Best Foot Forward (1943)
- Starring:
- Lucille Ball, William Gaxton, (more)
- Director(s):
- Edward N. Buzzell
My RatingTheatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
Five original cast members of the hit Broadway musical Best Foot Forward appear in this Technicolor MGM screen adaptation. Set at a small town military prep school, the story gets under way when movie star Lucille Ball (played by movie star Lucille Ball) pays a visit to the campus for publicity purposes. Several of the students, led by Bud (Tommy Dix), offer to make Lucille the queen of the upcoming prom. But the plot dictates that Bud and his pals are forced to back off from their offer, and to hide Lucille's presence from the faculty. Cast as a hoydenish blind date, Nancy Walker steals the show with her spirited rendition of "Buckle Down, Winsocki"; but of the five carryovers from the original Broadway production, only June Allyson went on to lasting film stardom. Enhancing the film's box-office appeal was MGM's decision to add Harry James and His Music Makers to the cast: James' performance of "The Two O'Clock Jump" is worth the admission price in itself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 99 mins
Complete Cast:
- Lucille Ball - Herself
- William Gaxton - Jack O'Riley
- Nancy Walker - Nancy
- Gloria de Haven - Minerva Pierce
- Kenny Bowers - Dutch
- Beverly Tyler - Miss Delaware Water Gap
- Sara Haden - Miss Talbert
- Bobby Stebbins - Greenie
- Morris Ankrum - Col. Harkrider
- Robert E. O'Connor - Railroad Conductor
- Tommy Dix - Elwood/ Bud Hooper
- Virginia Weidler - Helen Schlessenger
- June Allyson - Ethel
- Chill Wills - Chester Shoat
- Jack Jordan - Hunk
- Henry O'Neill - Maj. Reeber
- Donald MacBride - Capt. Bradd
- Darwood Kaye - Killer
- Nana Bryant - Mrs. Dalyrimple
- Harry James - Himself
- Director(s):
- Edward N. Buzzell
- Writer(s):
- Fred F. Finklehoffe, Irving Brecher
- Producer(s):
- Arthur Freed
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- Subtitles:
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