In the 1940s, there were some wartime all-star extravaganza films made. They varied in quality, pretty much all with plenty to enjoy but with missteps. Both in music and performances. As well as my love for classic film, my main reason for seeing 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' was the cast, an amazing who's who of some of the finest talent (actors, dancers and singers) during this period. Frank Loesser was an immensely gifted song-writer, both for stage and film.

'Thank Your Lucky Stars' is a very uneven film. Some of the performances work marvellously, while some fall flat. Some songs are better than others, and by quite a bit (with some great, some not so good). It is also one of those films that is not to be seen for its story, a common thing with the wartime extravaganza films. When 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' hits, it does so brilliantly. As the best performances and songs are really quite impressive, surprisingly so.

As said, 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' is not to be seen for its story. Which is paper thin, almost non-existent apart from with SZ Sakall and Edward Everett Horton, and silly, and the pacing is a bit all over the place. Sometimes perfect, at other time on the hectic side (some of Eddie Cantor's material seemed rushed through) and at other times rather draggy due to the dull subplot with Dennis Morgan and Joan Leslie (both very appealing despite lacking material) and the overlong and syrupy contributions from Dinah Shore. Shore does sing beautifully, don't get me wrong, but her songs do slow the film down.

Did feel too that the film could have been shorter, with either less songs and not made some of them so long. Shore easily could have had one less song. Not all the songs work, particularly the sleeper that is "Love isn't Born", the syrupy contributions of Shore and despite Hattie McDaniel giving it everything "Ice Cold Katy" doesn't really hold up. Neither does some of the heavy handed finale. Likewise with the performances, instantly forgettable is the last thing one usually describes Humphrey Bogart but that's what he is here and Ann Sheridan is unusually dull.

Most of the cast come off very well indeed, with Cantor playing his holding things together send up role with enormous enthusiasm. He is an acquired taste but to me he was immensely enjoyable here. Bette Davis and Errol Flynn are also standouts, also thought Alan Hale and Jack Carson perform the heck out of "Way Up North" and Alexis Smith is one beguiling dancer. Spike Jones is also an absolute joy and it is his music that fares best. The standout musical numbers being "Hotcha Cornia", "They're Either too Young or Too Old" and the riotous "That's What you Jolly Well Get". Also enjoyed the jive number. Some nice use of pre-existing music in some of the songs.

It's a nice looking film, is directed with good control, is full of spirited choreography (especially the jive number),has wit and charm in the script and enough of the film is perky and entertains immensely.

Overall, so much is good and there is plenty to enjoy but there are also misfires in music and casting and the story lacks. Fun but lacks consistency. 7/10.

You've got two Eddie Cantor's for the price of one, spoofing his image and being just the opposite of what history has shown him to be. As generous and kind in person as he is egotistical and temperamental here, Cantor is the scourge of radio, and when benefit producers Edward Everett Horton and S.Z. Sakall seek to get his client Dinah Shore for their show, they find that they can't put the show on without his constant interference. So how do you deal with constant issues from a man like that? Find something that distracts his ego as well as a lookalike to step in when a Cantor number is required.

Comic routines, specialties and big production numbers abound, this is a nostalgic look back thqt features a mixture of triumphs and egg laying debacles. Dennis Morgan plays a crooner hoodwinked into thinking that he's got a radio contract with Cantor, the same shyster agent having pulled the same scam woth songwriter Joan Leslie. It's not really a great story (and sort of disturbing),but the plethora of stars is at least a curiosity to keep your attention.

The opportunity to see non musical stars singing is hit or miss, and some of the sing setups are truly poor. But Bette Davis scores singing "They're Either Too Young or Too Old' (jitterbugging!),and Hattie McDaniel proves she really has what it takes with "Ice Cold Katie". Ann Sheridan, Ida Lupino, Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn manage to save face in weaker numbers. S.Z. Sakall gets to rough up tough guy Humphrey Bogart in a very funny scene. The nadir of this is the"look at what we've accomplished!" finale that reeks of the narcissism that they were trying to make fun of with Cantor.

This movie was like an amateur musical review combined with a movie about how the review was being organized. There are two main reasons I really liked the film:

First, it didn't take itself too seriously and Eddie Cantor was fantastic. Not only were his songs fun, but his self-deprecation was greatly appreciated. Throughout the movie he played two guys--himself and a guy who just happens to look like him. As himself, he was shown as a fat-headed and very insecure boob! He really played this up to the hilt! The other guy, though interesting, wasn't quite as funny a character. However, at the very end of the film, the "real" Cantor was taken to the Mental Hospital (presumably for good) and the "fake" one assumed the other's life!

Second, although some of the song and dance numbers were marred by the fact some of the Warner Brothers celebrities sing like cats in heat (especially John Garfield, though George Tobias wasn't much better),others were fun and made the most of the stars' limited abilities (Errol Flynn and especially Bette Davis, who I know sang HORRIBLY since I have a recording of her screeching on Broadway--oh, the pain). Plus, a few even did excellent jobs, such as Alexis Smith and Ann Sheridan. I can't count Dennis Morgan, Eddie Cantor or Dinah Shore because they were well-known for their singing.

So, in conclusion, I am not a big fan of musicals and I hate most studio review films. However, this one was good because it was light-hearted and fun.