Cheaply filmed and a little less glamorous than its West Coast sister "Hollywood Canteen", this New York edition opens with a canteen girl being fired for accompanying a soldier to Roseland (he was lonely), and the movie keeps that rather sad note throughout. The screenplay isn't exactly arresting, but it's convincingly played--especially by Cheryl Walker, an amiable presence who didn't really escape B movies. There are some excellent big band numbers (though WHAT the heck is up with Kay Keyser, anyway?), and interactions with Broadway legends (Hayes, Fontanne, Bankhead, Cornell) that are thrilling to witness. Nice to see appearances by character actors like Helen Broderick (Top Hat) and Aline McMahon (Gold Diggers of 1933).
Most surreal moments are Katharine Hepburn interacting with mortals, and "Gypsy" Rose Lee giving a strip tease.
Fascinating film was in the public domain for a long while, in horrible prints, so beware. A clean, beautiful print can be seen on Turner.
Most surreal moments are Katharine Hepburn interacting with mortals, and "Gypsy" Rose Lee giving a strip tease.
Fascinating film was in the public domain for a long while, in horrible prints, so beware. A clean, beautiful print can be seen on Turner.