Thank your lucky stars
Thank Your Lucky Stars is a 1943 American musical film directed by David Butler . Hollywood Canteen benefited from the stars' salaries .
action
Producers Farnsworth and Dr. Schlenna would like to win Dinah Shore, a singer on the Eddie Cantor radio show, for a benefit gala. In order to achieve this, however, they must first go to Cantor, where Shore is under contract. That turns out to be more difficult than expected. The talented dramatic actor Joe Simpson fails to get a role as he fatally resembles Eddie Cantor and people start laughing the moment they see him. Simpson makes do with taking tourists to the homes of famous stars. While Joe is still busy with a tourist, he overhears Pat Dixon, who writes the lyrics, demands her money from Barney Jackson, who wanted to sell her songs to the man. When he escapes in a taxi and Pat wants to follow him, she jumps on Joe's bus and realizes her mistake too late. Through this she made the acquaintance of Spike Jones and the City Slickers as well as the singer Tommy Randolph. Tommy is also a victim of Jackson, who made him believe that he would appear on the Cantor show. The very next day he wants to introduce himself there and meets the producers Farnsworth and Schlenna, who are doggedly trying to win Dinah Shore over. Randolph is shown to the door by Cantor. Farnsworth and Schlenna accept Cantor's request to appoint him as chairman of the committee for their project. In return, he gives them Dinah Shore for their gala. Despite his promise not to interfere in the flow of the show, he makes changes that are not in the interests of Farnsworth and Schlenna. After a few more incidents, Pat suggests that Joe Simpson impersonate Eddie Cantor. With the help of the Gower Gulch gang, Eddie Cantor is kidnapped to Farnsworth and Schlenna's delight and first put a stop to his interference. Joe, who has agreed to take on Cantor's role, only stipulates that Tommy Randolph may appear on the show. He does his job so well that the film mogul Jack Warner offers him a contract. There is another incident before the end of the show when the real Eddie Cantor arrives accompanied by the police and accuses Simpson of having taken his place. Ultimately, however, those present convince the police officers that Eddie Cantor is not Eddie Cantor and they move away with the man protesting wildly. Nothing stands in the way of the grand finale with many famous stars.
Production and Background
The filming began on October 14, 1942 and ended in early January 1943. The production company was Warner Bros. Pictures Inc. The film premiered on September 25, 1943 in the USA and opened on October 1, 1943 in New York .
Both producer Mark Hellinger and director David Butler have brief appearances in the film. Paul Henreid , who was originally to appear in the film, was replaced by George Tobias, as Henreid had difficulties learning the jitter bug. Jack Carson and Alan Hale performed a vaudeville number, Olivia de Havilland, George Tobias and Ida Lupino had an extremely lively dance to master. Spike Jones and his City Slickers and Dinah Shore made their debut in this film. Ann Sheridan performs the song Love Isn't Born, It's Made , Alexis Smith dances, Willie Best and Hattie McDonald sing and dance and Humphrey Bogart parodies his gangster image. Bert Gordon, also known as "The Mad Russian," who plays a lobotomy patient in the film , appeared regularly on Eddie Cantor's radio program between 1935 and 1949.
During World War II , Hollywood supported the war effort in different ways. Some stars joined the armed forces while others joined the USO to entertain troops around the world. Those who stayed home helped out at Hollywood Canteen , where lonely soldiers frequented, by providing the men with great entertainment, dancing, and the chance to enjoy a meal with a movie star. In addition to Thank Your Lucky Stars, it was here that films such as Thousands Cheer (1943, MGM ) and Hollywood Canteen (1944, Warner Bros. ) were made. Before the public saw the films, they were shown to the troops first. Thank Your Lucky Stars not only served as moral support for the troops, the stars' salaries of $ 50,000 each went to the Hollywood Canteen.
