Thousands Cheer (1943)

The daughter (Kathryn Grayson) of an Army Colonel (John Boles) falls in love with an enlisted man (Gene Kelly). This causes a problem with her mother (Mary Astor), who is divorced from her father because the Army took precedence over their marriage. Based on the story PRIVATE MISS JONES by Paul Jarrico and directed by George Sidney (BYE BYE BIRDIE). This slight wartime romantic comedy has the thinnest of plot lines. It's essentially a wartime morale booster similar to films like HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN and THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS where the film is padded out with a gallery of the studio's contract players (in this case, MGM). The film's trite storyline can be overlooked when you get Judy Garland singing boogie woogie, Eleanor Powell twirling and tapping and Lena Horne singing Honeysuckle Rose! The film's musical numbers and comedy sketches performed during a show for soldiers are the reason for sitting through this movie. Among the many performers: Mickey Rooney, Lucille Ball, Ann Sothern, Red Skelton, June Allyson, Donna Reed, Margaret O'Brien, Kay Kyser, Marsha Hunt, Marilyn Maxwell, Gloria DeHaven, Virginia O'Brien, Frank Morgan, Benny Carter, Sara Haden, Frances Rafferty, Bob Crosby and Ben Blue.