THIS IS THE ARMY (1943) George Murphy,Joan Leslie&George Tobias | Musical | Colorized | Classic Film

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This Is the Army is a 1943 American wartime musical comedy film produced by Jack L. Warner and Hal B. Wallis and directed by Michael Curtiz, adapted from a wartime stage musical with the same name, designed to boost morale in the U.S. during World War II, directed by Ezra Stone. The screenplay by Casey Robinson and Claude Binyon was based on the 1942 Broadway musical written by James McColl and Irving Berlin, with music and lyrics by Berlin. Berlin composed the film's 19 songs, and sang one of them.

The movie stars George Murphy, Joan Leslie, George Tobias, Ronald Reagan and Alan Hale, and features a large ensemble cast including Charles Butterworth, Dolores Costello, Una Merkel, Stanley Ridges, Rosemary de Camp, Ruth Donnelly, Dorothy Peterson, Frances Langford, Gertrude Niesen, Kate Smith, and Joe Louis. The cast of both the film, and the stage play on which it was based, included soldiers of the U.S. Army who were actors and performers in civilian life, including Reagan and Louis.

Synopsis

In World War I, song-and-dance man Jerry Jones is drafted into the US Army, where he stages a revue called Yip Yip Yaphank. It is a rousing success, but one night during the show orders are received to leave immediately for France: instead of the finale, the troops march up the aisles through the audience, out the theater's main entrance and into a convoy of waiting trucks. Among the teary, last-minute goodbyes Jones kisses his newlywed bride Ethel farewell.

In the trenches of France, several of the soldiers in the production are killed or wounded by shrapnel from a German artillery barrage. Jones is wounded in the leg and must walk with a cane, ending his career as a dancer. Nevertheless, he is resolved to find something useful to do, especially now that he is the father of a son. Sgt. McGee and Pvt. Eddie Dibble, the troop bugler, also survive.

Twenty-five years later World War II is raging in Europe. Jerry's son Johnny enlists in the Army shortly after Pearl Harbor. He tells his sweetheart Eileen Dibble that they cannot marry until he returns, since he doesn't want to make her a widow.

Johnny reluctantly accepts an order to stage another musical, following in his father's footsteps. The show goes on tour throughout the United States and eventually plays Washington, D.C., in front of President Roosevelt. During the show it is announced that this is the last performance: the soldiers in the production have been ordered back to their combat units.

Eileen, who has joined the Red Cross auxiliary, appears backstage. During a break in the show she brings a minister and persuades Johnny that they should marry now – which they do, in the alley behind the theater, with their fathers acting as witnesses.

Cast & Crew

George Murphy as Jerry Jones
Joan Leslie as Eileen Dibble
Ronald Reagan as Corporal, later Lieutenant, Johnny Jones
George Tobias as Maxie Twardofsky
Alan Hale Sr. as Sgt. McGee
Charles Butterworth as Eddie Dibble
Dolores Costello as Mrs. Davidson
Una Merkel as Rose Dibble
Stanley Ridges as Maj., later Col., John B. Davidson
Rosemary DeCamp as Ethel Jones
Ruth Donnelly as Mrs. O'Brien
Dorothy Peterson as Mrs. Nelson
Gertrude Niesen as World War I vocalist
Jack Young as Franklin D. Roosevelt (uncredited)
As themselves:
Irving Berlin
Frances Langford
Joe Louis
Kate Smith
Ezra Stone

Directed by: Michael Curtiz
Dialogue Directors: Hugh Cummings, Edward A. Blatt
Screenplay by: Casey Robinson, Claude Binyon
Based on: The 1942 Broadway Play by James McColl and Irving Berlin
Produced by: Jack L. Warner, Hal B. Wallis
Cinematography: Bert Glennon, Sol Polito
Edited by: George Amy
Music by: Irving Berlin (music and lyrics), Ray Heindorf (score)
Color Process: Technicolor
Production Company: Warner Bros.
Distributed by: Warner Bros.
Release Date: August 14, 1943
Running Time: 113 or 120 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
Budget: $1,870,000
Box Office: $10,445,000