Not sure what's worse, the corny, adolescent dialogue or the horribly bad grammar. Were servicemen really that illiterate back then? I watched this after seeing Stage Door Canteen, and although this had more star power, I think the "story" (and I use that term very loosely) was much worse. This cornfest is only redeemed by Bette Davis, John Garfield and the subtly hilarious Jack Benny. To be watched only as a timepiece of a bygone era; don't expect to be entertained.

If you are a fan of the movie stars of the early 40's, this film is a real treat. Though the plot is real thin, the opportunity to see some of your favorite stars in a humble, and contrived, environment is great.The story, which revolves around the titled nightclub - purportedly a refuge for soldiers on leave during World War II, is about a soldier (played by Robert Hutton) who gets to meet, and be kissed by, his favorite starlit, Joan Leslie, at the establishment. Through a comic circumstance, he is later the 1,000,000 soldier to walk through its doors such that he gets a dream date with the starlit of his choosing (Leslie again). His buddy and fellow soldier (Dane Clark) also gets to meet, and then date, someone who pretends to be an actress (Janis Page), but that actually just works at a studio.During the course of this 2+ hour "story", several actors and actresses are seen as guest waiters, waitresses, and/or bartenders as well as performers of acts at the Canteen, doing little bits to entertain the soldiers and/or the moviegoer. John Garfield and Bette Davis, who evidently opened the facility, serve as its main host and hostess, respectively. Ida Lupino plays herself, and someone who soldier Clark tries to impress with his broken French, before he realizes she speaks it fluently. Joan Crawford, also playing herself, is someone Clark dances with before he asks her if anyone has told her that she looks just like ..., to which she responds "yes, my husband". Barbara Stanwyck plays a bartender the soldiers recognize. Jack Carson pokes fun at himself as one of the waiters who introduces the fellas around.Eleanor Parker is someone that Hutton and Leslie run into on their date as she exits another nightclub. S. Z. Sakall is the waiter that lets everyone pinch his cheeks. Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet play two nefarious characters found in the club. The acts include Jimmy Dorsey's band, comedian Eddie Cantor, the Andrews Sisters, Roy Rogers with Trigger, Jack Benny with violin in a duel of sorts with maestro violinist Joseph Szigeti, and Dennis Morgan performing (singing), among others.The film was directed and written by Delmer Daves; it received Oscar nominations for original song "Sweet Dreams Sweetheart", Score, and Sound. Other than those mentioned above, Alexis Smith, Joe E. Brown, Kitty Carlisle, Alan Hale, Paul Heinreid as a dishwasher, Andrea King, and dozens of others, credited or uncredited also appear. It follows another similarly written "story" and film by Daves, Stage Door Canteen (1943), set in New York City.

I guess that no stars from MGM, Paramount, 20th Century Fox or RKO Radio were invited to appear at the Hollywood Canteen during the filming of this musical answer to "Stage Door Canteen", Broadway's answer to showing how members of the military were treated on leave when they came to shore. Warner Brothers tossed in practically every star on the lot, just like they had done the year before for "Thank Your Lucky Stars", another musical revue with a slight plot about entertaining the troops.Warner Brothers newcomer Joan Crawford made her contract debut in this film, showing concern over a soldier (Dane Clark) who faints when he realizes who his dancing partner is. She doesn't get to appear in any scenes with Warner Brothers "Queen Bee" Bette Davis who as co-founder of the canteen with John Garfield gets to explain how the canteen was founded and what its mission is. Other divas of the lot, such as Jane Wyman, Barbara Stanwyck, Ida Lupino and Eleanor Parker, make amusing cameos as well, but it is the musical performances you will remember which includes everybody from the Andrews Sisters ("I've Got Corns For My Country") to Roy Rogers ("Don't Fence Me In") to Dennis Morgan ("You Can Always Tell a Yank").Long before her dramatic career won her an Oscar, Jane Wyman sang, and after playing the ditzy newleywed opposite Jack Carson in "The Doughgirls" gets to sing the snappy "What Are You Doin' the Rest of Your Life" with him. Stanwyck, a freelancer who appeared regularly at Warner Brothers during the depression and later on throughout the war years, is amusingly sweet as she expresses sadness that she's been replaced by Joan Leslie as the love of a soldier's life. What little plot exists concerns that soldier's (Robert Hutton) winning of a date with Leslie and the "simple existence" this rising movie star lives. Another romance involves Dane Clark with studio tour guide Janis Paige (her own Warner Brothers debut) that adds some sweetness to the plot.One of the biggest box office successes of the war years, this has a theme and cast that just couldn't miss. The music and romance add a bittersweet feeling towards the mood of the war years and pretty much everything scores. It ends up being even more enjoyable than "Stage Door Canteen", its Broadway rival, even though its usage of a mostly Warner Brothers cast makes it seem a little self-serving.

What I'm reviewing is the last of the "war musicals"-of which the first four were Something for the Boys, Thank Your Lucky Stars, This is the Army, and Stage Door Canteen-that I just watched. In this one, one soldier has his dreams come true when he first kisses, and then dates, movie star Joan Leslie. I'll stop right there and just say what a lucky lady Ms. Leslie was during the times she appeared on the silver screen having previously starred with Gary Cooper, James Cagney, Fred Astaire, Eddie Cantor in TYLS, Ronald Reagan and George Murphy in TITA, and now with many of her fellow Warner contract players like John Garfield and Bette Davis in this one. She's one young lady who's led a very charmed life and is still around to tell the tale! Anyway, this was another all-star affair and what stars! I especially loved Jack Benny's appearance as he once again displayed his good and bad playing of his famous violin. And seeing Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre make fun of their creepy selves when defending the honor of Patty Andrews was a hoot! Unlike his previous movie SDC, writer Delmer Daves is more lighter than dramatic here. So yes, I'd say the scenes between that soldier and Ms. Leslie tend to be on the wishful thinking side. So what, it was a nice thing to see on the screen. Anyway, that's a recommendation of Hollywood Canteen. P.S. I have to acknowledge the presence of Ms. Kitty Carlisle who's a native of New Orleans which is a two hour drive from where I now live here in Baton Rouge. And once again, I like to mention anyone from my favorite movie-It's a Wonderful Live-that's in other films or TV shows though once again, I didn't recognize Virginia Patton as any of the hostess in this movie like I didn't know where she was in TYLS.