The Gang’s All Here (1943)

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Directed by Busby Berkeley, The Gang’s All Here is a dazzling Technicolor musical extravaganza released by 20th Century Fox during World War II. With a cast led by Alice Faye, Carmen Miranda, and Benny Goodman, the film is best remembered for its surreal musical numbers, patriotic undertones, and Berkeley’s signature kaleidoscopic choreography.

Plot Summary
Army sergeant Andy Mason (James Ellison) falls for nightclub singer Edie Allen (Alice Faye) while on leave. Their romance is complicated by mistaken identities, meddling parents, and the looming war. Meanwhile, Carmen Miranda’s character Dorita steals scenes with her flamboyant costumes and musical flair. The plot is light and mostly serves as a framework for the film’s elaborate musical sequences and comedic interludes.

Cast Highlights

  • Alice Faye as Edie Allen
  • Carmen Miranda as Dorita
  • James Ellison as Andy Mason
  • Phil Baker as himself
  • Charlotte Greenwood, Edward Everett Horton, and Eugene Pallette provide comic support
  • Benny Goodman and His Orchestra appear as themselves

Behind-the-Scenes Trivia

  • The infamous number “The Lady in the Tutti-Frutti Hat” ran into trouble with censors due to the way dancers held giant bananas, which were deemed too suggestively “phallic.” The solution? Have them hold the bananas at waist level instead of hip level
  • Don Ameche was originally slated to co-star but was busy filming Heaven Can Wait, so James Ellison stepped in. In a cheeky nod, Alice Faye tells Ellison, “Stop acting like Don Ameche!”
  • Berkeley was loaned to Fox after being fired from Girl Crazy at MGM, following Judy Garland’s collapse during filming
  • Alice Faye was pregnant during production with her second daughter
  • A deleted scene featured a segment of “The $64 Question” radio quiz show hosted by Phil Baker

Musical Highlights

  • “A Journey to a Star” – Alice Faye’s signature ballad
  • “The Lady in the Tutti-Frutti Hat” – Carmen Miranda’s surreal fruit-fueled spectacle
  • “The Jitters” – A dance number featuring Charlotte Greenwood
  • Benny Goodman’s swing interludes – Jazz lovers rejoice

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