Although the production values for "Thousands Cheer" were very, very nice (since it was made by MGM), I thoroughly hated practically every minute of this dreadfully dull film. The plot was thin, the main character VERY unlikable and the variety show was, for the most part, dreadful. In so many ways, you can find better films than this one.
"Thousands Cheer" is a WWII propaganda film that is part story and part a variety show featuring MGM acts. The star is a very young Gene Kelly. He has just been inducted in the military and spends most of his time complaining and just being unpleasant. For some bizarre reason, the Colonel's daughter (Kathryn Grayson) has fallen for him. But, because he is almost always in trouble and is so troublesome, the relationship seems doomed.
In addition to this plot that I could not care less about (mostly because Kelly's character was just unlikable and argumentative), the film had a VERY long sequence that was a variety show of MGM stars supposedly performing for our troops. Mickey Rooney was the emcee and it featured some mostly bland performances by the likes of Frank Morgan, Judy Garland, Red Skelton and Eleanor Powell. These sequences made me a bit mad because similar stuff was done so much better in Warner's "Stage Door Canteen" and "Hollywood Canteen". These similar variety shows intended to entertain and bolster our troops were just much more fun.
So it obviously sounds like I didn't like this film--and that is indeed true. The problem is that there were many, many wartime armed services films that were better and there were variety shows that were better. Despite "Thousands Cheer" being in color, it just didn't deliver and was a terrible role for Gene Kelly.
"Thousands Cheer" is a WWII propaganda film that is part story and part a variety show featuring MGM acts. The star is a very young Gene Kelly. He has just been inducted in the military and spends most of his time complaining and just being unpleasant. For some bizarre reason, the Colonel's daughter (Kathryn Grayson) has fallen for him. But, because he is almost always in trouble and is so troublesome, the relationship seems doomed.
In addition to this plot that I could not care less about (mostly because Kelly's character was just unlikable and argumentative), the film had a VERY long sequence that was a variety show of MGM stars supposedly performing for our troops. Mickey Rooney was the emcee and it featured some mostly bland performances by the likes of Frank Morgan, Judy Garland, Red Skelton and Eleanor Powell. These sequences made me a bit mad because similar stuff was done so much better in Warner's "Stage Door Canteen" and "Hollywood Canteen". These similar variety shows intended to entertain and bolster our troops were just much more fun.
So it obviously sounds like I didn't like this film--and that is indeed true. The problem is that there were many, many wartime armed services films that were better and there were variety shows that were better. Despite "Thousands Cheer" being in color, it just didn't deliver and was a terrible role for Gene Kelly.