TheOneManBoxOffice
In 1941, America took a turn for the worse when the naval base known as Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese, and was issued a declaration of war from Nazi Germany, thus pulling the country into the second World War. While our military forces were combating the enemy overseas, at home, we also contributed to their effort by buying war bonds, recycling important materials such as metal and rubber, among other things. Hollywood, especially, had a big part in this, with every major studio producing propaganda and war-themed shorts (both animated and live- action) and feature films that encouraged our troops overseas as well as took our minds off the mayhem. Why did I give you this little history lesson, you ask? Well, when I said that Hollywood had a big part in supporting our own troops and allied forces, they did more than just make films.In 1942, actors John Garfield and Bette Davis, along with the former president of the Music Corporation of America, Dr. Jules Stein, opened up an exclusive club reserved only for servicemen called the Hollywood Canteen. There, men who were on leave from military service, whether local or from one of the allied countries, got to relax and enjoy food, drink, dancing, and entertainment from some of Hollywood's greatest performers until they were ordered to return to active duty. Many of the performers also served as waiters, dishwashers, and cooks, believe it or not. The canteen would stay open up until the end of the war in 1945. In 1944, however, the place was so popular amongst the public that Warner Brothers Pictures decided to make a musical motion picture based around the establishment.This two-hour picture, filmed entirely in black-and-white, had one of the biggest star rosters in film history at the time, with most of the stars playing themselves, including founders Bette Davis and John Garfield, as well as Peter Lorre, Joan Crawford, Joe E. Brown, The Andrews Sisters, Jack Carson, Roy Rogers (along with Trigger, "the smartest horse in the movies"), among others. There is a story underlying this, though. It's about two Army soldiers who served in the South Pacific, with one of them, named Slim, falling in love with film actress Joan Leslie, who reminds him of his past fiancée. On the third night, Slim becomes the millionth customer, and wins a date with Joan. It then becomes a romantic drama between the two, as they both have feelings for one another. Thus, Joan makes it her goal to give Slim the best night he's ever had before he goes back to active duty.Aside from the story, the film is mainly a variety show, featuring several musical numbers and skits performed by the stars. A musical, it may be, but it's not the kind of musical where a character sporadically breaks into song a la Rodgers & Hammerstein in order to move the plot along. Even though the underlying storyline is put aside throughout a good portion of the picture, the film does not stray from its main attraction: the canteen itself and what it accomplished for our troops. The film got mixed reception from critics upon release, but audiences were all over it, with 40% of the ticket sales going to the real canteen.The film was enjoyable to watch, and serves as a time capsule of a bright moment in U.S. history during a dark time. Warner Bros. even made a parody/tribute of this film two years later via an animated Merrie Melodies short entitled "Hollywood Canine Canteen", which featured dogs that were reminiscent of Hollywood stars. This short can be seen as a bonus feature on the DVD. As for the film, an entertaining, yet informative watch for history and WWII buffs.
mark.waltz
I guess that no stars from MGM, Paramount, 20th Century Fox or RKO Radio were invited to appear at the Hollywood Canteen during the filming of this musical answer to "Stage Door Canteen", Broadway's answer to showing how members of the military were treated on leave when they came to shore. Warner Brothers tossed in practically every star on the lot, just like they had done the year before for "Thank Your Lucky Stars", another musical revue with a slight plot about entertaining the troops.Warner Brothers newcomer Joan Crawford made her contract debut in this film, showing concern over a soldier (Dane Clark) who faints when he realizes who his dancing partner is. She doesn't get to appear in any scenes with Warner Brothers "Queen Bee" Bette Davis who as co-founder of the canteen with John Garfield gets to explain how the canteen was founded and what its mission is. Other divas of the lot, such as Jane Wyman, Barbara Stanwyck, Ida Lupino and Eleanor Parker, make amusing cameos as well, but it is the musical performances you will remember which includes everybody from the Andrews Sisters ("I've Got Corns For My Country") to Roy Rogers ("Don't Fence Me In") to Dennis Morgan ("You Can Always Tell a Yank").Long before her dramatic career won her an Oscar, Jane Wyman sang, and after playing the ditzy newleywed opposite Jack Carson in "The Doughgirls" gets to sing the snappy "What Are You Doin' the Rest of Your Life" with him. Stanwyck, a freelancer who appeared regularly at Warner Brothers during the depression and later on throughout the war years, is amusingly sweet as she expresses sadness that she's been replaced by Joan Leslie as the love of a soldier's life. What little plot exists concerns that soldier's (Robert Hutton) winning of a date with Leslie and the "simple existence" this rising movie star lives. Another romance involves Dane Clark with studio tour guide Janis Paige (her own Warner Brothers debut) that adds some sweetness to the plot.One of the biggest box office successes of the war years, this has a theme and cast that just couldn't miss. The music and romance add a bittersweet feeling towards the mood of the war years and pretty much everything scores. It ends up being even more enjoyable than "Stage Door Canteen", its Broadway rival, even though its usage of a mostly Warner Brothers cast makes it seem a little self-serving.
Gary Lewin
Hollywood Canteen is a real gem of a movie. But despite all the music and delightful cameos, it's really the love story between the movie star and the soldier that keeps this movie together. Others have said it's preposterous that a famous movie star would be likely to become so involved with a simple Joe average soldier on a few days leave during the war. But I don't agree. At the time Joan Leslie's character is very young and beautiful. But also appears to be no Dumbo. Plus she's human like everybody else and see's in the young good natured if star struck soldier, a young man who is sensible, kind, generous and caring. In short,somebody she could actually fall in love with.The chemistry between Joan Leslie and Robert Hutton in this movie as the lovers is there for all to see. So why could it not have happened in real life? There is also the tale of Hutton's friend, the Sergeant played by Dane Clark. He's a bit of a rough diamond but well-meaning and definitely funny. And he too finds love with the beautiful Janis Paige playing the ambitious studio guide who is quite delightful in the way she handles the ebullient Sergeant.All in all this is a wonderful movie that I would recommend to anybody interested in seeing how it used to be done.
