Silver Screen Icons: Wartime Musicals

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

James Cagney is a red, white, and blue bundle of song-and-dance energy in his Oscar-winning portrayal of early-20th century Irish-American George M. Cohan, "the man who owned Broadway." Follow George from his vaudeville days as one of The Four Cohans to fame as the writer of "Over There," "Give My Regards to Broadway," "You're a Grand Old Flag," and many other classic songs. Joan Leslie, Rosemary DeCamp, and Walter Huston co-star in one of Hollywood's best-loved musicals; directed by Michael Curtiz. 125 min. BW/Rtg: NR

Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)

Warner Bros.' contribution to the war effort was this songfest featuring their star players performing numerous hits. The plot revolves around the mishaps of Eddie Cantor and a look-alike cab driver. Stars include Humphrey Bogart, Joan Leslie, Olivia de Havilland, John Garfield, Bette Davis singing "They're Either Too Young or Too Old" and Errol Flynn singing "That's What You Jolly Well Get." 127 min. BW/Rtg: NR

This Is The Army (1943)

Songs from two Irving Berlin stage shows--"Yip Yip Yaphank" and "This Is the Army"--were blended into this morale-boosting WWII musical tribute to America's armed forces. Ronald Reagan, Joan Leslie, George Murphy, and Alan Hale head the nostalgic treat's all-star cast; featured numbers include Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" and Berlin himself performing "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning." 112 min. C/Rtg: NR

Hollywood Canteen (1944)

This star-studded follow-up to "Stage Door Canteen" is filled with Hollywood favorites, patriotic spirit, and classic songs. The plot involves soldiers Dane Clark and Robert Hutton catching entertainment at the famed Canteen before being shipped to New Guinea, and Hutton meeting dream girl Leslie. With The Andrews Sisters, Jack Benny, Joan Crawford, Davis, Cantor, and many more. BW/Rtg: NR

Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono.