Thousands Cheer *** (1943, Kathryn Grayson, Gene Kelly, John Boles, Mary Astor, Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland) – Classic Movie Review 3621

And thousands did cheer at director George Sidney’s hugely entertaining, incredibly lavish 1943 MGM comedy musical, now a period piece as a Second World War morale-booster for American troops and their families. It was advertised as ’30 Stars, 3 Bands’, and that’s a lot of stars!

Kathryn Grayson stars as Kathryn Jones, Gene Kelly plays Private Eddie Marsh, John Boles is Colonel Bill Jones, and Mary Astor is Hyllary Jones. Also starring are Ben Blue as Chuck Polansky, Frances Rafferty as Marie Corbino, Dick Simmons as Captain Fred Avery, Frank Jenks as Sergeant Koslack, Frank Sully as Alan, Mary Elliott as Helen Corbino and Ben Lessy as Silent Monk.

The first half has a romantic comedy storyline involving acrobat Eddie Marsh (Gene Kelly), who is drafted into the US Army and falls in love with his CO (John Boles)‘s daughter Kathryn Jones (played by Kathryn Grayson), who has also put her singing career on hold to entertain the troops.

The second plot involves preparations for a major live show for the soldiers to feature a host of MGM musical and comedy stars. In the second half of the film, pretences at a storyline are abandoned as the film becomes a variety showcase of comedy, song, and dance, with the performers (apart from Kelly and Grayson) all appearing as themselves. The show is hosted by Mickey Rooney.

Screen-writers Paul Jarrico and Richard Collins’s excuse for a plot (from their story Private Miss Jones), for what it’s worth which isn’t much, is about little miss fix-it Private Miss Kathryn Jones (Grayson), who is also trying to get her parents (John Boles and Mary Astor) back together. Kelly performs ‘Let Me Call You Sweetheart’ with a mop as a partner, one of his most famous routines, and Grayson sings several songs. But even the charms of Kelly and Grayson pale beside the second half’s huge army camp extravaganza straining with stars and strident patriotism.

The must-see guest stars include Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland (in one of 10 movies togther), Lena Horne, June Allyson, Red Skelton, Eleanor Powell and Bob Crosby, while the music ranges from Garland’s ‘The Joint Is Really Jumpin’ via Horne’s ‘Honeysuckle Rose’ and Grayson’s ‘Let There Be Music’ to Dmitri Shostakovich’s specially commissioned ‘United Nations on the March’. Other highspots are a tap dance solo by Powell and the Kay Kyser band’s medley of ‘I Dug a Ditch in Wichita’/’Should I?’

Three cheers!

Also in the cast are Jose Iturbi, Benny Carter, Wally Cassell, Odette Myrtil, Will Kaufman, Lionel Barrymore, Margaret O’Brien, Ann Sothern, Lucille Ball, Virginia O’Brien, Marsha Hunt, Marilyn Maxwell, Donna Reed, Gloria DeHaven, Sara Haden, Frank Morgan, Sig Arno, Connie Gilchrist, Don Loper, Maxine Barrat, Pierre Watkin, Ray Teal, James Millican and William Tannen.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3621
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