Thousands Cheer (1943)

65% of users liked it
(701 ratings)

Storywise, Thousands Cheer is thin stuff indeed. Insouciant PFC Eddy Marsh (Gene Kelly) wants to put on a Big Show for his fellow serviceman. Along the way, Eddy falls in love with Kathryn Jones (Kathryn Grayson), the daughter of Colonel William Jones (John Boles). End of story. The principal… More Storywise, Thousands Cheer is thin stuff indeed. Insouciant PFC Eddy Marsh (Gene Kelly) wants to put on a Big Show for his fellow serviceman. Along the way, Eddy falls in love with Kathryn Jones (Kathryn Grayson), the daughter of Colonel William Jones (John Boles). End of story. The principal selling angle of Thousands Cheer is the presence in the cast of virtually every musical talent on the MGM payroll: Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Red Skelton, Eleanor Powell, Jose Iturbi, the Kay Kyser Orchestra, Bob Crosby and his Bobcats, the Benny Carter band, Ann Sothern, Lucille Ball, June Allyson, Gloria DeHaven?..the list goes on and on and on. Since Thousands Cheer was designed as a patriotic wartime morale-booster, it is indeed ironic that the film was written by Paul Jarrico and Richard Collins, both of whom would be blacklisted during the Red-baiting 1950s. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 7 min.
Directed By: George Sidney (I), George Sidney II
Genres: Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 13, 1943 Wide
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The best reason for the movie was to raise money for the war effort, which it handsomely did.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A silly romance story built around a star showcase. Typical for the forties. It's okay.
jay n

Clumped together hodgepodge whose purpose was to spotlight MGM stars, Judy Garland comes off best.

Cast

            Kathryn Grayson as Kathryn Jones

            Mickey Rooney as Guest Star

            Judy Garland as Guest

            Gene Kelly as Eddie Marsh

            Red Skelton as Himself

            Mary Astor as Hyllary Jones

            Eleanor Powell as Herself

            John Boles as Col. Jones

            Ann Sothern as Guest

            Jose Iturbi as Himself

            Frances Rafferty as Marie

            Virginia O'Brien as Herself

            Frank Morgan as Himself

            Lena Horne as Herself

            Marsha Hunt as Herself

            Marilyn Maxwell as Herself

            Donna Reed as Guest

            Margaret O'Brien as Guest

            June Allyson as Guest

            Gloria de Haven as Herself

            John Conte as Himself

            Sara Haden as Herself

            Don Loper as Himself

            Ben Blue as Chuck

            Mary Elliott as Helen

            Frank Jenks as Sgt. Koslack

            Frank Sully as Alan

            Dick Simmons as Capt. Avery

            Ben Lessy as Silent Monk

            Sig Arno as Uncle Algy

            Lionel Barrymore as Announcer

            Monte Blue
            
            Wally Cassell as Jack

            Connie Gilchrist as Taxicab Driver

            Myron Healey as Soldier

            Betty Jaynes as Girl at Station

            Will Kaufman as Papa Corbino

            Kay Kyser
            
            Marta Linden as Skit Nurse

            James Millican as Sgt. Carrington Major

            Ed Mortimer as Guest

            Odette Myrtil as Mama Corbino

            Bea Nigro as Woman

            Carl Saxe as Sergeant Major

            Paul Speer as Specialty Dancer

            Harry Strang as Capt. Haines

            Ray Teal as Ringmaster

            Florence Turner as Mother at Station

            James Warren
            
            Pierre Watkin as Alex

            Eve Whitney
            
            William Tannen as Prison Sergeant

            Don Taylor as Soldier

            Bryant Washburn as Lt. Col. Brand

            Linda Landi as Polish Girl at Station

            Daisy Bufford as Maid

            Cliff Danielson
            
            Natalie Draper as Girls at Station

            Eileen Coghlan
            
            Bob Crosby and His Orchestra
            
            Aileen Haley
            
            Peggy Remington
            
            Lucille Ball
            
See full cast