I recently saw this on TCM and had never seen it before. Director Edward Buzzell had a career in 30's and 40's films that were mostly actress driven romantic comedies before he made the leap to television in the early 50's. He also directed a couple of Marx Brothers movies. Here he is in his element directing three talented actress. Lana Turner is Val Parks, a playgirl heiress who is being forced to join the Women's Army Corp by her family before she can get her hands on any more of the family fortune. Larraine Day is Napoleon Rand, an army brat who knows the military rules book by heart and becomes a WAC to carry on a family tradition. Susan Peters is Annie Darrison, the wife of an army officer fighting in WWII. Parks and Rand instantly develop a dislike for each other and Darrison becomes the mediator as all three are assigned as mechanics in the same unit. What makes for believable on-screen tension between the Turner and Day characters is that they couldn't stand each other in real life. Day had billing over Turner in the only other film they appeared in, 1939's Calling Dr. Kildare when Turner was an upcoming starlet. By the time filming started on this movie in August of 1944 Turner was an established star and had billing above Day. Day was icy to Turner in 1939 and Turner returned the cold shoulder in 1944. Susan Peters is one of Hollywood's tragic figures. She lost her father in an accident as a young girl and never got over it. Her acting career got off to a rocky start and was dropped by Warner Brothers but MGM saw something promising and she had earned an Academy Award nomination for Random Harvest. A miscarriage kept her off the screen just when her career was at it's brightest and she returned to the screen for this film but less than two months after filming she was shot in a hunting accident and paralyzed from the waist down. She made an attempt in limited roles to keep acting on screen, stage and television but depression led to her divorcing her husband and becoming recluse and anorexia nervosa led to her death at age 31. The Cedric Gibbins MGM art direction team on this film features 8 time Oscar winner Edwin Willis as set director. Proliffic cinematographer Ray June is the films photographer but the soft focus closeups are so overboard they are almost laughable. Some corny, silly dialog and situations but actually it isn't too bad of a movie. A female version of a WWII buddy movie. Agnes Moorehead, Natalie Schafer and June Lockhart in supporting roles. It's worth a look and I would give it a 6.5 out of 10.
18 Reviews
Almost A Documentary on Social Change
aimless-468 December 2006
"Keep your powder dry" is Major General Rand's advice to his daughter Leigh when he learns that she has just enlisted in the Women's Army Corps (or WAC's) toward the end of The Second World War. This 1945 release was the first "Private Benjamin" and you know that the events are contemporary with the year of production (1944) because prior to 1944 it was Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (or WAAC). The name change was quite an achievement because it conferred regular army status on the female soldiers and their officers; an acknowledgment that the women auxiliaries had demonstrated more than enough commitment and resourcefulness to earn the grudging admiration of most of their former detractors.
The actual Private Benjamin role went to Lana Turner who plays rich and immature party girl Valerie Parks. Valarie becomes a WAC to improve her playgirl image with the trustees of her inheritance.
But "Keep Your Powder Dry" is actually the story of three Private Benjamin, as it seeks to be as inclusive in its characters as the corps was in its enlistees.
Susan Peters plays Annie Darrison, a young wife in a traditional marriage to an Army officer on his way overseas. She enlists with his concurrence but is uncertain of her ability to function effectively in his absence. Finally there is Leigh Rand (Laraine Day), an Army brat and martinet, who enlists to please dear old dad and because she likes military order and discipline.
So you start with three women who each lack something. Valarie lacks focus, Annie lacks confidence, and Leigh lacks humanity. The three recruits meet at the start of their basic training at the 1st WAC Training Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Free spirit and fun loving Val clashes with mega-dedicated Leigh throughout basic; with Ann doing her best to defuse the conflicts. But the desire to show up her nemesis causes Val to take training seriously and she becomes a pretty good soldier.
Both secretly apply for motor transport school, in part to be with Annie but mostly to get as far away from each other as possible. There is a fun sequence when they get they assignments and realize the strategy has backfired. All three are sent to The Third WAC Training Center at Ft. Oglethorpe, GA for motor transport training.
Val and Leigh eventually become friends and work together to bolster Ann's self-confidence. They are successful and all three are accepted into Officers' Candidate School (OCS).
But some misunderstandings cause the old resentments to return and Leigh schemes to have Val dismissed from training.
"Keep Your Powder Dry" is a relatively low-keyed look at the social changes that resulted from wartime mobilization, as unprecedented opportunities suddenly became available to women. The early WAC's came from wide range of backgrounds and quickly became aware of both the uniqueness of their situation and the significance of the changes in which they were involved.
All three performances are excellent, the early characterizations are quite believable and it looks like Day in particular had a lot of fun with her character. The growth and transformation process is less convincing but it is easy enough to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the film on its historical merits.
The Ft. Oglethorpe parade ground and many of the surrounding buildings that were used for the location shots still exist and are worth a stop if you are in the area.
