The Gang's All Here
The Gang's All Here

Movie spotlight

The Gang's All Here

1943
Movie
103 min
English

A soldier falls for a chorus girl and then experiences trouble when he is posted to the Pacific.

Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes67%
Google Users73%
Director: Busby BerkeleyGenres: Musical, Comedy, Romance

Plot Summary

A wealthy New York socialite, Vivian Ellis, falls for handsome soldier Sergeant Andy Mason, who is being shipped overseas. To prove her love and to help him cope with the separation, she decides to stage a Broadway show on a troop transport ship carrying soldiers to Australia. However, she faces competition for Andy's affection from a glamorous Brazilian singer, Dorita. The film culminates in a dazzling and surreal musical number.

Critical Reception

The Gang's All Here is a Technicolor musical known for its extravagant and often bizarre production numbers, characteristic of Busby Berkeley's style. While its plot is considered thin, the film was a commercial success and is remembered for its visual spectacle and the vibrant performance of Carmen Miranda. Critics at the time and retrospectively often praise its sheer energy and imaginative set pieces, though some find the story and characters less engaging.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its dazzling Technicolor and inventive, surreal musical numbers.

  • Carmen Miranda's energetic performance and unique persona are a major highlight.

  • The plot is often seen as secondary to the visual spectacle and musical routines.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciate the film's vibrant colors, lively musical numbers, and the distinct charm of Carmen Miranda. Some viewers find the story a bit weak, but the overall entertainment value, especially the visual creativity, is highly regarded.

Fun Fact

The iconic 'Lime Tree' number, featuring Carmen Miranda and immense fruit props, was so visually overwhelming and surreal that it became one of the film's most memorable and discussed sequences, often cited as an example of Busby Berkeley's maximalist directorial style.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

There were quite a slew of these ensemble efforts made in 1943, but this one stands out a little more for having an actual plot. “Andy” (James Ellison) is about to be deployed to Australia when he meets up with “Edie” (Alice Faye) and telli...