1h 33min | Comedy, Musical | 21 June 1944
Director: S. Sylvan Simon
Stars: Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy, Bonita Granville, WC Fields, Jane Powell.
George Dobbs ... choreographer (uncredited)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037297/
Downloaded here (can also watch there); faded print.
Feature length film promoting the USDA Crop Corps, volunteers to supplement farm labor, shorted by men working in factories and sent to war. This is oriented toward the Youth Hostels (as contrasted with the Women's Land Army). See a good article about this here. Similar to Harvest Melody (1943), which was aimed at adults.
This is Jane Powell's (b. 1929) first film. She got her professional name from the character she plays here, not the other way around. She's the star of the story, but clearly not a name draw yet, so she's 6th billed.
In the Tap! Appendix for Condos Brothers. Two Condos Brothers dance at about 12 min, not the 3 in IMDb credits. Looks like Nick and Steve to me; listed as Frank, Harry and Steve on IMDb, just as Condos Brothers onscreen. Since I'm used to their dancing, this is not jaw-dropping, but it's still excellent stuff. In a significant way, the setting for their dance is a copy of the bandstand+piano for the Nicholas Brothers in Stormy Weather ('43). Here CB jump from ledge above the band to drums to dual pianos, back up and down again, tapping on each of those 3 surfaces. I don't think they did the 5-tap wing. (Only 1 more film in '46 with the brothers; only Steve in a few films after that.)
[Edited to add:] Nick already danced atop empty band chairs and piano in To Beat the Band ('35). No idea who might have originated the idea.
In the Tap! Appendix for Condos Brothers. Two Condos Brothers dance at about 12 min, not the 3 in IMDb credits. Looks like Nick and Steve to me; listed as Frank, Harry and Steve on IMDb, just as Condos Brothers onscreen. Since I'm used to their dancing, this is not jaw-dropping, but it's still excellent stuff. In a significant way, the setting for their dance is a copy of the bandstand+piano for the Nicholas Brothers in Stormy Weather ('43). Here CB jump from ledge above the band to drums to dual pianos, back up and down again, tapping on each of those 3 surfaces. I don't think they did the 5-tap wing. (Only 1 more film in '46 with the brothers; only Steve in a few films after that.)
[Edited to add:] Nick already danced atop empty band chairs and piano in To Beat the Band ('35). No idea who might have originated the idea.
Only 1 more film credit for WC Fields, in '45.
Soundtracks lists 7 songs, 4 sung by JP, 1 danced by CB.
Very pleasant, and illustrates history, lightened by professional musical entertainment and comedy.
Charles R. Rogers Productions, distr. UA, dir. Simon; 6+
