Best Foot Forward (1943)
Best Foot Forward is a 1943 American musical film directed by Edward Buzzell and starring Fred Astaire and Helen Walker. The movie is a romantic comedy that follows the story of a naive young man who joins the Navy and becomes embroiled in a series of comedic misadventures.
Background and Production
The film was based on the 1942 play of the same name by Norman Krasna, which was a huge success on Broadway. The movie was produced by MGM and starred Fred Astaire in the lead role, which was a departure from his usual on-screen persona as a sophisticated dancer and singer. The film's screenplay was written by Krasna and Harry Kurnitz.
The movie was filmed on location in San Diego, California, and at the MGM studios in Culver City, California. The film's budget was $1.6 million, which was a significant amount for a film at the time. The movie was released in June 1943, during the height of World War II, and was a major commercial success.
The Plot
The story follows the character of Willie Lohman, a young and naive young man who joins the Navy in order to see the world and become a hero. Willie is a naive and idealistic young man who has a tendency to get himself into trouble, and he quickly becomes embroiled in a series of comedic misadventures as he tries to navigate the Navy's strict rules and regulations.
Willie meets a beautiful woman named Ann, who is a fellow Navy officer, and the two of them fall in love. However, their romance is threatened when Willie's commanding officer, Captain Fisby, tries to break them up. The movie features a series of musical numbers, including the hit song "I'd Rather be in Marseilles," which was written by Ralph Freed and James V. Monaco.
The movie also features a number of comedic supporting characters, including a bumbling Navy officer played by William Demarest and a sexy nightclub singer played by Virginia O'Brien. The movie's tone is lighthearted and comedic, and it features a number of clever plot twists and turns.
Reception and Legacy
Best Foot Forward was a major commercial success when it was released in 1943, grossing over $3.5 million at the box office. The movie received generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising Astaire's performance and the film's lighthearted and comedic tone.
The movie has since become a cult classic, and is still widely regarded as one of the best musical comedies of the 1940s. The movie's success can be attributed to its lighthearted and comedic tone, as well as its memorable musical numbers and comedic supporting characters.
In addition to its commercial success, Best Foot Forward has also had a lasting impact on American popular culture. The movie's title song, "I'd Rather be in Marseilles," has become a popular standard, and has been covered by a number of artists over the years. The movie's influence can also be seen in later musical comedies, such as the 1950s and 1960s films of Jerry Lewis and the Marx Brothers.
Cast and Crew
- Fred Astaire as Willie Lohman
- Helen Walker as Ann Jeffers
- William Demarest as Cooper
- Virginia O'Brien as Carol Lawrence
- James Ellison as Leslie
- Billie Burke as Mrs. Lohman
The film was directed by Edward Buzzell and produced by Leon Gordon. The screenplay was written by Norman Krasna and Harry Kurnitz, and the music was written by Ralph Freed and James V. Monaco. The movie was filmed in Technicolor and features a number of memorable musical numbers and comedic supporting characters.
Trivia
- Best Foot Forward was the first major film to feature a love affair between a man and a woman in the military.
- The movie was filmed on location in San Diego, California, and at the MGM studios in Culver City, California.
- The film's budget was $1.6 million, which was a significant amount for a film at the time.
- The movie was released in June 1943, during the height of World War II.
