ID

FBW001087      Fiction

Country / Year

USA, 1944

Original Title

Hollywood Canteen

Directed by

Delmer Daves

Produced by

Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., Burbank, CA / New York, NY

Staff

Producer: Alex Gottlieb; Script: Delmer Daves; Script contributor: Stevens Craig; Camera: Bert Glennon; Editing: Christian Nyby; Costumes: Milo Anderson; Musical direction: Leo F. Forbstein; Choreography: Leroy Prinz

Cast

Robert Hutton (Slim); Dane Clark (Sergeant); Janis Paige (Angela); Jonathan Hale (Mr. Brodel); Barbara Brown (Mrs. Brodel); Mark Stevens (Soldier on Deck); Richard Erdman (Soldier on Deck); James Flavin (Marine Sergeant); Eddie Marr (Director); Theodore von Eltz (Director); Ray Teal (Captain); Rudy Friml (Orchestra Leader); George Turner; Joan Leslie; Jack Benny; Joe Evans Brown; Eddie Cantor; Kitty Carlisle; Jack Carson; Joan Crawford; Helmut Dantine; Bette Davis; Faye Emerson; Victor Francen; John Garfield; Sydney Greenstreet; Alan Hale, Jr.; Paul Henreid; Andrea King; Peter Lorre; Ida Lupino; Irene Manning; Nora Lou Martin; Joan McCracken; Dolores Moran; Dennis Morgan; Eleonor Parker; William Prince; Joyce Reynolds; John Ridgely; Roy Rogers; S.Z. Sakall; Alexis Smith; Zachary Scott; Barbara Stanwyck; Craig Stevens; Joseph Szigeti; Donald Woods; Jane Wyman; Jimmy Dorsey (and His Band); Carmen Cavallaro (and Orchestra); Virginia Patton; Lynne Shayne; Johnny Mitchell; John Sheridan; Colleen Townsend; Angela Greene; Paul Brooke; Marianne O'Brien; Dorothy Malone; Bill Kennedy; Mary Gordon; Chef Milani; Betty Brodel

Length

124'

Format

35mm/sw/1:1,37

Abstract

Slim is a young soldier recovering from war wounds in a New Guinea hospital when he sees a movie starring Joan Leslie, an actress he dreams of meeting. He returns to the US on leave and goes to the Hollywood Canteen. The Canteen is tended by Bette Davis and other stars playing themselves, and when they learn of Slim's crush on Leslie, a phony raffle is arranged and Slim "wins" first prize - a kiss from Leslie. Later, Slim really hits the jackpot when he is counted the one-millionth serviceman to enter the canteen. His prize is a night in Hollywood with the actress of his choice. Ordered to travel to San Francisco for reassignment, Slim plans to meet Leslie for one final dance at the Canteen. But Leslie doesn't show up. Hutton is crushed and leaves the actress a note saying that his night with her is one he'll always remember. At Union Station, the troop train is just about to depart when Leslie rushes up to it. Turns out she'd run out of gas on her way to the Canteen. Leslie runs alongside the train and tells Slim that she loves him and will be waiting for him at war's end. An MP lifts the actress, and she kisses Slim goodbye as the train pulls out.

Subject Terms

Anti-Nazi films (US); Hospitals; War; Soldiers

Bibliography

- Nash, Ray R. / Ross, Stanley R. / Conelly, Robert B. (Ed.): Motion Picture Guide. Chicago, IL: Cinebooks, 1987