On the surface, Thank Your Lucky Stars is just one of the star-studded wartime variety shows that were intended to display Hollywood’s commitment to the war effort. Most film historians treat it like Stage Door Canteen from the same year, and Hollywood Canteen, released a year later. Those films explicitly referenced actual clubs that providedContinue reading “Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)”
Category Archives: David Butler
Captain January (1936)
When Captain January was released, Shirley Temple was eight years old and had already made several hit films. Her arc was still ascending, and that incredible sense of cheer and fun in her early movies is evident. It’s a sentimental story that could have been much worse. Once again Shirley is an orphan, rescued andContinue reading “Captain January (1936)”
Pigskin Parade (1936)
Pigskin Parade is a pretty famous movie, considering that it’s not much to look at. It was Judy Garland’s first major role, and she does indeed kill the three numbers she has. Directed by David Butler, a prolific, experienced, uneven contract director at 20th Century Fox, it’s one of the dozens of college comedies ofContinue reading “Pigskin Parade (1936)”
That’s Right, You’re Wrong (1939)
It was hard to get a solid hold of That’s Right You’re Wrong. I mean that literally — I had to get it from the U of Washington’s project of digitizing classic films directly from 16mm onto 3-DVD sets. It’s the first of many Kay Kyser films I didn’t know a thing about. I didContinue reading “That’s Right, You’re Wrong (1939)”