Susan Peters was probably Hollywood's most tragic figure, even more so than Elizabeth Hartman, Marilyn Monroe, or Pier Anglei. Peters looked a lot like Anne Shirley, who had just opted out of the movie business, Peters was her obvious successor. An especially promising young actress (with an Oscar Nomination for "Random Harvest"), Peters was paralyzed in a hunting accident shortly after filming "Keep Your Powder Dry". The film had not yet been released. Failing in several attempts to sustain her career and with chronic pain, she literally starved herself to death a few years later.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
The actual Private Benjamin role went to Lana Turner who plays rich and immature party girl Valerie Parks. Valarie becomes a WAC to improve her playgirl image with the trustees of her inheritance.
But "Keep Your Powder Dry" is actually the story of three Private Benjamin, as it seeks to be as inclusive in its characters as the corps was in its enlistees.
Susan Peters plays Annie Darrison, a young wife in a traditional marriage to an Army officer on his way overseas. She enlists with his concurrence but is uncertain of her ability to function effectively in his absence. Finally there is Leigh Rand (Laraine Day), an Army brat and martinet, who enlists to please dear old dad and because she likes military order and discipline.
So you start with three women who each lack something. Valarie lacks focus, Annie lacks confidence, and Leigh lacks humanity. The three recruits meet at the start of their basic training at the 1st WAC Training Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Free spirit and fun loving Val clashes with mega-dedicated Leigh throughout basic; with Ann doing her best to defuse the conflicts. But the desire to show up her nemesis causes Val to take training seriously and she becomes a pretty good soldier.
Both secretly apply for motor transport school, in part to be with Annie but mostly to get as far away from each other as possible. There is a fun sequence when they get they assignments and realize the strategy has backfired. All three are sent to The Third WAC Training Center at Ft. Oglethorpe, GA for motor transport training.
Val and Leigh eventually become friends and work together to bolster Ann's self-confidence. They are successful and all three are accepted into Officers' Candidate School (OCS).
But some misunderstandings cause the old resentments to return and Leigh schemes to have Val dismissed from training.
"Keep Your Powder Dry" is a relatively low-keyed look at the social changes that resulted from wartime mobilization, as unprecedented opportunities suddenly became available to women. The early WAC's came from wide range of backgrounds and quickly became aware of both the uniqueness of their situation and the significance of the changes in which they were involved.
All three performances are excellent, the early characterizations are quite believable and it looks like Day in particular had a lot of fun with her character. The growth and transformation process is less convincing but it is easy enough to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the film on its historical merits.
The Ft. Oglethorpe parade ground and many of the surrounding buildings that were used for the location shots still exist and are worth a stop if you are in the area.
Susan Peters was probably Hollywood's most tragic figure, even more so than Elizabeth Hartman, Marilyn Monroe, or Pier Anglei. Peters looked a lot like Anne Shirley, who had just opted out of the movie business, Peters was her obvious successor. An especially promising young actress (with an Oscar Nomination for "Random Harvest"), Peters was paralyzed in a hunting accident shortly after filming "Keep Your Powder Dry". The film had not yet been released. Failing in several attempts to sustain her career and with chronic pain, she literally starved herself to death a few years later.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
Keep Your Heads Up High for Lana & Co.
JLRMovieReviews4 February 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Lana Turner gets the idea to enlist as a WAC in order to inherit some money, because the trust stipulates that she gets nothing in the event that she has been throwing her life away on mindless pursuits and would most likely squander the money.
Laraine Day, daughter of an officer, also becomes a WAC and almost immediately takes an instant dislike to Lana and her fast ways and her too easy life.
Susan Peters, whose husband has gone off to serve, decides what's good for him is good enough for her, too. So she gives her all for WAC life and winds up being the referee between Lana and Laraine's fights.
What makes up for an otherwise ordinary picture about WACs is their very earnest and capable acting. The viewer doesn't usually see Laraine Day as a heavy. But she is chillingly believable as a cold, by-the-books WAC, and Lana is great as a spoiled brat who grows up. Susan Peters, who would later be involved in a tragic accident that would leave her paralyzed, is especially good as the simple girl who only wants her man and to be happy. Its satisfying ending and overall pleasantness with a job well done makes me lean towards a 7, but on the whole it tends to feel like a grade B movie.
(A little irony for those interested: It has been said by Laraine Day that roles once offered to her began going to Lana. They had been in "Calling Dr. Kildare" together where Laraine was Nurse Mary Lamont, the female lead, and Lana was a supporting player. But, Lana's star would rise pretty quickly so that by now, in this movie, Lana was the big name is this film over Laraine.)
Costarring June Lockhart, Lee Patrick, Agnes Moorehead, and Natalie Schafer ("Mrs. Howell" from "Gilligan's Island") as Lana's society friend who's afraid of having her own cushy life disturbed, "Keep Your Powder Dry" may not offer anything new, but it does show the stars giving their all as women who serve their country.
Laraine Day, daughter of an officer, also becomes a WAC and almost immediately takes an instant dislike to Lana and her fast ways and her too easy life.
Susan Peters, whose husband has gone off to serve, decides what's good for him is good enough for her, too. So she gives her all for WAC life and winds up being the referee between Lana and Laraine's fights.
