This Is the Army

This Is the Army
(aka "Irving Berlin's This Is the Army")
Warner Bros., 1943, Color, 115 minutes, ***
Premiere release July, 1943
General release August, 1943


Army recruits put on a musical revue. And nobody is more musical fun than Berlin at his best. With George Murphy, Joan Leslie, Ronald Regan, George Tobias, Alan Hale, Charles Butterworth, Dolores Costello, Una Merkel, Stanley Ridges, Rosemary DeCamp, this classic musical treasure is a rousing tribute to American fighting men and women.
Irving Berlin produced and starred in a stage musical as entertainment "for the boys" during World War II. This is the screen adaptation of that musical, and Berlin appears in the film, as well! Wonderful Joan Leslie is sweeter than ever! Loaded with plenty of great Berlin tunes.



Produced by: Jack L. Warner and Hal B. Wallis
Directed by: Michael Curtiz
Assistant Director: Leo F. Forbstein
Screen Play by: Casey Robinson and Capt. Claude Binyon
and (based on the play by Irving Berlin)
Music Directors: Leo F. Forbstein, Ray Heindorf and Frank Heath
Music and Lyrics by: Irving Berlin
Orchestral Arrangements by: Ray Heindorf
Production Numbers Staged by: LeRoy Prinz and M/Sgt. Robert Sidney
Technical Advisor: Lt. Col. Frank T. McGabe
Art Directors: John Hughes and Lt. John Keonig
Special Effects: Jack Cosgrove
Set Decorations by: George James Hopkins
Costumes by: Pvt. Orry-Kelly
Makeup Artist: Perc Westmore
Sound by: C. A. Riggs
Directors of Photography: Bert Glennon and Sol Polito
Montages by: James Leigester and Don Siegel
Filmed in Technicolor
Technicolor Color Director: Natalie Kalmus
Associate: Richard Mueller
Film Editor: George Amy

Awards: Academy Award for Best Score - Musical (Ray Heindorf). Academy Award nominations for Best Interior Decoration - Color and Best Sound Recording

Cast: Irving Berlin [Himself], George Murphy [Jerry Jones], Joan Leslie [Eileen Dibble], George Tobias [Maxie Stoloff], Alan Hale [Sgt. McGee], Charles Butterworth [Eddie Dibble], Dolores Costello [Mrs. Davidson], Una Merkel [Rose Dibble], Stanley Ridges [Major Davidson], Rosemary DeCamp [Ethel], Ruth Donnelly [Mrs. O'Brien], Dorothy Peterson [Mrs. Nelson], Frances Langford [Herself], Gertrude Niesen [Singer], Kate Smith [Herself], Men from the Armed Forces: Lt. Ronald Reagan [Johnny Jones], Sgt. Joe Louis [Himself], 1st Sgt. Alan Anderson, M/Sgt. Ezra Stone, T/Sgt. Tom D'Andrea, S/Sgt. James Burrell, Sgt. Ross Elliott, Sgt. Alan Manson, Sgt. John Prince Mendes, Sgt. Julie Oshins, Sgt. Earl Oxford, Sgt. Robert Shanley [as Ted Nelson], Sgt. Philip Truex, Cpl. James MacColl, Cpl. Herbert Anderson [as Danny Davidson], PFC. Joe Cook, Jr., PFC. Larry Weeks, The Allon Trio, Additional Cast: Victor Moore, Ernest Truex [Fathers of Soldiers], Jackie Brown [Mike Nelson], Patsy Moran [Marie Twardofsky], Jimmy Conlin [Doorman], Ilka Gruning [Mrs. Twardofsky], Irving Bacon [Waiter], Murray Alper [Soldier], Pierre Watkin [Stranger], Frank Coghlan Jr., Richard Crane, Arthur Space, Art Foster, Jimmy Butler, Ross Ford, Gayle de Camp, John Day, Allen Pomeroy, John James [Soldiers at Camp Cook], Henry Jones [Soldier / Singer], Doodles Weaver [Soldier on Cot], Leah Baird [Old Timer's Wife], Warner Anderson [Sports Announcer], Jack Young [Franklin D. Roosevelt], Guests: Sidney Robin, William Roerich [Singers], Sgt. Fisher [Blake Nelson], Ralph Magelssen, Tileston Perry, Geno Erbisti, Angelo Buono, Louis Bednarcik [Soldiers]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:02] For Your Country and My Country (Gertude Niesen and Mens Chorus); [0:04] My Sweetie (sung by George Murphy, danced by George Murphy and Chorus Girls); [0:11] Poor Little Me, I'm on KP (George Tobias and Mens Chorus); [0:15] We're on our Way to France (sung and marched by George Murphy and Mens Chorus); [0:23] God Bless America (Kate Smith and Chorus); [0:31] What Does He Look Like (Frances Langford); [0:47] This Is The Army Mr. Jones (Sidney Robin, William Roerich, Henry Jones and Chorus); [0:55] I'm Getting Tired So I Can Sleep (James Burell and Chorus); [0:58] Mandy (sung and danced by Ralph Magelssen and Chorus); [1:09] Ladies of the Chorus (sung and danced by Alan Hale and Mens Chorus in drag); [1:13] That's What the Well-Dressed Man in Harlem Will Wear (sung and danced by Pvt. James Cross and Chorus); [1:18] How About a Cheer for the Navy (Chorus); [1:28] Hostesses of the Stage Door Canteen (?) (Mens Chorus in drag); [1:33] I left my Heart at the Stage Door Canteen (Earl Oxford); [1:37] American Eagles / With My Head in the Clouds (Robert Shanley and Chorus); [1:43] Oh How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning (Irving Berlin, George Murphy, Geore Tobias, Charles Butterworth and Chorus); [1:51] This Time We Will All Make Certain (sung and marched by Robert Shanley and Chorus)