Copyright 10 July 1944 by Edward Small Productions, Inc. Released through United Artists. U.S. release: 4 August 1944. New York release at the Globe: 25 October 1944. U.K. release: 6 November 1944. Australian release: 5 April 1945. Sydney release: 23 March 1945 (Plaza). Original running time: 86 minutes. Australian release length: 7,290 feet (81 minutes). U.S. running time: 80 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: War-time Sydney. Two marines on leave battle for the affections of Helen Walker (and who can blame them?).
COMMENT: Though highly regarded in auteur circles, Allan Dwan has always impressed me as a Hollywood hack who churned out routine films by the score, with an occasional out-of-the-rut item like "Driftwood" and "Silver Lode".
"Abroad with Two Yanks" is typical: Ho-hum, elemental slapstick directed with professional smoothness but (outside of a single shot — Bendix and O'Keefe seen in a distorting mirror) -- a total lack of wit and sparkle. In fact, the director's touch throughout is relentlessly heavy-handed. Even his pacing is slow.
Admittedly, Dwan had little to work with. The script is a tired and dated affair with forced slapstick and timeworn gags which may have sporadically amused highly unsophisticated audiences in 1944, but which any kind of audience nowadays will find a painful experience.
The acting is as broad as the direction is over-emphatic, with O'Keefe and Bendix hamming it up for all they're worth. The support cast — aside from the attractively costumed Helen Walker, who sparkles animatedly as the heroine — is also nothing to write home about. In his early scenes, John Loder makes a game but unconvincing attempt at an Aussie accent, while George Cleveland makes an even more inept try at a Scotch. The only other supporting role of any consequence is the sergeant, exaggeratedly played by James Flavin.
As for the other credits, someone should have told art director Joseph Sternad that Sydney's streets are not adorned with above- ground fire hydrants. And as for the initial arrival in Sydney with the band playing a welcome medley of U.S. Marines and Waltzing Matilda — and a kangaroo conveniently on hand at the wharf — really, boys! And did no-one ever tell you that few if any Australian families have servants of any kind, let alone butlers in livery? The locale looks about as much like Sydney as Tipperary resembles Los Angeles.
Charles Lawton's bright cinematography is wasted on a rubbishy vehicle like this. Other credits, however are appropriately undistinguished. In fact, for an "A" feature, production values are rather moderate.
SYNOPSIS: War-time Sydney. Two marines on leave battle for the affections of Helen Walker (and who can blame them?).
COMMENT: Though highly regarded in auteur circles, Allan Dwan has always impressed me as a Hollywood hack who churned out routine films by the score, with an occasional out-of-the-rut item like "Driftwood" and "Silver Lode".
"Abroad with Two Yanks" is typical: Ho-hum, elemental slapstick directed with professional smoothness but (outside of a single shot — Bendix and O'Keefe seen in a distorting mirror) -- a total lack of wit and sparkle. In fact, the director's touch throughout is relentlessly heavy-handed. Even his pacing is slow.
Admittedly, Dwan had little to work with. The script is a tired and dated affair with forced slapstick and timeworn gags which may have sporadically amused highly unsophisticated audiences in 1944, but which any kind of audience nowadays will find a painful experience.
The acting is as broad as the direction is over-emphatic, with O'Keefe and Bendix hamming it up for all they're worth. The support cast — aside from the attractively costumed Helen Walker, who sparkles animatedly as the heroine — is also nothing to write home about. In his early scenes, John Loder makes a game but unconvincing attempt at an Aussie accent, while George Cleveland makes an even more inept try at a Scotch. The only other supporting role of any consequence is the sergeant, exaggeratedly played by James Flavin.
As for the other credits, someone should have told art director Joseph Sternad that Sydney's streets are not adorned with above- ground fire hydrants. And as for the initial arrival in Sydney with the band playing a welcome medley of U.S. Marines and Waltzing Matilda — and a kangaroo conveniently on hand at the wharf — really, boys! And did no-one ever tell you that few if any Australian families have servants of any kind, let alone butlers in livery? The locale looks about as much like Sydney as Tipperary resembles Los Angeles.
Charles Lawton's bright cinematography is wasted on a rubbishy vehicle like this. Other credits, however are appropriately undistinguished. In fact, for an "A" feature, production values are rather moderate.