What makes up for an otherwise ordinary picture about WACs is their very earnest and capable acting. The viewer doesn't usually see Laraine Day as a heavy. But she is chillingly believable as a cold, by-the-books WAC, and Lana is great as a spoiled brat who grows up. Susan Peters, who would later be involved in a tragic accident that would leave her paralyzed, is especially good as the simple girl who only wants her man and to be happy. Its satisfying ending and overall pleasantness with a job well done makes me lean towards a 7, but on the whole it tends to feel like a grade B movie.
(A little irony for those interested: It has been said by Laraine Day that roles once offered to her began going to Lana. They had been in "Calling Dr. Kildare" together where Laraine was Nurse Mary Lamont, the female lead, and Lana was a supporting player. But, Lana's star would rise pretty quickly so that by now, in this movie, Lana was the big name is this film over Laraine.)
Costarring June Lockhart, Lee Patrick, Agnes Moorehead, and Natalie Schafer ("Mrs. Howell" from "Gilligan's Island") as Lana's society friend who's afraid of having her own cushy life disturbed, "Keep Your Powder Dry" may not offer anything new, but it does show the stars giving their all as women who serve their country.
Fantastic little WW2 womens comedy
redriver7328 December 2001
This is a great little movie with plenty of laughs and tears. Lana Turner is in stunning form as Val, for some reason she really reminds me of Marylin Munroe a lot in this movie. The rest of the cast is great too, especially Laraine Day and Susan Peters. The story is based around the idea of three women from different social circumstances joining the WAC. The combination of Laraine Day with her army family background and Lana Turner as a model, creates for some incredible tension and electric scenes between the two. These two actresses really spark off each other wonderfully and they have some really dynamic exchanges. All the while with Susan Peters trying to play peace maker and remain neutral. A really heartbreaking ending really adds good balance to this movie also. I feel some of the other reviews were a little harsh on this film, treating it rather whimsically, this film has great dialogue and some very whitty exchanges, the likes of which you won't find on celluloid these days. I find it so hard to believe people can pass off a great little gem like this as boring and uninteresting. Anyway at least it has me here to champion it. :)
Before there was a Private Benjamin.................................
bkoganbing13 December 2017
Before Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin, before Rosalind Russell Waved At A WAC.
there was Lana Turner in Keep Your Powder Dry. Ironically all three of these women played women of some social standing who for similar reasons join the
Women's Army Corps.
Turner is a rather flighty nightclub loving trust fund baby who in the opinion of her guardians is just to irresponsible to control her own money. To show them her sense of responsibility Lana joins the WACs and this is also an act of patriotism as well. What could impress trustees more than being a patriot during World War II.
Her fellow WAC trainees are Laraine Day who is an army brat , daughter of General Henry O'Neill who is following a family tradition. The third is Susan Peters who reminds one a lot of Jennifer Jones in her role in Since You Went Away., the girl everyone wants to come home to. She has a husband in the service already and she feels this is the best way to support him.
Turner and Day are instant rivals, Peters is a good soul who is friend to both. Keep Your Powder Dry is essentially the story of their relationship dynamic and the changes in it.
Some others in the cast are Agnes Moorehead as a severe but understanding post commandant, Lee Patrick as a former vaudeville entertainer who becomes an army cook, and Jess Barker as one of Turner's idiot nightclub companions.
Another nightclub companion is Natalie Schaefer and you can see how in the next generation she could become Mrs. Thurston Howell IV. A really spot on performance.
Keep Your Powder Dry may have started as WW2 flag waver, but it holds up very well over the generations both as comedy and drama.
Turner is a rather flighty nightclub loving trust fund baby who in the opinion of her guardians is just to irresponsible to control her own money. To show them her sense of responsibility Lana joins the WACs and this is also an act of patriotism as well. What could impress trustees more than being a patriot during World War II.
Her fellow WAC trainees are Laraine Day who is an army brat , daughter of General Henry O'Neill who is following a family tradition. The third is Susan Peters who reminds one a lot of Jennifer Jones in her role in Since You Went Away., the girl everyone wants to come home to. She has a husband in the service already and she feels this is the best way to support him.
Turner and Day are instant rivals, Peters is a good soul who is friend to both. Keep Your Powder Dry is essentially the story of their relationship dynamic and the changes in it.
Some others in the cast are Agnes Moorehead as a severe but understanding post commandant, Lee Patrick as a former vaudeville entertainer who becomes an army cook, and Jess Barker as one of Turner's idiot nightclub companions.
Another nightclub companion is Natalie Schaefer and you can see how in the next generation she could become Mrs. Thurston Howell IV. A really spot on performance.
Keep Your Powder Dry may have started as WW2 flag waver, but it holds up very well over the generations both as comedy and drama.
Classic 'studio contract' Lana with fun bits from Agnes Moorehead.
splurben17 April 2001
Loaded with lovely classic Lana WWII scenarios.
