Better than most people think

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

. . . that could be given credit for inventing the garbage disposal. Holding top billing on all the promotional material I've seen for THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS, Humphrey Bogart's cameo is laughably short and otherwise humorless (not to mention talent-free). Nearly everyone involved here plays themselves, some far better than others. Only Errol Flynn's bit is incognito (apparently because his singing was dubbed as he tried to channel Dick Van Dyk from the Future's MARY POPPINS). This WWII variety show reduces Eddie Cantor to an obnoxious lampoon of his once promising self. Though Cantor is ubiquitous as Dinah Shore's Svengali, Ms. Shore proves LUCKY's true workhorse, among other things spoofing Judy Garland's OZ rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with her song "Dreamer," which itself is later presented in a dumbed-down HEE-HAW version by Olivia DeHavilland, George Tobias, and Ida Lupino. Joan Leslie and Dennis Morgan's wacky "framing story" cannot hold a candle to any of Garland and Mickey Rooney's let's-put-on-a-show flicks, but what could you expect when a film noir\gangster studio puts on a musical in which "Ice-cold Katie" is the main villain?

Thank Your Lucky Stars starts with two producers trying to get Dinah Shore to appear in their all star benefit. When one producer (Dr. Schlenna played by SA.Z. Sakall) says in his thick German accent he wants Dinah Shore, I think he says dinosaur. Speaking of dinosaurs, Eddie Cantor plays a caricature of himself and also plays a poor schlep who wants to break into show biz, but is thwarted because he looks like Eddie Cantor (what?).Shot during the shortages of WWII, you might think there's a talent shortage, but this film has plenty of talent. Unfortunately, it's used in hammy, half-baked scenes and performances. Just when I thought I couldn't take any more of this 2nd class collection of scenery-chewing and bad lyrics, I started enjoying the show. Yes, I said it. It surprised me, too. The movie is pure corn and I was eating it up. This collection of resurrected vaudeville zingers and minstrel show prancing somehow wormed its way into my heart. Maybe it's the puerile pratfalls or the gee-whiz dialogue or the one-joke skits or the Humphrey Bogart look alike... Hey wait, can that be the real Bogie? Don't fight it. Embrace the film. Get on to enjoying this diversion from the realities of war in 1943.Dennis Morgan and Joan Leslie play the two romantic leads.Most of the soundtrack is by by Schwartz and Loesser, but these are some of Loesser's lesser efforts, often sung by B-grade singers. Still, the novelty of seeing Bette Davis singing, for example, is engaging. By the time we get to the actual Cavalcade of Stars, we have an opportunity to see some bona fide stars in some interesting musical numbers.Note the great pas de trois. Great dancing.And my favorite part of the movie: the jive performance of "The Dreamer" by Ida Lupino, Olivia De Havilland and George Tobias. What gum-smacking fun!There are real rewards if you stick with this film.

There's enough bounce and energy in this Warner's showcase to light up a whole city. What great light entertainment for the boys overseas and folks on the homefront (after all, it's 1943). Eddie Cantor really comes through with the plot spark, racing around like the Energizer bunny, and playing dual roles (did they pay him double). Then there's handsome Dennis Morgan and all-American Joan Leslie making an attractive pair to hang the romantic hat on. And get a load of Bogart dropping his tough guy act if for just a moment, plus an off-key Garfield warbling, of all things.No, the music is nothing to write home about, but the performers are an enthusiastic bunch, so who cares. There's drama queens Lupino and de Haviland as jive-talking hepcats (note they only dance "in place"), and, of course, Warner's reigning drama queen Bette Davis doing something or other in her inimitable style. But I especially like the Hattie McDaniel free-for-all that really does light up the screen. Apparently, however, someone decided to slow things down with Ann Sheridan's static number where the girls sit around like prom princesses. But at least we boys get to ogle them.Too bad this rouser wasn't sent to Hitler and Tojo. They would have tossed in the towel immediately. Because it's obvious that no country with this kind of energy and dynamism could possibly lose a war. And, yes, it's still great unpolished entertainment, with what looks like a lot of people having a lot of fun.

If you're a classic Hollywood buff, then it's a treat to see so many famous faces doing things they normally weren't busy with like song and dance numbers. Unfortunately, the BIGGEST NO TALENT face among them, EDDIE CANTOR, is tightly interspersed throughout as some kind of unifying thread. How this man ever got a career is beyond legend. He must've slept with somebody big or had some dope on somebody up there because he is always an audition by a ham. I think he was a closet case as well because he does the most fey things imaginable which can occasionally be amusing but I'm sure this wasn't intentional. Can't sing, can't dance, can't act, can't tell a joke--not for nothing Cantor's films aren't rerun on TV often. The joy is in seeing a very young Dinah Shore, Bette Davis vocalizing, and Errol Flynn and Lupino/DeHavilland out of character. Enjoy and when Cantor comes on use it as a commercial break to go get some chips and dip in the kitchen.