Up in Arms 1944

Up in Arms

Goldwyn / RKO, 1944, Color, 106 minutes, ***

Released February, 1944



Poor Danny Weems is a hypochondriac. He even finds work in a medical building just to be near help should any disease suddenly strike. But then he and his friend Joe (Dana Andrews) are drafted. Danny's girlfriend Mary (Constance Dowling) decides to join up, and she convinces her best friend Virginia (Dinah Shore) to do likewise. But as they are saying goodbye to the boys onboard their ship, the ship sails and the Mary accidentally ends up a stowaway. When the ship arrives at its destination, Danny is taken prisoner by the Japanese, but manages to escape and even take a few prisoners with him. Lots of laughs from Danny Kaye and the cast in Kaye's first screen appearance.



Produced by: Samuel Goldwyn

Associate Producer: Don Hartman

Directed by: Elliott Nugent

Production Manager: Walter Mayo

Assistant Director: Louis Germonprez

Original Screen Play by: Don Hartman, Allen Boretz and Robert Pirosh

Suggested by the Character "The Nervous Wreck" by Owen Davis

"Now I Know," "Tess' Torch Song," "All Out for Freedom" by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler; "Theater Lobby Number," "Melody in 4-F" and "Jive Number" (based on "Tess' Torch Song") by Sylvia Fine and Max Liebman

Musical Numbers Arranged and Conducted by: Ray Heindorf

Dances Staged and Directed by: Danny Dare

Musical Director: Louis Forbes

Art Direction: Perry Ferguson, Stewart Chaney

Associate: McClure Capps

Set Decorations: Howard Bristol

Costumes: Miles White

Make-Up: Robert Stephanoff

Hair Stylist: Nina Roberts

Technical Advisers: Lieut. Eunice C. Hatchitt, Lieut. Richard Day

Narration: Knox Manning

Special Photographic Effects: Clarence Slifer and R. O. Binger

Sound Recorder: Fred Lau

Director of Photography: Ray Rennahan

Technicolor Color Director: Natalie Kalmus

Associate: Morgan Padelford

Film Editors: Daniel Mandell, James Newcom



Awards: Academy Award nominations for Best Score - Musical (Louis Forbes and Ray Heindorf) and Best Song ("Now I Know")



Cast: Danny Kaye [Danny Weems], Dinah Shore [Virginia], Dana Andrews [Joe], Constance Dowling [Mary Morgan], Louis Calhern [Colonel Ashley], George Mathews [Blackie], Benny Baker [Butterball], Elisha Cook, Jr. [Info Jones], Lyle Talbot [Sgt. Gelsey], Walter Catlett [Major Brock], George Meeker [Ashley's Aide], Richard Powers [Ashley's Aide], Margaret Dumont [Mrs. Willoughby], Donald Dickson [Singer at Dock], Charles Arnt [Mr. Higginbotham], Charles Halton [Dr. Freyheisen], Tom Dugan [Pitchman], Sig Arno [Waiter], Harry Hayden [Dr. Weavermacher], Charles D. Brown [Dr. Campbell], Maurice Cass [Dr. Jones], Fred Essler [Head Waiter], Rudolf Friml, Jr. [Band Leader], and The Goldwyn Girls; Additional Cast: Edward Earle [Sherwood], Knox Manning [Narrator], Lynn Eubanks [M.P. at Dock], Herbert Evans [Englishman], Benson Fong [Japanese Sentry], Jack Gardner [Ship's Engineer], Stanley Gilbert [Man in Lobby], Jon Gilbreath [Lieutenant at Dock], John Hamilton [Business Man], Isabel Withers [Businessman's Wife], Maryon Adair [Girl in Trailer], James Harrison [Sentry], Alex Havier [Japanese Sentry], Bill Hunter [Corporal of the Guards], Eddie Kane [Theatre Manager], John Kelly [M.P. on Cable Car], George T. Lee [Japanese Sentry], George Magrill [Sailor], Matt McHugh [Doorman], George McKay [Old Stevedore], Jack Mower [Captain at Dock], David Newell [Captain at Dock], Frank O'Connor [Elevator Starter], Al Benault [Cop], Terrance Ray, Matt Willis [Sentries in Hold], Frosty Royce [Bakery Man], Hans Schumm [German Spy], Oliver Blake, Larry Steers [Board Members], Leonard Strong [Japanese Interrogator in Cave], Dink Trout [Startled Man in Cable Car], Charles Vincent [Sentry], Eddy Waller [Milkman], Fred Aldrich [Midget on Cable Car], Bruce Wong [Japanese Sergeant], Peter Chong [Japanese Lieutenant], Tom Coleman [Boat Captain], Thomas Cowan [Theatre Doorman], Peter Cusanelli [Fish Vendor], William B. Davidson [Sherwood], Karen Knight, Audrey Korn, Bonnie Barlowe, Helen McAllister [Dancers], Anne O'Neal, Virginia Farmer [Spinsters], Diedra Vale [Heavy Nurse], Lillian Randolph [Black Woman], Maude Eburne [Dowager in Cable Car], Ruth Herscher [Homely Nurse], Marjorie Raymond, Joette Robinson, Eleanor Shaw, Maxine Armour, June Wayne, Barbara Williams [Dancers], Betty Alexander, Gale Amber, Gloria Anderson, Jan Bryant, Alma Carroll, Joan Chaffee, Linda Christian, Virginia Cruzon, Helen Darling, Myrna Dell, Dorothy Gardner, Inna Gest, Renee Godfrey, Ellen Hall, June Harris, Eloise Hart, Mary Ann Hyde, June Lang, Rosalyn Lee, Florence Lundeen, Mickey Malloy, Virginia Mayo, Dorothy Merritt, Lorraine Miller, Mary Moore, Kay Morley, Diana Mumby, Lee Nugent, Dorothy Patrick, Shelby Payne, Helen Talbot, Ruth Valmy, Ricki Van Dusen, Alice Wallace, Virginia Wicks, Audrey Wilder [Goldwyn Girls]



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture: All Out for Freedom / Now I Know; [0:14] Theater Lobby Number (sung and acted out by Danny Kaye in theater lobby); [0:35] Now I Know (sung by Dinah Shore); [0:45] All Out for Freedom (played by marching band, sung and marched by Soldiers); [0:52] All Out for Freedom (instrumental rendition danced by Soldiers and WACs onboard ship); [0:54] Tess' Torch Song (sung by Dinah Shore and Chorus); [0:58] Jive Number (sung by Danny Kaye and Chorus); [1:26] Production number (Danny's dream sequence, contains snippets of many tunes, including the Bridal March, "Mary Had a Little Lamb," "Tess' Torch Song," "Now I Know," "Jive Number" and others I can't identify; also lots of Goldwyn Girls); [1:45] All Out for Freedom (reprised by Chorus behind end credits)