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:

After the release of the movie, Martha Raye claimed publicly that the character Bette Midler portrayed was a rip-off of her own career and especially the efforts she had made during several wars. Raye claimed she would seek legal compensation for this but the matter was never settled.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Dixie arrives in England in December of 1942, there is a P-51 Mustang on the ramp. This airplane was not in service in December 1942. Also this airplane has the black and white identification stripes not used until June 6, 1944.

Quotes:

Eddie: What? we're short... oh time. Two minutes time. Well, Dixie do you have any ideas of what we can do in two minutes?
Dixie: Not unless your part rabbit.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

I Remember You

Political clichés sink a promising film

After FOR THE BOYS flopped at the box office, Bette Midler angrily told the press she would never make another musical.

But the trouble was she DIDN'T make a musical. She threw a few numbers into a heavy-handed "message picture" that strikes political poses which are obvious and overly-familiar.

It starts out so well, a real old-time star vehicle, perfectly showcasing Midler's musical and comedic gifts, but less than an hour in, it transforms into something much less interesting.

Musical numbers disappear, replaced by pious liberal sermonettes, teaching us that blacklisting, patriotism, sexism, and the Viet Nam war are all Very Bad.

FOR THE BOYS illustrates the damage done to a story when the writers refuse to be fair to a major character. Here, James Caan is painted in such broad strokes as a two-dimensional villain (sexist! adulterous! untalented! corrupt!), the whole film becomes a cartoon.

By the time you see them in the worst old age make-up in Hollywood history (it looks like someone stuck pie dough on Midler and Caan's faces), what little credibility remains is swept away for good.

But the first 45 minutes reminds you how great Midler can be in the right vehicle. Will someone please cast her in another musical? A REAL one this time.