Tonight And Every Night (1945)

In WWII London during the Blitz, a music hall vows never to close its doors in order to make its show available to the soldiers 24 hours a day whenever they get leave. A romance develops between an American showgirl (Rita Hayworth) and an English pilot (Lee Bowman). Based on the play by Lesley Storm and directed by Victor Saville (GREEN DOLPHIN STREET). This BACKSTAGE musical is loosely based on the true story of London's Windmill theatre which was told somewhat more accurately in the 2005 film MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS. As a musicals go, this one is pretty anemic. The backstage story is hackneyed, the songs by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn are forgettable (though one of them called Anywhere was nominated for a best song Oscar) and though everyone (except Hayworth) are playing Brits, no English accents are even attempted. The two bright spots are Hayworth, looking luscious in three strip Technicolor, and the choreography by Jack Cole, highlighted in the Latin flavored number You Excite Me. With Janet Blair, the athletic dancer Marc Platt (7 BRIDES FOR 7 BROTHERS), Florence Bates, Ann Codee and Shelley Winters.