I wonder how many young women went off to join the W.A.C. thinking Sydney Guilaroff would be doing their hair and Irene (I) their uniform wardrobe.
We look at films like this as objects through which we can watch a moment in Hollywood time. Lana is simply delightful.
I watch a film like this just for a glimpse of wartime America through the eyes of jaded and spoiled Hollywood elites who are piping this 'dream' to a still highly naïve wartime America.
Watch for Mercury Theatre's -- also the character of Endora on Bewitched (1964)] -- Agnes Moorehead. I reckon that some would say that this glimpse of Moorehead is as fun as that of Lana Turner.
I wonder how many young women went off to join the W.A.C. thinking Sydney Guilaroff would be doing their hair and Irene (I) their uniform wardrobe.
We look at films like this as objects through which we can watch a moment in Hollywood time. Lana is simply delightful.
I watch a film like this just for a glimpse of wartime America through the eyes of jaded and spoiled Hollywood elites who are piping this 'dream' to a still highly naïve wartime America.
Watch for Mercury Theatre's -- also the character of Endora on Bewitched (1964)] -- Agnes Moorehead. I reckon that some would say that this glimpse of Moorehead is as fun as that of Lana Turner.
Historical film about WAC training and officers
SimonJack31 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Less than two months remained of World War II fighting in Europe when this movie came out. And, the end of the war was in sight when MGM began making "Keep Your Power Dry." With the likelihood that war action movies would be made after the war, Hollywood probably thought it needed to get a tribute out to the WACs before they might soon be forgotten.
The plot for this film is OK and probably necessary to keep interest in the story. Other movies had been made early in the war about Army basic camp, the Navy and numerous specialty training. So, how different and interesting could it be for women? The public wasn't likely to sit through another full film about military training with the end of the war in sight. But, a film with something more for a plot might be of interest. Thus, we have two feuding females around whom this story is built. And, it's quite good.
Even with that, though, there isn't a whole lot to the film by way of training. The contest between Lana Turner's Valerie Parks and Laraine Day's Leigh Rand provides the energy that keeps the film afloat. It's not spectacular but it is a nice tribute to the Women's Army Corps, with a look at training women for officers as well.
The seven stars I give it are for the good performances of a fine cast, the quality of the production, and the historical value of the subjects and the locations. It was filmed at two real locations. One was a basic training camp for WACs during WW II at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. It was located just south of Chattanooga, Tennessee, inside the Georgia border. The town of Fort Ogelthorpe occupies most of the fort grounds today. During World War I, some 4,000 German Prisoners of War were housed there.
Fort Des Moines in Iowa also has very little left of its original facilities. The city now maintains some of the buildings for public events and use. It is a registered National Historic Landmark. It was the site of the officer training school for WACs starting in 1942. Before that it had been the officer training school for African Americans. The first class graduated there in 1917.
The film is peppered with funny lines here and there. Here are a couple samples. Check out the Quotes section on this IMDb movie Web page for more samples of funny dialog.
Valerie Parks, looking at herself in a full-length mirror in the morning, "Oh, they're making terrible mirrors these days."
WAC Sergeant, "Good going, Parks. You know your planes." Parks, "I know my pilots."
The plot for this film is OK and probably necessary to keep interest in the story. Other movies had been made early in the war about Army basic camp, the Navy and numerous specialty training. So, how different and interesting could it be for women? The public wasn't likely to sit through another full film about military training with the end of the war in sight. But, a film with something more for a plot might be of interest. Thus, we have two feuding females around whom this story is built. And, it's quite good.
Even with that, though, there isn't a whole lot to the film by way of training. The contest between Lana Turner's Valerie Parks and Laraine Day's Leigh Rand provides the energy that keeps the film afloat. It's not spectacular but it is a nice tribute to the Women's Army Corps, with a look at training women for officers as well.
The seven stars I give it are for the good performances of a fine cast, the quality of the production, and the historical value of the subjects and the locations. It was filmed at two real locations. One was a basic training camp for WACs during WW II at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. It was located just south of Chattanooga, Tennessee, inside the Georgia border. The town of Fort Ogelthorpe occupies most of the fort grounds today. During World War I, some 4,000 German Prisoners of War were housed there.
Fort Des Moines in Iowa also has very little left of its original facilities. The city now maintains some of the buildings for public events and use. It is a registered National Historic Landmark. It was the site of the officer training school for WACs starting in 1942. Before that it had been the officer training school for African Americans. The first class graduated there in 1917.
The film is peppered with funny lines here and there. Here are a couple samples. Check out the Quotes section on this IMDb movie Web page for more samples of funny dialog.
Valerie Parks, looking at herself in a full-length mirror in the morning, "Oh, they're making terrible mirrors these days."
WAC Sergeant, "Good going, Parks. You know your planes." Parks, "I know my pilots."
An Officer and a GentleLady
SnoopyStyle9 September 2023
Socialite Valerie Parks (Lana Turner) has trouble accessing her trust fund. She is informed that she should join the Women's Army Corps (WAC) to show her maturity in exercising responsibility. Other ladies are joining for different reasons. Leigh Rand (Laraine Day) is honoring her military general father. Housewife Ann Darrison (Susan Peters) is following her husband who is deploying overseas. Lt. Col. Spottiswoode (Agnes Moorehead) is their commander.
