For the Boys (1991)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Mark Rydell

Writers (WGA):

Neal Jimenez (story) &
Lindy Laub (story) ...

Release Date:

22 November 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

Laughter and tears. Tragedy and triumph. They lived it all. For the boys.

Plot:

With the help of the singer and dancer Dixie Leonhard US-Entertainer Eddie Sparks wants to bring some fun to the soldiers during World War II...

Plot Keywords:

Korean War | Concert Scene | WWII

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Bette Midler	...	Dixie Leonard
James Caan	...	Eddie Sparks
George Segal	...	Art Silver
Patrick O'Neal	...	Shephard
Christopher Rydell	...	Danny Leonard
Arye Gross	...	Jeff Brooks
Norman Fell	...	Sam Schiff
Rosemary Murphy	...	Luanna Trott
Bud Yorkin	...	Phil
Dori Brenner	...	Loretta
Jack Sheldon	...	Wally Fields
Karen Martin	...	Victoria Lee
Shannon Wilcox	...	Margaret Sparks
Michael Greene	...	Maj. Gen. Scott
Melissa Manchester	...	Corrine

Runtime:

138 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Germany:12 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Inyo National Forest - 351 Pacu Lane, Bishop, California, USA

Company:

All Girl Productions

Trivia:

Many reviewers noted that James Caan seemed miscast in the role of comedian Eddie Sparks (a caricature of Bob Hope) and wondered why co-star George Segal, who as an actor had proved equally adept at comedy and drama, wasn't cast in the role instead. The truth is that Caan's career was hot again after the success of Misery (1990) and Segal was not, so Caan got the lead and Segal the supporting role.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the film during a World War II sequence Bette Midler sings "Come Rain or Come Shine" which was not written until after the war and wasn't introduced until 1946.

Quotes:

Dixie: [Appearing on stage late] So sorry.
[British accent]
Dixie: A little trouble over the channel you know, old pip.
Eddie: Really.
Dixie: Righto. We were halfway to Belgium when we ran out of... gas, I believe you call it.
Eddie: That's funny. You don't look like you'd ever run out of gas.
Dixie: Are you trying to get into my flak suit, honey?
Eddie: I'm just trying to debrief you. So a plane without any gas. What did you do?
Dixie: Do?
Eddie: Yeah. Do. You know to keep up morale and all that.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Office: Grief Counseling (#3.4)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Billy-A-Dick

Best of Bette

This is my second favorite Bette Midler movie, the first of course being Isn't She Great. I really like this movie. The plotline deals with two USO singers (Bette Midler, James Caan)who entertain the troops during WW2. They are so popular that years later they are called back to do a reunion, in which they are being honored, to perform for a new generation. This is not a film for the whole family. It's a war movie, but it's not all killing, it has very sensitive subject matters in it... such as the death of Dixie Leanord's (Bette Midler) husband and son. If you wanted to be entertained 2 hours and 20 minutes this is the film to see. This is on my top 10 favorite movies list, and if you see it, it might be on yours too. A well earned 10/10!