StunnaKrypto Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Palaest recommended

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Dunham16 The escapist movies of the thirties and forties were black and white musical extravanganzas, some in a canteen where stars sang and performed as themselves in cabaret and some where unknowns are hooked into helping failed organizers put on a show. This movie, a benefit in which many of the name stars donated their services for charity, combines both and, at its best, glows as the best of both genres. The screwball plot, however, may seem dated to modern audiences not in tune with this style of movie making. Among the familiar stars to millennium audiences are Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart. Fans of old movies may recognize Joan Leslie, Dennis Morgan, Hattie McDaniel, Spike Lee, Erroll Flynn, Eddie Cantor and as long a list of cabaret performers as any major Hollywood film.

richard.fuller1 Back in the dark ages of three networks (four if you count ETV with Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers) and before tivo, dvr and vcrs, a late movie was what you stayed up to watch, if you remained awake.Such was the case with Thank Your Lucky Stars. I remember other movies airing late at night on the local ABC network, such as James Cagney with that grapefruit, believe it or not, among others, but Thank Your Lucky Stars had the distinction of airing late Sunday night on the first day of summer vacation. I was about 11, making this '77 or so.I knew Dinah Shore from her daytime talk show and recognized Alan Hale Sr from his son's stint on Gilligan's Island, and I knew Errol Flynn from Robin Hood airing Sunday afternoons. Didn't realize that was Abner Kravitz from Bewitched at all tho.I would not see this movie again for over 30 years, with the intention of watching it on New Year's Eve, then a tornado took out the power, so I had to wait.Cantor absolutely amused me to no end. I thought he was brilliant in the dual role of a look-alike as well as himself who no one could stand. Maybe the Cantor resentment doesn't carry over today as well as disdain for Margaret Hamilton or Lionel Barrymore, but Cantor really got it in that mental hospital.For some reason, I remember Ann Sheridan's number. She's very lovely and I understand she was popular for her time, but she's hardly striking and that hairnet deal isn't appealing. Maybe that is why I remembered her; for that odd hairnet.Most astonishing for me, upon purchasing the movie on DVD, was seeing Hattie McDaniel's Ice Cold Katie number.Where I live, in the south, this number was cut, out of some odd feeling of being considerate now? Her reprisal with Cantor was kept in. I think it was removed because of MS native Willie Best's portrayal, now regarded as offensive.I'll always enjoy this movie (being a lot longer than I recalled) simply because it means no school the next morning, if nothing else.

wes-connors All-around entertainer Eddie Cantor has a dual role in this Warner Bros. studio revue, playing himself and an aspiring dramatic actor named "Joe Simpson" who can't find work because people laugh when they see him. The plot is initially interesting due to Mr. Cantor's comic situation, but it wears thin quickly. Although he was his studio's biggest star in 1943, Humphrey Bogart is billed first due to the alphabet; he appears only briefly. Cantor is supported mainly by Joan Leslie (as Pat Dixon) and Dennis Morgan (as Tommy Randolph), likable as a songwriter and singer.Of the superstar cameos, Bette Davis is most showcased; she sings "They're Either Too Young or Too Old" (a hit for Kitty Kallen). Another non-singer, Errol Flynn is surprisingly good, singing and dancing an English ditty called "That's What You Jolly Well Get". Then record and radio star Dinah Shore is featured relatively prominently. These variety movies became very popular when sound films became vogue as audiences could see several of their favorite stars singing, dancing, and participating in a variety of skits. During World War II, they had a resurgence in popularity.***** Thank Your Lucky Stars (9/25/43) David Butler ~ Eddie Cantor, Joan Leslie, Dennis Morgan, Bette Davis

bkoganbing I am the world's biggest sucker for All Star Films and the genre was never better than during the World War II era, when all the major studios made at least one of them as a morale booster. They all involve getting the stars at the various studios to put on a show for the troops which they do, but with a few problems.Producers of this show Edward Everett Horton and S.Z. Sakall would like to get Dinah Shore for their show. But she's under contract to Eddie Cantor. Today's moviegoers would not be aware of the fact that at the time Thank Your Lucky Stars was filmed, Dinah Shore was a regular on Eddie Cantor's radio show. And in fact he did have her under contract.Cantor was also a man known to have a big ego and known for interfering with every aspect of production in film, stage, and radio. His character though in film was the meek little schnook who somehow triumphs over adversity. Cantor may have had the ego, but he was also a big enough man to allow this public lampooning of his image. He plays two roles in this, as himself and as tour bus driver Joe Simpson who can't get a break because he looks like Eddie Cantor. In between all the musical numbers the plot is simply to have Cantor kidnapped and Joe Simpson to take his place so that Dennis Morgan can get some exposure. Of course there's a young love subplot involving hopefuls Morgan and Joan Leslie, but it doesn't interfere with a plot that's taken from The Man In the Iron Mask.Arthur Schwartz and Frank Loesser wrote a nice score for this film and the big hit was a number talk/sung by Bette Davis, They're Either Too Young Or Too Old. This number was later done in the Jane Froman bio-film With A Song in My Heart with Susan Hayward lipsynching Jane Froman's record. I also liked another number where a major Warner Brothers Star lampooned his image and had a jolly good time, singing That's What You Jolly Well Get. Errol Flynn was reported to have enjoyed himself immensely doing that very funny song.Thank Your Lucky Stars is one of the most pleasant nostalgia trips to a bygone era of the studio system. You couldn't afford to pay all the stars in this film today if they were all free lance independent contractors today. It's why films like this can't be made again.