It takes awhile before there is some drama. I do like the drama and the idea of these women trying to change who they are. It's one of the basic selling point of the military. The young people go in with issues and they come out having figured it out. It's "An Officer and a Gentleman". This does come with some over-acting from that era. The ending is a little abrupt. Ann has her tragedy but it's almost forgotten with the other two's story. I like this even without the real war influence.
It takes awhile before there is some drama. I do like the drama and the idea of these women trying to change who they are. It's one of the basic selling point of the military. The young people go in with issues and they come out having figured it out. It's "An Officer and a Gentleman". This does come with some over-acting from that era. The ending is a little abrupt. Ann has her tragedy but it's almost forgotten with the other two's story. I like this even without the real war influence.
Lana & Laraine learn life lessons
jjnxn-125 June 2013
Tidy little drama with some comic overtones. Lana, looking lovely in her first turn after giving birth to daughter Cheryl the year before, is a playgirl who the corps teaches the value of hard work and focus. Laraine the army brat who has to learn to lighten up and actually relate to people and Susan Peters, in her last role before the shooting accident that crippled her and more or less ended her career, the spunky young bride who plays peacemaker between them. All three give good performances in what is basically a recruitment poster for the war effort with a little soap mixed in, and a highly enjoyable one at that.
The three girls are basically the whole show but they are supported by some fine performers. Agnes Moorehead is all stiff upper lip in her small role as the commanding officer although she manages to mix in some warmth too. Natalie Schafer is very chic as one of Lana's fair weather friends in civilian life and in a small role as another sycophant is Jess Barker, who at the time was Susan Hayward's husband. The real standout is Lee Patrick as a former showgirl, she's sassy and brassy who adds a light touch to her scenes which is most welcome.
The three girls are basically the whole show but they are supported by some fine performers. Agnes Moorehead is all stiff upper lip in her small role as the commanding officer although she manages to mix in some warmth too. Natalie Schafer is very chic as one of Lana's fair weather friends in civilian life and in a small role as another sycophant is Jess Barker, who at the time was Susan Hayward's husband. The real standout is Lee Patrick as a former showgirl, she's sassy and brassy who adds a light touch to her scenes which is most welcome.
Far from dry powder
TheLittleSongbird13 May 2019
The prime reason for me seeing 'Keep Your Powder Dry' in the first place, and the reason to see it, is for the cast. Headed by Lana Turner and Laraine Day, but also having Susan Peters, Agnes Moorhead and others. Do appreciate WWII war-time films with a message for their good intentions, even if the messaging tends to be heavy-handed. So was definitely intrigued when it popped up as a recommendation.
'Keep Your Powder Dry' is worth seeing and much better than given credit for. Not from personal opinion a great film, but again from personal opinion 'Keep Your Powder Dry' is also a long way from bad. A film that is lifted by the dialogue and especially the cast, that works well as a comedy and as a drama. With the war effort/recruitment poster elements actually being where the film is at its least successful.
Story here is very slight and on the routine side, with the training also being under-utilised, and inevitably heavy-handedness creeps in at times. Did find that some of the photography, while mostly fine, was not always great with agreed some overdone soft-focus close ups.
However, the production values, while not exactly lavish, are pleasing enough and the direction is at least competent. The film does have energy and generates just about enough interest, despite the story being less than perfect. Where 'Keep Your Powder Dry' is most successful is in the script and cast.
Script sparkles in its wit and snappy banter, while the more dramatic elements are genuinely poignant. Complete with an ending that did make me shed a tear or two. Absolutely loved the electrifying tension between Turner and Day, but a large part of that other than the wriitng would have been to do with their relationship off-screen was as long away from amicable as one can get.
Every bit as good are the performances. Turner epitomises glamour and gives off genuine charm, while Peters is very moving and spunky in her role. Moorhead plays stiff upper lip with authority, while Natalie Schafer and Lee Patrick are sassy support. Day has the most interesting and most well-rounded character and indeed throws herself iinto the part and it is thrilling, entertaining and emotional to watch.
Overall, far from dry and enjoyable enough. 7/10
'Keep Your Powder Dry' is worth seeing and much better than given credit for. Not from personal opinion a great film, but again from personal opinion 'Keep Your Powder Dry' is also a long way from bad. A film that is lifted by the dialogue and especially the cast, that works well as a comedy and as a drama. With the war effort/recruitment poster elements actually being where the film is at its least successful.
Story here is very slight and on the routine side, with the training also being under-utilised, and inevitably heavy-handedness creeps in at times. Did find that some of the photography, while mostly fine, was not always great with agreed some overdone soft-focus close ups.
However, the production values, while not exactly lavish, are pleasing enough and the direction is at least competent. The film does have energy and generates just about enough interest, despite the story being less than perfect. Where 'Keep Your Powder Dry' is most successful is in the script and cast.
