kevin olzak 1944's "Follow the Boys" was hardly the first entry in the studios' rush to provide wartime entertainment in the form of a musical revue featuring contract players going all out for victory. Universal didn't have the kind of stars that the majors had, so they resorted to borrowing George Raft and Vera Zorina to kick off the initial storyline, vaudeville hoofers lamenting its demise only to find new life in serving the armed forces by performing on a worldwide scale. W.C. Fields drops by to play out his ancient (circa 1903) pool routine, done earlier in 1915's "Pool Sharks" (his screen debut) and 1934's "Six of a Kind." Jeannette MacDonald reprises her greatest triumph, "Beyond the Blue Horizon," as do The Andrews Sisters (they sing a medley of their hits), while bandleaders Charlie Pivak, Freddie Slack, Ted Lewis ("is everybody happy?"), and Louis Jordan round out the musical portion. There is an amusing dog act that ends in breathless fashion, and Orson Welles indulging in one of his favorite pastimes, prestidigitation, with gorgeous Marlene Dietrich an assistant that any magician would literally die for (being sawed in half just about does it!). Around the half hour mark Raft addresses an assembly of actors making up most of Universal's stable, mostly silent and observing, some granted a line or two - Andy Devine, Lon Chaney, Randolph Scott, Evelyn Ankers, Alan Curtis, Turhan Bey, Nigel Bruce, Lois Collier, Peter Coe, Susanna Foster, Gloria Jean, Thomas Gomez, Elyse Knox, Maria Montez, Robert Paige, and Gale Sondergaard. For Lon Chaney fans, it's enough to see him sitting right behind Sophie Tucker, wearing the same mustache from his just completed "Calling Dr. Death," since a few months earlier he was definitely absent from Olsen and Johnson's "Crazy House" (this was the last time he was unbilled on screen).

mark.waltz For those on the homefront, this was a consoling musical to show how the troops were being entertained and how stars of stage, screen and radio (WHAT'S A RADIO?) got involved, whether doing bond drives, heading to bases to entertain, or even going overseas. The premise has a former vaudevillian turned movie star (George Raft) neglecting his marriage to his dancing leading lady (Vera Zorina) to accomplish this. Musical numbers and comedy sketches frame a strong storyline, so this is a bit more than the usual "look what we did for the boys" musical revue most of the movie studios were turning out. That isn't mean to diminish movies like "Hollywood Canteen", "Stage Door Canteen", "This is the Army", "Thousands Cheer" and "Thank Your Lucky Stars", but there is a greater purpose to the movie than simply being an entertainment.The highlights for me include a wonderful Andrews Sisters medley, as well as a reprise of "Beyond the Blue Horizon" sung by Jeanette MacDonald, which she first sang in the 1930 movie operetta "Monte Carlo". The war setting for that song is just as appropriate as it was in that earlier film. A wonderful array of stars famous and obscure include such gems as Sophia Tucker ("the last of the Red Hot Mama's"), W.C. Fields (performing his pool act which I found dated), Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan (the Mickey & Judy of Universal), Dinah Shore (singing "I Walk Alone" to a montage of soldiers overseas) and various popular bandleaders. Orson Welles gets to do a funny magic show with the help of glamorous Marlene Dietrich. And then there are character performers like Charley Grapewin, Charles Butterworth, George MacReady and Elizabeth Patterson, famous enough to play themselves, but portraying fictional characters.Shots of various stars on actual bond tours, as well as a call board with the names and sites of the various bond and base activities going on add authenticity. As for the actual storyline between Raft and Ms. Zorina, I found it realistic to see how what was going on had an impact on their marriage as their priorities became twisted during a war of which some effects are still being felt today. Some of the situations seem a bit forced but when you've got this array of talent, that is a minor complaint.

ROCKY-19 In a great tribute to all the performers who have entertained American Fighting Forces, Follow the Boys assembles a nifty all-star group to let the folks on the home front see what the soldiers are getting. The film combines real footage in the field mixed with performers recreating their USO acts.The result is a bit like a training film for the USO, but it does help us appreciate how so many performers went above and beyond the call of duty. From the wonderful Andrews Sisters to magical Orson Welles, it is an eclectic revue. There is a particularly touching section in the middle, from Artur Rubinstein to a montage underscored by beautifully melancholy songs from Dinah Shore.Of course to get to all this, you must wade through a negligible plot about a husband-and-wife dance team (George Raft and Vera Zorina) who split over one of those obnoxious movie misunderstanding as he wants to put all his efforts into entertaining the troops. The dialogue is pedantic, Zorina is a cold fish, and Raft is stiff - until he's dancing.Though he seems to be enjoying himself ONLY when he's dancing, Raft had an emotional investment in the film. In real life, he was among the troop entertainers, and he had also been very close to Carole Lombard, who had died earlier engaged in exactly that work. Perhaps it was his personal tribute to her. He is in one of the best numbers of the film: Louis Jordan and his orchestra perform "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" and then accompany Raft as he dances "Sweet Georgia Brown" in the rain for a group of black soldiers. Though Raft was at his peak weight here, he was still nimble afoot.

roadlt Follow The Boys was one of several "entertaining the troops" films made during World War II. The plots often revolved around personal conflict for the characters that is war related. The films usually pat show business on the back for what it's doing for the troops. Finally, there are lots of speciality numbers by popular performers of the day. Follow The Boys stays true to the formula, but with some interesting touches. First, it provides some background on the organization necessary to put entertainment units together. Second, some footage was shot at actual performances before audiences of service men and women.George Raft plays the main character, a dancer turned show organizaer. His dancing makes us realize he is better at organizing shows. As is often the case in these films, the high spots are the speciality numbers, particularly Loius Jordan, Dinah Shore, and amazingly enough, Arthur Rubenstein here. Orson Welles does a fascinating magic act. Jeanette McDonald does a number in a hospital ward singing to injured soldiers. It's contrived, yet moving. Follow The Boys is an interesting, if uneven, WWII artifact.