Thousands Cheer (1943)

Director:

George Sidney

Writers:

Paul Jarrico (story) and
Richard Collins (story) ...

Release Date:

January 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance

Plot:

Acrobat Eddie Marsh is in the army now. His first act is to become friendly with Kathryn Jones, the colonel's pretty daughter...

Plot Keywords:

WWII | Rooney And Garland | Army Base | Sergeant | Acrobat

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars.

US TV Schedule:

Thur. July 17

2:30 AM

TCM

Cast

Kathryn Grayson	...	Kathryn Jones
Gene Kelly	...	Private Eddie Marsh
Mary Astor	...	Hyllary Jones
John Boles	...	Colonel Bill Jones
Ben Blue	...	Chuck Polansky
Frances Rafferty	...	Marie Corbino
Mary Elliott	...	Helen Corbino
Frank Jenks	...	Sergeant Koslack
Frank Sully	...	Alan
Dick Simmons	...	Captain Fred Avery
Ben Lessy	...	Silent Monk
Mickey Rooney	...	Himself - Emcee at the Show
Judy Garland	...	Herself
Red Skelton	...	Himself
Eleanor Powell	...	Herself

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #9145) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

'Eleanor Powell(I)' 's first color film and last MGM film.

Quotes:

Private Eddie Marsh: There's so much to say.
Kathryn Jones: Don't say anything. Just come back.

Movie Connections:

References Test Pilot (1938)

Soundtrack:

Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean

Thousands Boo!

About 20 big-name stars provide cameos in this mostly-dopey love story. I say "mostly" but to be more accurate, about half of the film - but that's an entire hour, and it makes this movie drag. I got this tape for the music and the famous people in it, not to watch that awful first hour of stupid comments. The most annoying were those about marriage made by Mary Astor's character, "Hyllary Jones." (Beware of anyone with that first name, no matter how they spell it!)

The final hour is what this movie is advertised to be - namely the variety show. However, it should have comprised more than just 50 percent of the film. The show, emceed by Mickey Rooney, is how this movie was promoted. Unfortunately, once we finally do get to the big show, you can tell it really wasn't even part of the filming. They were performances done elsewhere and filmed, and then inserted into the movie! How hokey is that? In other words, Rooney and the singers, dancers and comedians are not on one stage playing to a bunch of G.I.'s enjoying the show. This is like when they used stock footage of animals and then inserted them onto a screen into the Tarzan films of the 1930s. It's laughable. This "variety show" is a sham, like the whole movie!

Not only that, but most of the numbers they filmed were poor and the comedy skits were lame. This is a just put together in a very amateurish way. The only act that was halfway decent was the tap dance by Eleanor Powell, but that was just routine number even for her.

This movie, obviously, is not recommended. It deserves "boos" not "cheers."