Script sparkles in its wit and snappy banter, while the more dramatic elements are genuinely poignant. Complete with an ending that did make me shed a tear or two. Absolutely loved the electrifying tension between Turner and Day, but a large part of that other than the wriitng would have been to do with their relationship off-screen was as long away from amicable as one can get.
Every bit as good are the performances. Turner epitomises glamour and gives off genuine charm, while Peters is very moving and spunky in her role. Moorhead plays stiff upper lip with authority, while Natalie Schafer and Lee Patrick are sassy support. Day has the most interesting and most well-rounded character and indeed throws herself iinto the part and it is thrilling, entertaining and emotional to watch.
Overall, far from dry and enjoyable enough. 7/10
Women in World War Two
dexter-101 December 2000
Wow! Lana Turner, Laraine Day, Susan Peters, Agnes Moorhead, and June Lockhart---all in the same movie. Does it ever get better than this? Unfortunately, how such a collection of talent can be given such a poor material to recite is puzzling. Witness the following lines: "Worked in Vaudeville with a trained duck. It got so bad I ate the act." "Rust proof,shock proof, self-winding, and will darn your socks, too." "Best soldier to ever wear a skirt." Despite lines like these, the acting is good enough to compensate. Yet, the film tends to demean the concept of the civilian army. Turner plays a model seemingly patriotic enough to gain her inheritance. Day is the army brat trying to maintain a family tradition. Peters is the intellectual always mediating the feud between the other two. Their acting saves the film. A major weakness in this film is the explicit sexism of the movie's theme. The powder is not gun powder but facial make-up. Men mechanics in World War Two movies don't get oil on their cute noses, but women mechanics do. Men do not cry if they fail to qualify for Officer's Candidate School, but women can fail and just have a good cry about it! The only thing to cry about is a movie with good talent squeezed into a plot better fitted the weak training films of 1942-42 than those of 1945 when social change played a part in a number of good movies. Perhaps Hollywood was not yet ready for change, or perhaps it was hoping old formula flicks which predated World War Two would prevail. Still, the film has merit and is worth seeing, especially with it's great ending.
An intelligent and enjoyable story of the women and the war effort.
planktonrules29 May 2017
"Keep Your Powder Dry" is an excellent wartime propaganda film. Now when I call it propaganda, that is not an insult--propaganda can be evil but it can also be very good. And, this is a good film in many ways because it draws attention to a group seldom talked about in pictures--the Women's Army Corps (WACS). In doing so, it bolsters the war effort and increases the public's support for these women in the military.
When the film begins, you see some women joining the WACS. Valerie (Lana Turner) initially joins for selfish reasons...to enable her to get a hold of her inheritance. But soon Valerie buys into the WAC life and is a model soldier. Leigh (Laraine Day) is a daughter of a general and this is actually unfortunate because she thinks she knows everything...and, not surprisingly, she rubs her fellow recruits the wrong way...particularly Valerie. And then there is Ann (Susan Peters). Ann is friends with both of these women and tries her best throughout the film to bring them together for the good of the Army. The film follows them from boot camp, to their first assignment and then to Officer's Candidate School.
I loved this film simply because it was so educational...yet also well written, interesting and quality production. One of the better wartime pictures...and one well worth seeing.
When the film begins, you see some women joining the WACS. Valerie (Lana Turner) initially joins for selfish reasons...to enable her to get a hold of her inheritance. But soon Valerie buys into the WAC life and is a model soldier. Leigh (Laraine Day) is a daughter of a general and this is actually unfortunate because she thinks she knows everything...and, not surprisingly, she rubs her fellow recruits the wrong way...particularly Valerie. And then there is Ann (Susan Peters). Ann is friends with both of these women and tries her best throughout the film to bring them together for the good of the Army. The film follows them from boot camp, to their first assignment and then to Officer's Candidate School.
I loved this film simply because it was so educational...yet also well written, interesting and quality production. One of the better wartime pictures...and one well worth seeing.
World War II WACS
blanche-227 June 2013
Lana Turner, Laraine Day, and Susan Peters star in "Keep Your Powder Dry," a 1945 film.
The three women come into the WACS for different reasons: Day is carrying on the family tradition, Turner needs to live a decent life in order to get her inheritance, and Peters' husband is in the service, and she wants to help the effort. Turner and Day hate one another immediately, and a good part of the film is their struggle.
I suppose this film was intended to be about girl power, but it has the typical sexist bend of the times. To be fair, I'm sure it was intended to glorify the work these women did during the war (it came out in 1945 when the war was almost over), but also it serves as a propaganda movie. Turner gives her bum friends a speech about their wasteful lives as people are fighting for them.
Totally predictable. I am a fan of all three women, but this wasn't great material for any of them.
The three women come into the WACS for different reasons: Day is carrying on the family tradition, Turner needs to live a decent life in order to get her inheritance, and Peters' husband is in the service, and she wants to help the effort. Turner and Day hate one another immediately, and a good part of the film is their struggle.
