Harrison's Reports (1943)

August 7, 1943 HARRISON'S REPORTS 127 "This Is the Army" (Warner Bros., August 14; time, 114 min.) Excellent. This screen version of Irving Berlin's "This Is the Army" is a dynamic entertainment in every sense of the word; from start to finish it stirs one's emotions deeply. There is no doubt that it will do smash business. It is the sort of picture that cannot fail to please, for it has everything— rousing patriotic appeal, sensational dancing, unforgettable music by Irving Berlin, tender romance, hilarious laughter, and tears. The production values are excellent, and Technicolor photography has never been employed to better advantage. Except for the elimination of certain skits and ballet numbers, the film presents the numbers performed in the stage production, including a few new numbers. The three hundred and fifty soldiers who appeared in the stage version, fill their original parts in the picture. Musically, the film is a treat. There are seventeen Berlin tunes, including such old favorites as "Poor Little Me, I'm on K.P." and "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning," which is sung by Irving Berlin in one of the film's outstanding sequences. Current favorites are such tunes as "I Left My Heart at the Stage Door Canteen," "This is the Army, Mr. Jones," and "God Bless America," which is sung by Kate Smith. Other highlights include songs by Gertrude Neisen and Frances Langford; the "Ladies of the Chorus" number, sung and danced by Alan Hale and a soldier-chorus in feminine garb; a sensational Harlem dance number, in which Sgt. Joe Louis does a bag-punching routine; and the "Stage Door Canteen" number, in which the soldiers impersonate hostesses and famous stars. "Give a Cheer for the Navy," in which the Army salutes the Navy, and "This Time Will Be the Last Time," which is the finale, are two elaborately executed song and marching numbers that will long be remembered by the spectator. Told in the terms of a father-son story, the film ties in "Yip, Yip, Yaphank," soldier show of World War I, with "This is the Army," soldier show of World War II. It opens in 1917 in New York, where George Murphy, dancing star of the Ziegfield Follies, receives his draft notice. At Camp Upton, Murphy meets Charles Butterworth, a musician, George Tobias, an East Side fruit peddler, and Alan Hale, a tough top-sergeant. For the benefit of Army Emergency Relief, Stanley Ridges, the commanding officer, sanctions a soldier show, and puts Murphy in charge. The show is called "Yip, Yip, Yaphank." It is a huge hit, and at the end of its successful Broadway run, it is disbanded and the men go overseas. When the Armistice is declared, the men return and settle down to civilian life. The outbreak of World War II finds Murphy a theatrical producer, with Lt. Ronald Reagan, his son, as his assistant. Tobias, now the proprietor of a swank fruit store, is aided by Sgt. Julie Oshins, his son. Butterworth is assisted in his music store by Joan Leslie, his daughter. Joan and Reagan are engaged to be married. Reagan and Oshins enlist and are sent to Camp Upton where they, too, just as their fathers did, have Hale for a Sergeant. When the members of the "Yip, Yip, Yaphank" cast come to visit their sons, they prevail upon the commanding officer to let the boys stage a show. The commander agrees, and the new show is titled "This is the Army." With Murphy to guide him, Reagan is put in charge of production. The show is a tremendous hit in New York, and a nation-wide tour is arranged. The finale of the show comes at the Washington, D. C. command performance for the President. At the close of the performance, Reagan and Joan are married in the theatre alley. "This is the Army" is a fine tribute to the Army, and to Irving Berlin. Also, it is a tribute to the patriotic motives of Warner Brothers, which is contributing all receipts over and above its actual outlay and distribution costs to the Army Emergency Relief Fund. Credit is due Michael Curtiz for his excellent direction. Casey Robinson and Capt. Claude Binyon wrote the screen play, and Jack L. Warner and Hal B. Wallis directed It. The cast includes Dolores Costello, Una Merkel, Rosemary De Camp, Ruth Donnelly, Dorothy Peterson, Ilka Gruning, M/Sgt. Ezra Stone, Sgt. Philip Truex, Pfc. Joe Cook, Jr., the Allon Trio, and many others. Definitely suitable for all. "The Man from Down Under" with Charles Laughton, Binnie Barnes, Richard Carlson and Donna Reed (MGM, no release date set; time, 102 min.) Combining action, drama, human interest, and a good share of comedy, this melodrama shapes up as a fairly good entertainment, in spite of the fact that the story is transparent. It is not, however, strong enough for single billing. The film's chief asset is Charles Laughton's colorful portrayal of a boastful but likeable Australian. Its chief fault is the listless development of the plot in between the first and last few reels. But even in that stretch, one finds some amusing comedy situations. Two of the film's outstanding sequences are a prizefight, in which Richard Carlson wins the Australian championship, and a hand-tohand battle, in which Carlson and Laughton best a downed Japanese air crew. Youthful romance is furnished by Carlson and Donna Reed in contrast to the middle-aged romance between Laughton and Binnie Barnes. Some judicious cutting would benefit the film: — Australian soldier Charles Laughton embarks for home in 1919, taking with him two Belgian orphans, brother and sister. In his haste, he forgets his promise to marry Binnie Barnes, a cafe entertainer. In Sydney, Laughton becomes a famous pub-owner, and raises the boy (Richard Carlson) as a boxer. He sends the girl (Donna Reed) to a girls' finishing school. Carlson wins the Australian championship, but injures his shoulder in the fight. The injury ends his fighting career. Laughton buys a country hotel with his winnings, taking Donna and Carlson to live with him. Binnie Barnes, now a wealthy widow, visits the hotel. Seeking revenge for Laughton's treatment of her, she manages to win the hotel from him in a gambling game. Meanwhile Horace McNally, an American newspaperman, had fallen in love with Donna, much to the chagrin of Carlson, whose feelings for Donna were strong. Donna, however, did not love McNally. Realizing that his love for Donna was more than brotherly love, Carlson, after confiding to a friendly priest, goes away. War is declared, and the hotel is turned into a shelter for evacuated children. Laughton, too old for the army, joins a work battalion. Meanwhile Carlson, wounded in the Malayan campaign, returns to Australia at a point near the hotel. During a raid, in which the hotel is bombed, a Japanese plane is downed. The Jap crew, uninjured, take possession of the hotel. Laughton and Carlson rush to the rescue, wiping out the Japs in a fierce fight. Reunited, Donna's and Carlson's happiness is even more complete when the kindly priest, to whom Carlson had confided, reveals that an investigation of their parentage showed that they were foster brother and sister, with no blood ties. But they are no happier than Laughton, who had won a Captain's commission, and Binnie, who had won Laughton. Wells Root and Thomas Seller wrote the screen play, and Robert Z. Leonard produced and directed it. The cast includes Christopher Severn, Clyde Cook, Andre Chariot, Arthur Shields and others. Morally suitable for all.