''When Johnny Comes Marching Home'' is a 1942

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as breaks ...

directed by

Charles Lamont Charles Lamont (May 5, 1895 – September 11, 1993) was a prolific filmmaker, directing over 200 titles and producing and writing many others. He directed several Abbott and Costello comedies and many Ma and Pa Kettle films. Biography A Calif ...

and starring Allan Jones and

Plot

Johnny Kovacs (Jones) is a war hero who comes back home for a ten-day leave. Pursued by a woman (Shelton) who considers herself his fiance, he works with his superior officers to hide during his leave. He adopts the name Johnny O'Rourke, and finds a room at a theatrical boarding house. He becomes friends with some other boarders (including O'Connor, Ryan and Gloria Jean) and falls in love with a woman (Frazee). His friends overhear him talking to his officer on the phone. They misinterpret the conversation and conclude that he is a deserter. They push him into giving himself up and returning to duty. Confused by their behavior at first, he figures out what they are up to, and plays along. It all works out in the end. The closing song in the picture is a rousing patriotic number sung directly to the audience by the main players in the film.

Cast

* Allan Jones as Johnny Kovacs aka Johnny O'Rourke *

Jane Frazee Mary Jane Frehse (July 18, 1915 – September 6, 1985), was an American actress, singer, and dancer. Professional life Jane, age six, and her 12-year-old sister Ruth formed a singing vaudeville act known as The Frazee Sisters.Gloria Jean Gloria Jean (born Gloria Jean Schoonover; April 14, 1926 – August 31, 2018) was an American actress and singer who starred or co-starred in 26 feature films from 1939 to 1959, and made numerous radio, television, stage, and nightclub app ...

as Marilyn Benton *

Donald O'Connor Donald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor (August 28, 1925 – September 27, 2003) was an American dancer, singer and actor. He came to fame in a series of films in which he co-starred with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule. His best ...

as Frankie Flanagan *

Peggy Ryan Margaret O'Rene Ryan (August 28, 1924 – October 30, 2004) was an American dancer and actress, best known for starring in a series of movie musicals at Universal Pictures with Donald O'Connor and Gloria Jean. Career Ryan joined her paren ...

as Dusty *Richard Davies as Lt. Tommy Bridges *

Clyde Fillmore Clyde Fillmore (October 25, 1874''Who Was Who on Screen''Silent Film Necrology'' p.170 2nd Edition by Eugene M. Vazzana c.2001 – December 19, 1946), born Clyde Fogle, was an American actor of stage and screen. He is best remembered for a 1 ...

as Hamilton Wellman *Marla Shelton as Diana Wellman *

Olin Howland Olin Ross Howland (February 10, 1886 – September 20, 1959) was an American film and theatre actor. Life and career Howland was born in Denver, Colorado, to Joby A. Howland, one of the youngest enlisted participants in the Civil War, an ...

as Trullers *

Emma Dunn Emma Dunn (26 February 1875 – 14 December 1966) was an English actress. After starting her acting career on stage in London, she became known for her works in numerous films and Broadway productions. Career Emma Dunn appeared onstage in ...

as Ma (Norah) Flanagan *Four Step Brothers as Themselves *

Phil Spitalny Phil Spitalny (November 7, 1890 – October 11, 1970) was a Russian Empire-born American musician, music critic, composer, and bandleader heard often on radio during the 1930s and 1940s. He rose to fame after he led an all-female orchestra, a nov ...

as Himself

Soundtrack

*One Of Us Has Gotta Go **Written by Inez James and Buddy Pepper **Sung by Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Donald O'Connor *Romance **Written by Edgar Leslie and Walter Donaldson **Sung by Allan Jones and Gloria Jean *Red Safarin **Performed by the Phil Spitalny All-Girl Orchestra with Evelyn and Her Magic Violin *Jazz Etude **Performed by the Phil Spitalny All-Girl Orchestra with Evelyn and Her Magic Violin *This Is It **Written by Don Raye and Gene de Paul **Sung by Allan Jones and Jane Frazee *Green Eyes **Written by Adolfo Utera and Nilo Menendez **Sung by Gloria Jean *This Is Worth Fighting For **Performed by the (credited) Phil Spitalny All-Girl Orchestra with Evelyn and Her Magic Violin *You and the Night and Music **Written by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz **Sung by Allan Jones, Jane Frazee, and Gloria Jean *My Little Dream Girl **Written by A. Friedland and L. Wolfe Gilbert **Sung by Allan Jones *Say It With Dancing **Written by Don Raye and Gene de Paul **Sung by Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Donald O'Connor *We Must Be Vigilant **Written by Edgar Leslie and Joseph Burke **Performed by the Phil Spaltany All-Girl Orchestra with Evelyn and Her Magic Violin *The Yanks Are Coming **Written by Harry Seymour **Performed by Allan Jones, Jane Frazee, Gloria Jean, Donald O'Connor, and Peggy Ryan with the Phil Spaltany All-Girl Orchestra

Reception

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' called Universal Pictures "miraculous" for "bringing this star-studded entertainment in under budget and within a 73-minute running time".The New York Times
When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1942)

References

External links

* * {{Charles Lamont 1942 films American black-and-white films 1942 musical films Universal Pictures films Films directed by Charles Lamont American musical films 1940s English-language films 1940s American films