I suppose this film was intended to be about girl power, but it has the typical sexist bend of the times. To be fair, I'm sure it was intended to glorify the work these women did during the war (it came out in 1945 when the war was almost over), but also it serves as a propaganda movie. Turner gives her bum friends a speech about their wasteful lives as people are fighting for them.
Totally predictable. I am a fan of all three women, but this wasn't great material for any of them.
And not only that --
dafyddabhugh7 July 2004
-- but Natalie Schafer plays a wealthy, mindless socialite!
If the ending doesn't draw at least a couple tears from your eye, especially these days, then you're heartless. Bah.
If you like this sort of movie (as do I), you will definitely enjoy this particular example of it. Very well done.
My only regret is that they didn't show enough of the training. Having gone through OCS myself, it's such an overwhelming, life-changing experience (though I don't know about the WACs' OCS) that it was a bit of a cheat that we didn't get to see how it changed the girls, only that it did. I suspect the writer was more concerned about the dynamic between the three main characters, rather than the interaction between each of them and the demands of officer candidate school.
Dafydd ab Hugh
If the ending doesn't draw at least a couple tears from your eye, especially these days, then you're heartless. Bah.
If you like this sort of movie (as do I), you will definitely enjoy this particular example of it. Very well done.
My only regret is that they didn't show enough of the training. Having gone through OCS myself, it's such an overwhelming, life-changing experience (though I don't know about the WACs' OCS) that it was a bit of a cheat that we didn't get to see how it changed the girls, only that it did. I suspect the writer was more concerned about the dynamic between the three main characters, rather than the interaction between each of them and the demands of officer candidate school.
Dafydd ab Hugh
Sparkling performances enliven routine service comedy-drama...
Doylenf10 May 2001
The unlikely prospect of anyone who looks like Lana Turner giving up her comfy civilian life to wear an army uniform is the hardest thing to swallow about this service film about three women from different walks of life who learn to become army buddies. Turner, of course, is given the glamour treatment and must have made hundreds of girls think they would look terrific in khaki.
Nevertheless, it's an enjoyable enough item sparked by some very competent performances by the mostly female cast. It's the feminine prototype of countless serviceman films produced during the war years of World War II, given non-serious treatment with a story centering on three new WAC recruits. Laraine Day plays an army brat, a girl who constantly flaunts her superiority over the other recruits and for most of the film engages in a tug of war with Turner. While Turner was given the full glamour treatment, Laraine Day succeeded in playing her unsympathetic role to the hilt, for the first time showing a harder edge to her screen personality. The film is enjoyable fluff, with good work by Susan Peters and Agnes Moorehead.
My article on Laraine Day appears in the Spring 2001 issue of FILMS OF THE GOLDEN AGE--and one on Lana Turner is due for publication at a later date.
Nevertheless, it's an enjoyable enough item sparked by some very competent performances by the mostly female cast. It's the feminine prototype of countless serviceman films produced during the war years of World War II, given non-serious treatment with a story centering on three new WAC recruits. Laraine Day plays an army brat, a girl who constantly flaunts her superiority over the other recruits and for most of the film engages in a tug of war with Turner. While Turner was given the full glamour treatment, Laraine Day succeeded in playing her unsympathetic role to the hilt, for the first time showing a harder edge to her screen personality. The film is enjoyable fluff, with good work by Susan Peters and Agnes Moorehead.
My article on Laraine Day appears in the Spring 2001 issue of FILMS OF THE GOLDEN AGE--and one on Lana Turner is due for publication at a later date.
Morale Booster for Women of WWII
sdelmendo11 July 2004
It seems that the film boards made a concerted effort to boost the image of women as tough and capable leading up to and continuing through World War II. "Keep Your Powder Dry" is an effort to display three women who overcome their disparate backgrounds, their petty differences, and their civilian prejudices to achieve a greater good by contributing to the war effort. A character in the film puts it this way, "...subordinate your personal feelings for the good of the corps."
This is a consistent theme in movies throughout this era. In John Ford's "Pearl Harbor" a German mocks the notion that the weak and decadent American women could take the place of men in industry to free them for service as soldiers. In "Cry Havoc" we witness the courage, trials, and sacrifices of women on Corregidor. Here in "Keep Your Powder Dry" we learn of the candidates' perseverance through the trials of boot camp, motor pool training, and OCS school (though the examples that they show are weak).
It is a little difficult to suspend reality far enough to buy the notion that Lana Turner could become dedicated to life in the WACs, having arrived by way of Park Avenue, but an effort is made by the screenwriter to show her recognition of the shallow and narcissistic lifestyle that she found there. It occurs rather late in the film, however.
Still, for WWII movie buffs, and fans for the movies of the forties, this one is a must see.
This is a consistent theme in movies throughout this era. In John Ford's "Pearl Harbor" a German mocks the notion that the weak and decadent American women could take the place of men in industry to free them for service as soldiers. In "Cry Havoc" we witness the courage, trials, and sacrifices of women on Corregidor. Here in "Keep Your Powder Dry" we learn of the candidates' perseverance through the trials of boot camp, motor pool training, and OCS school (though the examples that they show are weak).
