jacobs-greenwood
Though somewhat similar to Stage Door Canteen (1943), which preceded it, and Hollywood Canteen (1944), which followed it, this Musical Romance Comedy has a storyline with a canteen for soldiers inside, instead of being about a canteen with a romantic story inside. Hence, it earned Richard Connell and Gladys Lehman a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination.Directed by Richard Thorpe, the plot involves two sisters, played by June Allyson and the lovely Gloria DeHaven, whose parents had been stage actors, that start their own free nightclub for those in military service during World War II. Van Johnson plays the titled sailor, who becomes involved in a love triangle with these "girls"; Tom Drake plays another soldier who's in the Army. Johnson's character is also very rich, a fact he keeps secret from the sisters while, through his assistant Mr. Nizby (Donald Meek), he fulfills their wishes and bankrolls their charity enterprise. Henry Stephenson plays Johnson's grandfather, Henry O'Neill his father. Jimmy Durante plays a now washed up comic the girls knew when they were two years old (Gigi Perreau, uncredited, plays one of them).Every night, after their performance at an urban (New York?) nightclub, Patsy (Allyson) and Jean (DeHaven) Deyo invite military personnel from all three branches of service (the Army, the Navy, & the Marines) back to their humble flat where they make sandwiches and entertain them with song. It's their way of saying thanks and participating in the war effort by boosting morale. Jean is a bit too flirtatious for her sister Patsy's liking; Patsy has had to look after her younger sister since their actress mother left their actor father (Frank Jenks) years ago. When Jean spends a little too much time with any one admirer, Patsy pinches her to effectively end the courting. For the past few nights, Jean has received orchids from a person who signs the cards "Somebody".Of course, John Dyckman Brown III (Johnson), known to the girls as a sailor named Johnnie, is the secret admirer. One night, he is one of the lucky ones hanging around the nightclub who gets invited back to the Deyo's apartment, along with Army Sergeant Frank Miller (Drake), Marine Private Adams (Frank Sully, uncredited), and many others. While there, he learns from Patsy about a deserted warehouse, around the corner, and the girls' desire to open a canteen. The next thing you know, John's agent Mr. Nizby (Meek) is giving them the deed. Upon inspection, the sisters discover that the bum living in it is their old acquaintance Billy Kipp (Durante), who'd quit the business when his wife up and left him with their son.With generous assistance directed by Mr. Nizby, and funded anonymously by Johnnie, Kipp and the Deyo sisters get the warehouse fixed up, furnished, and catered such that they can open their dream canteen. Entertainment is provided by various well-known performers who donate their time such as Ben Blue, José Iturbi, Gracie Allen, Lena Horne, Virginia O'Brien, Lee & Lyn Wilde, trumpeter Harry James and His Music Makers, Helen Forrest, Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra, and more. Meanwhile, Frank and Johnnie are courting Jean but, simultaneously, Patsy is falling in love with Johnnie herself (there is a dream sequence which includes Ava Gardner). For his part, Johnnie begins to recognize that Patsy has more to offer and admires her selfless devotion to her sister and the canteen. There are some sweet, sentimental, even tear-jerking moments, and the scene during which Patsy discovers Johnnie's identity, through his grandfather (Stephenson) and father (O'Neill), and subsequent sequences are keepers.Predictably, all works out well in the end for both sisters, each get engaged. There is also a funny bit involving Durante's character as well.
Greensleeves
Perky June Allyson and lovely Gloria DeHaven are two vaudevillians given a chance to open their own canteen for military personnel by a mysterious benefactor. The very thin plot revolves around this simple premise and at over two hours running time it becomes very stretched indeed. However, as this is an MGM movie, there is much to enjoy thanks to the plethora of studio talent involved. The highlights for me were gorgeous Virginia O'Brien doing her usual 'deadpan' number, June Allyson's terrific 'Young Man With A Horn', beautiful Lena Horne singing 'Paper Doll' and who could resist Jimmy Durante performing 'Inka Dinka Doo'? The production is lavish with huge sets, hundreds of extras and fabulous costumes. The bizarre dream sequence is quite eye-popping and even includes a fashion parade with some truly beautiful models. Quite an extravaganza!
raskimono
This slight musical comedy from 1944 was a blockbuster of its year. Its one of those Stage door canteen where G.I.s are entertained by hit musicians of their including the popular band and orchestra leader Harry James and Xavier Cugat. The big hit "Young man with a horn" is featured prominently. The songs are lovely and generally feel orchestrated and operatic as this is a Joe Pasternak production. Like a Bruckheimer, a Selznick, a Freed or a Ross Hunter, you know a Pasternak when you see it. That is, slight plots with certain scenes that are written and play better than the whole movie and make you wish they were in another movie. There is usually a love plot involving dueling sisters, mother and daughter, or jealous daughters to their dads. The actresses are pretty and young. The songs, hits of their day but taken out of their time and the situations, they lack the oomph for classic appreciation unlike the movies of Arthur Freed. Take note, there is a dream sequence in this movie that is begging for one of those Freed musical numbers but instead we get Jimmy Durante shenanigans that lifts the weight from the scene. Thorpe, the journeyman director at MGM who made a lot of hits, directs in his usual flat and placid style that gets the job done and not much more. If only Pasternak aimed higher, varied the formula a little, he could have been a champion, not just a contender.
rayh-7
I was nine in 1944, living in Cincinnati during WWII when this movie came to RKO Royal Theatre.I saw it twice then. Later, when we had moved back to Tennessee, I saw it again the Roxy Theatre in Clarksville, Tenn. About 1995 I read that "Two Girls And A Sailor" was released on VHS,I rushed to have my video store order me a copy. Now I have it, and watch it every couple of months. It's almost like being 9 years old again ! (And I'm still mad about June Allyson !)
