ID

FBW001373      Fiction

Country / Year

USA, 1943

Original Title

Thousands Cheer

Directed by

George Sidney

Produced by

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) (Loew's, Inc.), Culver City, CA (New York, NY)

Staff

Producer: Joe Pasternak; Script: Richard Collins (Based on the story "Private Miss Jones"by Jarrico, Collins), Paul Jarrico; Based on: Jarrico Collins ("Private Miss Jones"); Camera: George Folsey ((Technicolor)); Editing: George Boemler; Art direction: Cedric Gibbons, Daniel B. Cathcart; Set decoration: Edwin B. Willis, Jacques Mesereau; Costumes: Irene (=Vorname); Music: Herbert Stothart; Musical arrangements: Herbert Stothart

Cast

Kathryn Grayson (Kathryn Jones); Gene Kelly (Eddie Marsh); Mary Astor (Hyllary Jones); Jose Iturbi (Himself); John Boles (Col. Jones); Richard Simmons (Capt. Avery); Ben Blue (Chuck); Frank Jenks (Sgt. Koslack); Frank Sully (Alan); Wally Cassell (Jack); Ben Lessy (Silent Monk); Frances Rafferty (Marie); Odette Myrtil (Mama Corbino); Willy Kaufman (Papa Corbino); Lionel Barrymore (Announcer); Mickey Rooney; Judy Garland; Eleanor Powell; Red Skelton; Ann Sothern; Lucille Ball; Virginia O'Brien; Lena Horne; Marsha Hunt; Marilyn Maxwell; Donna Reed; Margaret O'Brien; June Allyson; Gloria DeHaven; Sara Haden; Frank Morgan; Kay Kyser (and his orchestra); Bob Crosby (and his orchestra); Benny Carter (and his orchestra); Don Loper; Maxine Barrat (Guest Star); Siegfried Arno (Uncle Algy); Connie Gilchrist (Taxicab Driver); Bea Nigro (Woman); Daisy Bufford (Maid); Pierre Watkin (Alex); Peggy Remington; Ed Mortimer (Guest); Ray Teal (Ringmaster); Carl Saxe (Sergeant Major); Bryant Washburn, Jr. ( Lt. Col. Brand); Harry Strang (Capt. Haines); James Millican (Sgt. Carrington Major); Willliam Tannen (Prison Sergeant); Florence Turner (Mother at Station); Linda Landi (Polish Girl at Station); Eileen Coghlan; Eve Whitney; Aileen Haley; Betty Jaynes; Natalie Draper (Girl at Station); Myron Healey; Cliff Danielson; James Warren; Don Taylor (Soldiers at Station); Paul Speer (Specialty Dancer); Marta Linden (Skit Nurse); John Conte (Skit Doctor)

Length

126'

Format

35mm/sw/1:1,37

Abstract

Opera singer Kathryn Jones has put her career and love life on hold to keep house for her Army colonel father, Col. Jones. While at a railway station, Kathryn is spotted by Eddie Marsh, who musters up the courage to kiss her because he feels awful that there's no one at the station to greet his arrival. A former trapeze artist who doesn't think much of Army life, Eddie Marsh wants a transfer to the Air Corps and realizes that by winning over Kathryn Jones he may be able to wangle the transfer he's after from Col. Jones. At first, Eddie Marsh's romancing of Jones is just part of his scheme, but before long it dawns on him that the really is in love with her, much to the displeasure of Col. Jones. A big show is about to go on, with Marsh's former trapeze partners. They prevail on Jones to allow Marsh to leave the barracks so he can perform with them, and the colonel consents. Marsh now finally understands the importance of teamwork. Just as the show ends, the entire garrison is ordered to report for immediate transport to the war zone. The final sequence has Kathryn Jones, Hyllary Jones, and Col. Jones waving good-bye to Marsh.

Subject Terms

Anti-Nazi films (US)

Bibliography

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