It is a little difficult to suspend reality far enough to buy the notion that Lana Turner could become dedicated to life in the WACs, having arrived by way of Park Avenue, but an effort is made by the screenwriter to show her recognition of the shallow and narcissistic lifestyle that she found there. It occurs rather late in the film, however.
Still, for WWII movie buffs, and fans for the movies of the forties, this one is a must see.
The Women's Army Corps would never be the same
jarrodmcdonald-110 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Part of the charm of this MGM morale boosting war comedy is the idea that three women with very distinct personality types can work together for the greater good. It takes most of the film's running time for them to cooperate fully, not only with the military as WACs in training, but also with each other. But by the time they solve all their petty disagreements, we have become fully invested in their collaborative efforts as a team.
The studio gives lead billing to Lana Turner, and for all intents and purposes this is a Lana Turner movie. But it would fall flat without the other two main costars, contract players Laraine Day and Susan Peters. Miss Day was about to return to RKO, where she had previously been under contract in the late 30s as Laraine Johnson; while Miss Peters would suffer a debilitating accident in between this film's production and release into theaters. In fact, Peters had a long recovery process and was dropped by MGM after becoming a paraplegic...she would only make one more film, in a wheelchair, at Columbia a few years later.
The studio was more interested in promoting Turner who'd ascended the ranks. In a short period she became one of Hollywood's brightest stars. Part of what makes Lana Turner so appealing to watch, besides her glamorous looks, is her slightly devious personality which is used to good effect by this story. Turner is portraying a spoiled heiress whose extravagant lifestyle is called into question by a board of trustees who won't give her anymore money until she proves herself of reliable character. Her solution? Why, it's to join the WACs, of course!
Watching Turner go from spoiled rotten to a mostly decent human being is one of the pleasures in watching this film. It's a credible evolution, and it's easy to cheer her on each step of the way. At the crux of her transformation is a series of clashes with Day's character, since Day is playing a military brat who is keen to show off her knowledge of the service and is eager to make Turner look foolish. The on-off nature of their relationship, true frenemies if ever there was a pair, is quite plausible and convincingly conveyed to the audience.
Added into the mix we have Peters as the third gal who basically functions as a buffer between the other two. Peters is suffering in silence at the end, because her husband has been killed in action, and she's unable to talk about it. Obviously, the writers want the audience to feel sympathy in these moments but also to admire how these women can overcome individual obstacles and make sacrifices for the good of the a country, since the U. S. was still at war when MGM made the picture in late 1944.
At times I found myself laughing at the combustible personal issues that developed between the main characters, especially when the ladies were stubborn and unwilling to bend. I also found myself going along with some of the more propagandistic elements as well as the conspicuous statements that were made about snobs. The message: we all need to work together and follow orders. Still I didn't think it ever got too preachy or too unrealistic. It's a very enjoyable movie.
The studio gives lead billing to Lana Turner, and for all intents and purposes this is a Lana Turner movie. But it would fall flat without the other two main costars, contract players Laraine Day and Susan Peters. Miss Day was about to return to RKO, where she had previously been under contract in the late 30s as Laraine Johnson; while Miss Peters would suffer a debilitating accident in between this film's production and release into theaters. In fact, Peters had a long recovery process and was dropped by MGM after becoming a paraplegic...she would only make one more film, in a wheelchair, at Columbia a few years later.
The studio was more interested in promoting Turner who'd ascended the ranks. In a short period she became one of Hollywood's brightest stars. Part of what makes Lana Turner so appealing to watch, besides her glamorous looks, is her slightly devious personality which is used to good effect by this story. Turner is portraying a spoiled heiress whose extravagant lifestyle is called into question by a board of trustees who won't give her anymore money until she proves herself of reliable character. Her solution? Why, it's to join the WACs, of course!
Watching Turner go from spoiled rotten to a mostly decent human being is one of the pleasures in watching this film. It's a credible evolution, and it's easy to cheer her on each step of the way. At the crux of her transformation is a series of clashes with Day's character, since Day is playing a military brat who is keen to show off her knowledge of the service and is eager to make Turner look foolish. The on-off nature of their relationship, true frenemies if ever there was a pair, is quite plausible and convincingly conveyed to the audience.
Added into the mix we have Peters as the third gal who basically functions as a buffer between the other two. Peters is suffering in silence at the end, because her husband has been killed in action, and she's unable to talk about it. Obviously, the writers want the audience to feel sympathy in these moments but also to admire how these women can overcome individual obstacles and make sacrifices for the good of the a country, since the U. S. was still at war when MGM made the picture in late 1944.
At times I found myself laughing at the combustible personal issues that developed between the main characters, especially when the ladies were stubborn and unwilling to bend. I also found myself going along with some of the more propagandistic elements as well as the conspicuous statements that were made about snobs. The message: we all need to work together and follow orders. Still I didn't think it ever got too preachy or too unrealistic. It's a very enjoyable movie.
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