Music in the film
- Thank Your Lucky Stars , music Arthur Schwartz, text Frank Loesser, performed by Dinah Shore
- Blues in the Night , music by Harold Arlen , text by Johnny Mercer, performed by John Garfield
- Now's the Time to Fall in Love , music by Al Sherman, lyrics by Al Lewis , performed by Eddie Cantor
- Winter's Tale ( Hearts and Flowers ), music by Alphons Czibulka , played during Joe's bus ride
- Hotcha Cornia ( Black Eyes ), music based on a Russian folk song, arranged by Del Porter and Spike Jones, performed by Spike Jones and His City Slickers
- Ochi Tchornya ( Dark Eyes ), traditional Russian folk song
- Song of the Volga Boatman , traditional song, music like Hotcha Cornia
- Give My Regards to Broadway , music by George M. Cohan briefly played while Pat dances for James Cagney
- I'm Riding for a Fall , music by Arthur Schwartz, text by Frank Loesser, performed by Dennis Morgan, Joan Leslie and Spike Jones and His City Slickers
- We're Staying Home Tonight , music Arthur Schwartz, text Frank Loesser, performed by Eddie Cantor
- London Bridge Is Falling Down , traditional children's song hummed by Eddie Cantor
- Way Up North , music Arthur Schwartz, text Frank Loesser, performed by Jack Carson and Alan Hale
- Old Folks at Home ( Swanee River ), music Stephen Foster , played in the Way Up North number
- Jingle Bells , music by James Pierpont, played in the Way Up North number
- Love Isn't Born ( It's Made ), music Arthur Schwartz, text Frank Loesser, performed by Ann Sheridan and a girls' choir
- Embraceable You , music by George Gershwin, played while Joe, Pat and Tommy are in the restaurant
- No You, No Me , music Arthur Schwartz, text Frank Loesser, performed by Dennis Morgan and Joan Leslie
- Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? , Music by Frank Churchill , different variations, while Bogart leaves the theater
- The Dreamer , music Arthur Schwartz, text Frank Loesser, sung by Dinah Shore, performed as a jive parody by Ida Lupino, Olivia de Havilland and George Tobias
- Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair , written by Stephen Foster, performed by Ida Lupino, Olivia de Havilland and George Tobias
- Ice Cold Katy , music Arthur Schwartz, text Frank Loesser, performed by Hattie McDaniel, Willie Best, Rita Christiani, Jess Lee Brooks and others
- Wedding March (from A Midsummer Night's Dream ) written by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (played in the Ice Cold Katy number)
- How Sweet Yo Are , music Arthur Schwartz, text Frank Loesser, performed by Dinah Shore and choir
- That's What You Jolly Well Get , music Arthur Schwartz, text Frank Loesser, performed by Errol Flynn and people in the pub
- They're Either Too Young or Too Old , music by Arthur Schwartz, text by Frank Loesser, performed by Bette Davis
- Good Night, Good Neighbor , music Arthur Schwartz, text Frank Loesser, sung by Dennis Morgan and a girls' choir, danced by Alexis Smith, Igor Dega and Arnold Kent
criticism
Variety's reaction was ambivalent, it was said that the entertainment value was sometimes dubious and that the film was carried by the banjo-eyed comedians, especially during the slack moments.
Bosley Crowther of the New York Times was of the opinion that Eddie Cantor's fans would be challenged if they would still be loyal to him after 'Thank Your Lucky Stars', as his appearance in the film was of an unpleasant nature. Fortunately for himself, he also plays the role of a little tour guide through Hollywood who resembles the famous star. The performances of famous stars of the time are highlighted, such as Bette Davis, who presented the Oscar-nominated song They're Either Too Young or Too Old . The length of the film with over two hours is also criticized.
Dennis Schwartz spoke of vulgar conversation in which there were at least a few laughs within the plot. As a fan of Eddie Cantor, you get the full dose, which isn't good for those who aren't that into him. The film is bearable because it is at least lively, offers harmless fun and a lot for the eye.
Awards
Arthur Schwartz and Frank Loesser song They're Either Too Young or Too Old was in the category "Best Song" for a Oscar nomination, but had to Harry Warren and Mack Gordon song You'll Never Know from the movie Hello Frisco, Hello beaten give.
Web links
- Thank Your Lucky Stars in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Thank Your Lucky Stars at filmportal.de
- Thank Your Lucky Stars overview at TCM - Turner Classic Movies
- Thank Your Lucky Stars movie poster
- ( This Is The Army (1943) Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) Hollywood Canteen (1944)) dvdbeaver.com
- Thank Your Lucky Stars Pictures for the film
- Thank Your Lucky Stars Original trailer at TCM - Turner Classic Movies
Individual evidence
- ↑ Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) Notes TCM - Turner Classic Movies
- ↑ Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) Article at TCM - Turner Classic Movies
- ↑ Thank Your Lucky Stars Rating Variety. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
- ↑ Bosley Crowther: Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) In: The New York Times, October 2, 1943. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
- ↑ Dennis Schwartz: Thank Your Lucky Stars "It's vulgar entertainment, but at least there's a few laughs over the stars ribbing each other and doing some acts." Retrieved January 13, 2015.