Carmen Miranda

THE GANG'S ALL HERE

20th Century Fox, 1943. Directed by Busby Berkeley.  Camera:  Edward Cronjager.  With Carmen Miranda, Alice Faye, Phil Baker, Benny Goodman, Eugene Pallette, Charlotte Greenwood.

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Wealthy businessman Andrew J. "A.J." Mason, Sr. takes his nervous partner, Peyton Potter, to the Club New Yorker for a celebratory evening with his son, Sgt. Andrew J. Mason, Jr., who is about to report for active duty in the Army.  A.J. and Andy enjoy the show, which features master of ceremonies Phil Baker and dancer Tony De Marco, while Potter worries about what his wife Blossom would say if she knew he was there.  While Potter is trapped into dancing with Brazilian sensation Dorita, Andy becomes intrigued by entertainer Eadie Allen. Phil warns Andy that because Eadie dances at the Broadway Canteen between shows, she will not go out on a date with him, but Andy follows her to the canteen and tells her that his name is Sergeant Pat Casey so that she will not be intimidated by his wealth.  Despite her insistence that she cannot date servicemen outside the canteen, Eadie is charmed by Andy and agrees to meet him later when he pursues her to the nightclub.  Eadie and Andy spend the evening talking and falling in love and, the next day, Eadie bids him farewell at the train station and promises to write every day.

Andy distinguishes himself in battle in the South Pacific, and is granted a furlough after being awarded a medal.  A.J. is thrilled and plans to throw a welcome home party for Andy at the Club New Yorker.  Phil cannot accommodate his plans, however, as the club is closed for two weeks while the company rehearses a new show.  Munificent as always, A.J. invites the performers to rehearse at his and Potter's homes, where they can throw a lavish garden party and war bond rally to welcome Andy.

Potter is perturbed about the arrangements when he learns that Blossom knows Phil from her former days as an entertainer, and his chagrin grows when Tony's partner cannot perform and he asks Potter's daughter Vivian to dance with him.  Hoping to persuade the stodgy Potter to allow Vivian to perform, Blossom tells him that Phil has threatened to reveal her wild past if Vivian is not in the show.  Potter acquiesces, but his problems grow when he is pursued by the romantic-minded Dorita.

When not chasing Potter, Dorita learns that Vivian has a boyfriend named Andy, and that he and Eadie's "Casey" are the same man.  Complications arise as Dorita tries to keep Vivian and Eadie from discovering Andy's deception.  When Andy and the real Pat Casey arrive at the club, however, Eadie learns the truth. Andy proclaims that he wants to marry her and not Vivian, but Eadie insists on breaking off their relationship, as she believes that Vivian really cares for him.  During the show, however, Vivian tells Eadie that she is going to Broadway to perform as Tony's permanent partner, and reveals that she and Andy were never truly in love.  As the show comes to a close, Eadie and Andy reconcile, and everyone joins in the final song.

American Film Institute Catalog