Warner Brothers. 123 minutes.
US release: 12/15/44. VHS release: 7/24/91.Encyclopedia Entry • Films Main
Hollywood Canteen
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Warner Brothers. 123 minutes.
US release: 12/15/44. VHS release: 7/24/91.
Cast: Joan Leslie, Robert Hutton, Dane Clark, Janis Paige. Guest stars include: the Andrews Sisters, Jack Benny, Joe E. Brown, Eddie Cantor, Kitty Carlisle, Jack Carson, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, John Garfield, Sydney Greenstreet, Paul Henreid, Peter Lorre, Ida Lupino, Irene Manning, Joan McCracken, Dennis Morgan, Eleanor Parker, Roy Rogers and Trigger, Barbara Stanwyck, Jane Wyman.
Credits: Original Screenplay: Delmer Daves. Producer: Alex Gottlieb. Director: Delmer Daves. Camera: Bert Glennon. Art Director: Leo Kuter. Musical Director: Leo F. Forbstein. Musical Numbers: LeRoy Prinz. Music Adaptation: Ray Heindorf. Editor: Christian Nyby.
Awards: 1945 Oscar nominations: Best Music, Original Song: "Sweet Dreams, Sweetheart" (music, M.K. Jerome; lyrics, Ted Koehler); Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture: Ray Heindorf. Best Sound, Recording: Nathan Levinson.
Kate Cameron in the New York Daily News:
It is an elaborate show, but it is presented by author-director Delmer Daves in such a patronizing manner as to make one blush for its complete lack of reserve in singing the praises of Hollywood. It boasts screen personages unashamedly and without a flicker of humor. The players in the picture seem constantly awed by their own gracious and hospitable entertainment of the servicemen.
Doug Pratt on dvdlaser.com:
One of the best of the 'Canteen' movies, the film's surreal parade of stars, portraying touchy-feely versions of themselves, never ceases to be fascinating, and the movie's pace, musical numbers, and contrived dramatic framing device are breezier than most. Our favorite moment is a well-written interlude featuring Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre ("He didn't trust us, Peter." "Oh, and we are such gentle people." Greenstreet raises his eyebrows, "Are we?"), but others will find giddier pleasures in the specter of Joan Crawford, Bette Davis and John Garfield happily, and indeed enthusiastically, rubbing elbows with the ordinary, hardworking, uniformed common folk.
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