Heavenly Days (1944) User Reviews

War Propaganda

[jasonleesmith6 · 5/10 · 2 July 2013]

During World War 2, one "Fibber McGee & Molly" radio program every month, was devoted to some topic pertaining to the war effort, like rationing, or war bonds. "Heavenly Days" was the McGee's third feature film, and while the first two had been done entirely for entertainment, this one was devoted to spreading messages about the war effort.

It wasn't a very funny film, and not because of the message either -- their radio shows were always very funny, whatever message they were trying to convey. I believe this movie suffers the most due to the fact that the McGee's regular writer, Don Quinn, had nothing to do with the screenplay. Don Quinn had as much to do with the success of "Fibber McGee & Molly" as did Marion and Jim Jordon, and the film suffers from his absence.

Marion and Jim Jordon are incredibly appealing in this -- as they usually were, no matter in what venue they appeared -- however they script is very weak, full of ham-fisted attempts at patriotism and sentiment, that really fall short. In addition to this, the plot does not make very much sense.

The film should get should some kudos, though, for including a part for George Gallup (the creator of the Gallup Poll, played here by Donald Douglas). Ah, for the days when a statistician could become a celebrity.

Mr. & Mrs. McGee go to Washington.

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 12 September 2018]

Looking back at the patriotism of World War II, it does appear to be a magical time with everybody flag waving, praying for their sons out fighting, praying for their neighbor's sons out fighting, struggling with rationing, and when they visited cities like New York, Washington or L.A., struggling to find a room to stay in. For Fibber McGee and Molly, an invitation from a distant relative of Molly's to visit Washington is a dream come true, especially when they get to visit the senate thanks to an invite from pompous senator Eugene Pallette. A disastrous interruption in the senate by Fibber results in Molly's cousin firing him from a position he had offered him in a new government office devoted to serving the common man, but thanks to the spirit of America playing his piccolo on Fibber's shoulder, Fibber is motivated to continue his quest for the good of the common man. Too bad he didn't remember to register to vote, because America needs voters like him to get out the blowhards like federal government politician Pallette and local politician Raymond Walburn, so smug in his continued victories in a community so small that nobody dares to run up against him.

This is corny, dated and sometimes irritatingly cute, especially with a rather manipulative segment of Fibber and Molly greeting migrant children brought into Molly's cousin's home, all acting so sweet and polite (except for one amusing incident) and oh so contrived. But I do see the point to what the writers were trying to say here, that freedom is something worth fighting for, and that the goals of the common man are even more important than the ambitions of the ruthless and often obnoxious politicians that are voted into office and paid with taxpayer's money. There's a few musical numbers tossed in for the audience's enjoyment, the best one "Please Won't You Leave My Girl Alone" with music by Jimmy McHugh and lyrics by Frank Loesser. Molly's lullaby song is shrill and forgettable, and a flashback to Fibber's World War I service shows him singing "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" as part of a barber shop quartet like chorus. I doubt many modern audiences will relate to any of the political views of the day. A secondary story of a romance between minor characters Gordon Oliver and Barbara Hale (reporters looking for a story on Fibber and Molly) seems to be just tossed in as an afterthought and ends up pointless.

Hard to watch

[JohnSeal · 2/10 · 22 November 2005]

Heavenly Days commits a serious comedy faux pas: it's desperate to teach us a civics lesson, and it won't stop until we've passed the final exam. Fibber McGee and Molly take a trip to Washington, where they see the senate in action (or inaction, if you prefer), have a spat with their Senator (Eugene Palette in one of the worst roles of his career), get acquainted with a gaggle of annoying stereotypical refugee children, and meet a man on a train reading a book by Henry Wallace. Henry Wallace!! A year later, he was considered a near communist dupe, but in 1944, he was A-OK. Add in some truly awful musical moments, a whole lot of flagwaving hooey, and a boring subplot about newspaper reporters, and you've got a film that must have had Philip Wylie ready to pen Generation of Vipers 2: D.C. Boogaloo. Drastically unfun, Heavenly Days is another reminder that the Devil has all the best tunes.

Great document of America on the WWII home front

[Silents · 7/10 · 2 April 2005]

What a great document of America on the WWII home front! One of the longest running and most fondly remembered old time radio programs was "Fibber McGee and Molly." Fibber's bluster and famously over stuffed closet, Molly's cry of "heavenly days," and many other aspects of the show became part of our culture in the 1940s. And many of those comfortably familiar running gags are included in this film - we even get to see Molly do her "Teeny" voice when she sings a song to the children. But this film is also a great document of the attitude of Americans on the home front in WWII. It was a time of great respect for members of the service, a time when most people proudly and eagerly accepted their duty to help win the war, and a time when Americans willingly believed that we were "our brother's keepers" and had to help refugees from other parts of the world, particularly if they were children. The idea that there is nothing average about the average American is the theme of this film. It teeters dangerously on the edge of being too corny, but its made palatable by the quick but gentle wit of Fibber and Molly. They are impossible to dislike. Gosh, but it's a nice little movie. I only wish the Kingsmen sang more songs.

A collector's must-have.

[theright · 10/10 · 10 March 1999]

This film has been called 'corny' or 'campy' by some, but it calls us back to a time when patriotism was on the minds of most Americans. For many, the welfare of all the people took a front seat to one's personal needs.( See the train scene when the Jordans sacrifice their seats for war-bound GI's.) The tunes in the show will have you singing for days. For collectors of classic comedy, this is a must.

Wistful vistas of the past

[alainsane-1 · 7/10 · 10 August 2008]

What's not to like about this movie?

I got to see the McGees in the flesh, I betcha'. I got to see the inside of the famed overstuffed McGee closet. I got to hear McGee sing (and nicely, too) along with The King's Men. I got to see some touching tributes to the WWII efforts: rationing, keeping lips zipped, giving up seats for soldiers, tending Victory Gardens, caring for war refugees. I got to hear and see Molly doing her Teeny voice. There was even some neat special effects when Fibber talks to himself in the form of a Revolutionary War flutist.

Yah, maybe it's a little corny and overly sentimental but mostly in charming ways. The signs of racial inequality are as present here as in practically any other movie from the 40's. The plot is flimsy and strains credulity at times, but not unbearably so. Despite its flaws, it's a must-see for any fan of the radio show--especially those who've only *heard* the McGees in action.

Relevant Then & Now

[bvws · 7/10 · 8 November 2006]

I watched this little comedy on the eve of the 2006 Congressional election. I got strange feelings as I realized how so many of the scenes were relevant then and were relevant as I watched it. Watch Molly (Marian Jordan) in close up with her eyes ready to shed tears as she sits on the train with World War II troops. A truly great acting moment, something about her expression that made me want to tear up as well as I thought about troops fighting for us now. It a little silly, a little funny, and extremely revealing for those who are trying to understand how civilian Americans coped with the reality all around them at the height of World War II. And isn't it always fun whenever Fibber McGee opens up that closet?

Standard Rah-Rah Film But with Charm from the Jordans

[busterggi · 7/10 · 29 December 2016]

If'n you're a fan of Fibber McGee and Molly then you already have listened to at least some of their patriotic radio shows - this film is better than those. Fibber is not nearly as dumb &/or sleazy as he often was in those moralistic episodes. Molly is charming as always - she had a great voice and laugh. Wish more of their word-play had gotten into the film, there's never too much of that. And it does suffer from not having any of the other regular characters in the film - could have had at least some brief appearances by Alice Darling or Beulah (though Marlin Hurt couldn't have pulled THAT off) but at least Lillian showed up.

If you want an idea of what the home-front was like during WW II this is a good start complete with America's favorite couple of the time.