1944 A Warner Bros. First National Production Produced by Alec Gottlieb Directed by Delmer Daves Written by Delmer Daves Photographed by Bert Glennon Music by Ray Heindorf Music directed by Leo F. Forbstein Songs by M.K. Jerome and Ted Koehler 123 minutes Starring Laverne Andrews, Maxene Andrews, Patty Andrews, Jack Benny, Joe E. Brown, Eddie Cantor, Jack Carson, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, John Garfield, Sydney Greenstreet, Alan Hale, Paul Henreid, Joan Leslie, Peter Lorre, Ida Lupino, Dorothy Malone, Dennis Morgan, Eleanor Parker, Roy Rogers, S.Z. Sakall, Robert Shayne, Alexis Smith, Barbara Stanwyck, Jane Wyman, Barbara Brown, Dane Clark, Richard Erdman, James Flavin, Jonathan Hale, Robert Hutton, Eddie Marr, Janis Paige, Mark Stevens, Theodore von Eltz, Ray Teal, Rudolf Friml Jr., Betty Bryson, Willard Van Simmons, William Alcorn, Jack Mattis, Jack Coffey, George Turner, Kitty Carlisle, Helmut Dantine, Faye Emerson, Victor Francen, Andrea King, William Prince, John Ridgely, Zachary Scott, Craig Stevens, Joseph Szigeti, Donald Woods, Jimmy Dorsey, Carmen Cavallaro, Rosario, Antonio, Irene Manning, Nora Martin, Joan McCracken, Dolores Moran, Joyce Reynolds, Virginia Patton, Lynn Baggett, Betty Alexander, Julie Bishop, Johnny Mitchell, John Sheridan, Colleen Townsend, Angela Green, Paul Brooke, Marianne O'Brien, Bill Kennedy, Mary Gordon, Joseph Milani, Betty Brodel Here's the story. Soldier Robert Hutton, on leave in the United States after several punishing months of combat in the Pacific, strolls into the famous Hollywood Canteen, wanting deperately to meet Joan Leslie, his favorite movie star. He sure does meet her! And practically every other talent associated with Warners too. In the second half of the movie, he meets Joan's "father" and sister Betty. You see, real-life movie star Joan Leslie and Cpl. Slim Green (that's Hutton's character's name) fall in love during their brief acquaintance. Hutton's army buddy (Dane Clark as "Brooklyn") also meets and falls in love with a Canteen hostess (Janis Paige), but she, alas, is not a famous movie star. In the closing scene, Hutton and Clark prepare to return to their combat unit, but the movie promises that affection will blossom into something enduring when the war ends. Dismissed by some recent critics as the vulgarest of wartime propaganda pictures, Hollywood Canteen is obviously a favorite of inveterate star-spotters. Beyond this, the film offers the most interesting examination of Joan Leslie's special appeal that we have on film. "Joan Leslie's the girl for me," explains Cpl. Green. "She looks like the kind of girl you can walk right up to and say 'hello.'" That about sums it up! The movie is also a lot of fun to watch. The guest stars perform the usual assortment of specialty routines -- some watchable, others not. But the leads make the picture -- the comic pairing of Paige and Clark, and the more romantic teaming of Leslie and Hutton. It is difficult not to be moved by the cliches when we take into account the film's historical context. The hopelessly sentimental finale has Joan Leslie hurrying down a railway platform, just as Slim's train is about to pull out of the station. An obliging serviceman lifts her to kiss him again, and the train lurches forward. Over the engine's roar, she calls to him her love. Very highly recommended. Notes (for Hollywood Canteen) The Hollywood Canteen was founded by Bette Davis, John Garfield, Carroll Hollister, and J.K. "Spike" Wallace, after the model of Broadway's Stage Door Canteen. It was open to servicemen only, the food was free, and many of Hollywood's biggest names donated their time to provide the entertainment. The real millionth man was First Sergeant Carl E. W. Bell. The sergeant "received many gifts, was feted at studios and night clubs," and "blushed when kissed" by hostess Marlene Dietrich. Among the actresses who greeted the lucky gent were Deanna Durbin, Lana Turner, K.T. Stevens, and, yes, Joan Leslie. Acquiring the rights to make the film, Warners relied heavily on its own contractees. As a result, some of the people most strongly associated with the real-life Canteen are absent from the film version (e.g. MGM's Hedy Lamarr). In exchange for the film rights, Warner agreed to contribute $250,000 to the Canteen's fund. The movie was reputedly planned for Ann Sheridan, Warners' "Oomph Girl" and resident pinup queen. When the actress begged off, the script was changed to accomodate Joan Leslie. This worked out for the best, though, as Joan's "girl next door" image better suited the movie's premise. Production was complicated by a walk-out, as the actors' union (SAG) complained that the guest stars were not being properly compensated. Warner Bros.sued, claiming $500,000 in damages, and production continued when a settlement was reached out of court. Joan's sister (Betty Brodel) plays herself in the scene in which Slim meets the family. Mr. Brodel is acted by Jonathan Hale. Pic #1 Favorite Joan Leslie Film Select your favorite Joan Leslie film here. 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