Follow the Boys - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia

Follow the boys trailer 1944

Follow the Boys also known as Three Cheers for the Boys is a 1944 musical film made by Universal Pictures during World War II as an all-star cast morale booster to entertain the troops abroad and the civilians at home. The film was directed by A. Edward "Eddie" Sutherland and produced by Charles K. Feldman. The movie stars George Raft and features Vera Zorina, Grace McDonald, Charles Grapewin, Regis Toomey and George Macready.

Making appearances are Walter Abel, Carmen Amaya, The Andrews Sisters, Evelyn Ankers, Louise Beavers, Noah Beery, Jr., Turhan Bey, Steve Brodie, Nigel Bruce, Lon Chaney, Jr., the Delta Rhythm Boys, Andy Devine, Marlene Dietrich, W. C. Fields, Susanna Foster, Thomas Gomez, Louis Jordan and His Orchestra, Ted Lewis and His Band, Jeanette MacDonald, Maria Montez, Clarence Muse, Donald O'Connor, Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom, Artur Rubinstein, Peggy Ryan, Randolph Scott, Dinah Shore, Freddie Slack and His Orchestra, Gale Sondergaard, Sophie Tucker, Orson Welles, among many others.

George raft s sweet georgia brown in follow the boys 1944

Plot

Follow the Boys Legendary Jeanette MacDonald The Iron Butterfly World War II

Tony West performs on vaudeville in a group with his father, Nick and sister Kitty, The decline of vaudeville forces the group to split up and Tony goes to Hollywood to try to make it in movies. He works at Universal Pictures, where he becomes screen partners with, and then the husband of, star Gloria Vance.

Follow the Boys 13 best Follow the Boys 1944 film images on Pinterest 1944 film

When World War Two breaks out, Tony tries to enlist but is refused because of his knee. Tony finds imself organising the Hollywood Victory Committee (H.V.C.), a consortium of motion picture, theatrical and radio personalities dedicated to help the war effort.

He puts on a show that includes performances from Donald O'Connor and Jeannette MacDonald.

Tony and Gloria have a big fight and she doesn't tell him that she's fallen pregnany. Tony organizes another show, where Orson Welles performs magic tricks including sawing Marlene Dietrich in half.

Raft goes overseas. Tony is killed during an attack by a Japanese submarine. Gloria takes Tony's place entertaining the troops.

Cast

George Raft as Tony West

Vera Zorina as Gloria Vance

Charles Grapewin as Nick West

Grace McDonald as Kitty

Charles Butterworth as Louie West

George Macready as Bruce

Elizabeth Patterson as Annie

Theodore von Eltz as Barrett

Regis Toomey as Doctor Henderson

Ramsay Ames as Laura

Spooks as Junior

And Molly Lamont, Doris Lloyd, Nelson Leigh, Lane Chandler, Cyril Ring, Emmett Vogan, Addison Richards, Stanley Andrews, Frank Jenks, Ralph Dunn, Billy Benedict, Howard C. Hickman, Edwin Stanley, Wallis Clark, Richard Crane, Frank Wilcox, Clyde Cook, Bobby Barber, Walter Tetley, Anthony Warde, William Forrest, Dennis Moore, Duke York, Carlyle Blackwell, Edwin Stanley, Charles King

Production

The film was announced in June 1943. It was produced by Charles K. Feldman and was inspired by the success of Stage Door Canteen at Warner Bros. The original title was Three Cheers for the Boys. George Raft signed in July 1943.

The cast featured several Universal contract stars, including Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan, as well as some actors who had just recently made films for Universal, such as Raft and Marlene Dietrich.

The film was shot at the Naval Training Center San Diego.

It was WC Fields' first movie since 1941. He performs an old pool playing job he first developed in vaudeville in 1903.

The movie features a speech at the end about "soldiers in greasepaint", a tribute to those who entertained the troops during World War Two. It features an "honor roll" which lists those entertainers who died in the war, including Carole Lombard, Leslie Howard, Roy Rognan, Tamara, Charles King and Bob Ripa.

Reception

The New York Times called a "sentimental tribute... cheap screen entertainment - and hardly a tribute to the players it presents."

Songs and acts

George Raft - several dance numbers

Vera Zorina - dances to "A Better Day is Coming" and "I Feel a Song Coming On"

George Raft and Zorina - dance to "Tonight"

Delta Rhythm Boys - "The House I Live In"

The Andrews Sisters - "Shoo Shoo Baby" and a medley of their hits including "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön", "Hold Tight, Hold Tight (Want Some Seafood, Mama)", "The Beer Barrel Polka", "The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B", "I'll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time", "Pennsylvania Polka", "Victory Polka"

Sophie Tucker - "The Bigger the Army and the Navy" and "Some of These Day"

Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan - "Kittens With Their Mittens Laced"

Jeanette MacDonald - "Beyond the Blue Horizon" and "I'll See You in My Dreams"

Orson Welles - performs a magic show including sawing Marlene Dietrich in half

Dinah Shore - "I'll Get By", "I Walk Alone", "Mad About Him Blues"

Arthur Rubenstein - performs "Liebestraum No. 3 (A Dream of Love)"

Louis Jordan - "Is You Is or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby", and "Sweet Georgia Brown", with Raft performing the charleston

W.C. Fields - performs a comedy routine involving a billiard table

Carmen Amaya - "Merriment"

the Delta Rhythm Boys

Gautier's performing dogs

Charlie Spivak and his Orchestra - "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot " and "Besame Mucho"

Ted Lewis - "Good Night"

Accolades

The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:

2004: AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs:

"I'll Walk Alone" – Nominated

Home media

1994: MCA Home Video, VHS (80594), ISBN 0-7832-1096-5, 1994

References

Follow the Boys Wikipedia

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Follow the Boys IMDb Follow the Boys themoviedb.org