The flimsy plot is strictly by the numbers and practically non-existent in a boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl sort of way. JAMES ELLISON is a poor substitute for Fox's contract player John Payne, who must have been busy on another assignment when the cast was assembled. And PHIL BAKER is totally wasted.

But it's not too much of a distraction when the gaudy splashes of color, music and just downright fun provided by Faye, Miranda, Eugene Palette, Edward Everett Horton and Charlotte Greenwood come to the fore.

This is typical Fox escapism made for entertainment during World War II when the troops were all salivating over the Fox pin-up girls. Alice Faye is at her most attractive with her warm contralto voice showcased in a couple of hokey ballads and when she gazes heavenly toward some unseen spirit she practically melts the camera lens. She's luscious and so is the film.

And if you're a CARMEN MIRANDA fan, you can't afford to miss this one. Her "Tutti Frutti" number is a knockout and Benny Goodman and his band provide solid musical back-up. Just don't expect reality to butt in at any point during the silly plot.

Trivia note: That's ADELE JERGENS in the background of girls.