Up in Arms (1944)
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77% of users liked it
(526 ratings)
It is said that producer Sam Goldwyn had a habit of addressing his new star of the 1940s, Danny Kaye, as "Eddie", confusing Kaye with Eddie Cantor. If true, it may be because Kaye's first starring film for Goldwyn, Up in Arms, was a remake of Cantor's Whoopee--which in turn was a… More It is said that producer Sam Goldwyn had a habit of addressing his new star of the 1940s, Danny Kaye, as "Eddie", confusing Kaye with Eddie Cantor. If true, it may be because Kaye's first starring film for Goldwyn, Up in Arms, was a remake of Cantor's Whoopee--which in turn was a musical version of that old theatrical chestnut The Nervous Wreck. Kaye plays Danny Weems, a hopeless hypochondriac who finds himself drafted into the army. While a passenger on an overseas transport ship, Danny is obliged to hide his girl friend Mary Morgan (Constance Dowling), who has stowed away on board, from the authorities. The plot (what there is of it) contrives to have Danny and Mary, together with Virginia (Dinah Shore), who's in love with Danny, and Joe (Dana Andrews), who's in love with Mary, arrive simultaneously on the same South Sea island. After numerous comic and romantic complications, Danny emerges as the hero of the hour by capturing a whole bunch of Japanese soldiers. The film shows signs of post-production tampering-an offscreen narration, an abrupt ending-indicating that, as yet, Sam Goldwyn wasn't quite sure how to package Danny Kaye for the screen. Despite its erratic editing and uneven scenario, Up in Arms contains some priceless moments, including Kaye's rapid-patter songs "The Lobby Number" and "Melody in 4F", both written by Sylvia Fine (Mrs. Kaye) and Max Liebman. There are also a few cute "inside" jokes referring to the illogical nature of the plotline and such esoterica as the out-of-nowhere appearances of the Goldwyn Girls (one of whom was Kaye's future leading lady Virginia Mayo). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Elliott Nugent
- Written By
- Don Hartman, Allan Boretz, Robert Pirosh
- Genres
- Musical & Performing Arts, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Dec 6, 1944 Wide
- Studio
- Nelson Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Par excellance Danny Kaye in first film; and very WWII in spirit, theme.
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Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Danny and Dinah are a delight in Kaye's feature debut.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Danny Kaye
as Danny Weems
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Dinah Shore
as Virginia Merrill
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Dana Andrews
as Joe Nelson
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Constance Dowling
as Mary Morgan
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Louis Calhern
as Col. Ashley
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Elisha Cook Jr.
as Info Jones
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George Mathews
as Blackie
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Ben Baker
as Butterball
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Lyle Talbot
as Sgt. Gelsey
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Walter Catlett
as Maj. Brock
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George Meeker
as Ashley's Aide
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Richard Powers
as Ashley's Aide
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Margaret Dumont
as Mrs. Willoughby
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Donald Dickson
as Singer at Dock
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Charles Arnt
as Mr. Higginbotham
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Charles Halton
as Dr. Freyheisen
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Tom Dugan
as Master of Ceremonies
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Sig Arno
as Waiter
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Harry Hayden
as Dr. Weavermacher
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Charles D. Brown
as Dr. Campbell
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Maurice Cass
as Dr. Jones
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Fred Essler
as Head Waiter
- The Goldwyn Girls
- Betty Alexander
- Oliver Blake
- Peter Chong
- Linda Christian
- Peter Cusanelli
- William B. Davidson
- Myrna Dell
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Edward Earle
as Sherwood
- Maude Eburne
- Herbert Evans
- Virginia Farmer
- Benson Fong
- Inna Gest
- Renee Godfrey
- Ellen Hall
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John Hamilton
as Couple
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Eddie Kane
as Wedding Guest in Dream
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Tom Keene
as Ashley's Aide
- June Lang
- George Lee
- George Magrill
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Knox Manning
as Narration
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Virginia Mayo
as Nurse
- Matt McHugh
- George McKay
- Lorraine Miller
- Mary Tyler Moore
- Kay Morley
- Anne O'Neal
- Dorothy Patrick
- Lillian Randolph
- Terrance Ray
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Frosty Royce
as Bakery Man
- Hans Schumm
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Larry Steers
as Board Member
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Leonard Strong
as Interrogator
- Helen Talbot
- Eddy Waller
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Barbara Williams
as Dancer
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Matt Willis
as Sentries in Hold
- Isabel Withers
- Bruce Wong
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Audrey Young
as Goldwyn Girl
- Frank O'Connor
- Jan Bryant
- June Harris
- James Harrison
- Alma Carroll
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Rudy Friml
as Bandmaster
- Diana Mumby
- Ruth Valmy
- Dorothy Gardner
- Gloria Anderson
- Virginia Cruzon
- Eloise Hart
- William Hunter
- Mary Ann Hyde
- Audrey Korn
- Mickey Malloy
- Shelby Payne
- Alice Wallace
- Karen Knight
