In this WW II musical, a young man suddenly finds himself in charge of his family when his father is called to war. To help the flagging spirits of local factory workers, the plucky lad, his siblings and his schoolmates put on a lively little show. With a little work, he even convinces Count Basie to come with his band.
Acting
Donald O'Connor's pre-Singin' in the Rain charisma explosion.
Cinematography
Glossy Universal sheen on wartime factory floors.
Director
Charles Lamont
Donald O'Connor
Don Warren
Susanna Foster
Connie Allen
Lillian Gish
Beth Warren
Richard Dix
Tom Warren
Peggy Ryan
Jane Warren
Anne Gwynne
Pat Warren
Noah Beery Jr.
Ed Thompson
Samuel S. Hinds
Mr. Fairchild
Louise Beavers
Cleo
Marcia Mae Jones
Erna Lane
David Holt
Archie Fleming
Barbara Brown
Mrs. Martha Fairchild
Borrah Minevitch
Borrah Minevitch
Count Basie
Orchestra Leader
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Donald O'Connor's first leading role after breaking out in Universal's 'Francis the Talking Mule' series.
Count Basie's appearance was part of Hollywood's wartime strategy to feature Black artists in mainstream entertainment—radical for 1943, though he's still framed as a favor to white protagonists.
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