Follow the Boys (1944)

During World War II, all the studios put out "all-star" vehicles which featured virtually every star on the lot--often playing themselves--in musical numbers and comedy skits, and were ... See full summary »

Directors:

A. Edward Sutherland (as Eddie Sutherland), John Rawlins (uncredited)

Writers:

Lou Breslow (original screen play), Gertrude Purcell (original screen play)

Stars:

George Raft, Vera Zorina, Grace McDonald

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Raft	...	Tony West
Vera Zorina	...	Gloria Vance
Grace McDonald	...	Kitty West
Charley Grapewin	...	Nick West
Ramsay Ames	...	Laura
Charles Butterworth	...	Louie Fairweather
Elizabeth Patterson	...	Annie
Regis Toomey	...	Dr. Henderson
George Macready	...	Walter Bruce
Jeanette MacDonald	...	Jeanette MacDonald
Orson Welles' Mercury Wonder Show	...	Mercury Wonder Show
Marlene Dietrich	...	Marlene Dietrich
Dinah Shore	...	Dinah Shore
Donald O'Connor	...	Donald O'Connor
Peggy Ryan	...	Peggy Ryan

Storyline

During World War II, all the studios put out "all-star" vehicles which featured virtually every star on the lot--often playing themselves--in musical numbers and comedy skits, and were meant as morale-boosters to both the troops overseas and the civilians at home. This was Universal Pictures' effort. It features everyone from Donald O'Connor to the Andrews Sisters to Orson Welles to W.C. Fields to George Raft to Marlene Dietrich, and dozens of other Universal players.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to joe e. brown | concert pianist | nurse | wounded soldier | hospital | 

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Taglines:

Hollywood's Biggest Stars Come Together For A Great Cause!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 May 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

Three Cheers for the Boys

Filming Locations:

Naval Training Center, San Diego, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min 110 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Since the Guest Stars are credited in the opening set of credits, but are not in the more comprehensive end credits, the opening credits are listed first, followed by those in the end credits not yet in, as required by IMDb policy on cast ordering.

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Quotes

Gloria Vance: You have no inhibitions, have you?
Tony West: I can't afford them.

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood Remembers: Orson Welles

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Soundtracks

Sweet Georgia Brown
(1925) (uncredited)
Music by Maceo Pinkard, Ben Bernie and Kenneth Casey
Performed by Louis Jordan and his Orchestra
Danced by George Raft

User Reviews

USO training film

In a great tribute to all the performers who have entertained American Fighting Forces, Follow the Boys assembles a nifty all-star group to let the folks on the home front see what the soldiers are getting. The film combines real footage in the field mixed with performers recreating their USO acts.

The result is a bit like a training film for the USO, but it does help us appreciate how so many performers went above and beyond the call of duty. From the wonderful Andrews Sisters to magical Orson Welles, it is an eclectic revue. There is a particularly touching section in the middle, from Artur Rubinstein to a montage underscored by beautifully melancholy songs from Dinah Shore.

Of course to get to all this, you must wade through a negligible plot about a husband-and-wife dance team (George Raft and Vera Zorina) who split over one of those obnoxious movie misunderstanding as he wants to put all his efforts into entertaining the troops. The dialogue is pedantic, Zorina is a cold fish, and Raft is stiff - until he's dancing.

Though he seems to be enjoying himself ONLY when he's dancing, Raft had an emotional investment in the film. In real life, he was among the troop entertainers, and he had also been very close to Carole Lombard, who had died earlier engaged in exactly that work. Perhaps it was his personal tribute to her. He is in one of the best numbers of the film: Louis Jordan and his orchestra perform "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" and then accompany Raft as he dances "Sweet Georgia Brown" in the rain for a group of black soldiers. Though Raft was at his peak weight here, he was still nimble afoot.