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For The Boys Details

1991 DVD Certificate 15.gif
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 644 members

In this ambitious musical saga, unknown USO singer Dixie Leonard (Bette Midler) is teamed up with one of America's beloved song-and-dance men--Eddie Sparks (James Caan)--in England during World War II, beginning a 50-year partnership of music, laughter, and tears. Eddie is a seductive comedian and singer as notorious for his .. Read more

Starring Bette Midler, James Caan, George Segal, Patrick O'Neal
Director Mark Rydell
Genres Comedy

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For The Boys

In this ambitious musical saga, unknown USO singer Dixie Leonard (Bette Midler) is teamed up with one of America's beloved song-and-dance men--Eddie Sparks (James Caan)--in England during World War II, beginning a 50-year partnership of music, laughter, and tears. Eddie is a seductive comedian and singer as notorious for his roving eye as he is for his jokes, while Dixie is a feisty but vulnerable and incredibly talented entertainer. Through three wars, a Golden Era television show, the McCarthy trials, and, in later years, an awards ceremony, FOR THE BOYS chronicles the relationship of this perfect onstage, tumultuous offstage couple as it's highlighted by historic events. George Segal adds further complexities to the couple's relationship as Dixie's showbiz uncle who is interrogated during the McCarthy era. With this nostalgic film, director Mark Rydell creates--in the spirit of old MGM musicals laced with a serious, modern look at war--a highly entertaining and touching film. The heroic cinematography, authentic period costumes and sets, and wonderful musical numbers all enhance this gripping melodrama.

Starring Bette Midler, James Caan, George Segal, Patrick O'Neal, Christopher Rydell, Ayre Gross, Norman Fell, Rosemary Murphy
Director Mark Rydell
Studio 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 2 hrs 19 mins
Certificate DVD Certificate 15.gif
Genres Comedy
Language English
Hearing-impaired English
Subtitles Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish
Released DVD: 07 Jun 2004
Production year: 1991
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (3) of For The Boys

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    Cole Porter's 1943 stage production lost a lot on its transfer to the screen, including Ethel Merman and most of its score apart from the title song. What remains is a typically garish 20th Century-Fox musical, interesting today for the array of talent on display. The plot's a trifle about cousins Carmen Miranda, Vivian Blaine and Phil Silvers (some family tree!) opening up their inherited southern plantation to army wives, and guess what? putting on a show to fund it. Silvers is terrific in a routine that owes much to his vaudeville background, while the gals (including Sheila Ryan and Cara Williams) and that new young crooner Perry Como, also put over numbers with style and verve. Watch closely for a young Judy Holliday, welding away in a defence factory.

    • Radio Times
  • A drama spanning three wars and professional/emotional skirmishes over two generations. Dixie (Midler) is to be awarded... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Most helpful member's review of For The Boys

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  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Again and Again and Again

    No matter how often I see this film it always gets to me: Bette Midler is great and the songs they stay in the mind for days. The comedy is exceptional and some of the scenes can hit home especially when we think of the young men and women fighting overseas at the moment, this film is well worth watching.

      • A customer from Wales
  • Most recent members' review of For The Boys

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  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Again and Again and Again

    No matter how often I see this film it always gets to me: Bette Midler is great and the songs they stay in the mind for days. The comedy is exceptional and some of the scenes can hit home especially when we think of the young men and women fighting overseas at the moment, this film is well worth watching.

      • A customer from Wales
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Rating breakdown

644 Member ratings
  • 100
113
  • 90
61
  • 80
111
  • 70
99
  • 60
105
  • 50
59
  • 40
35
  • 30
24
  • 20
24
  • 10
13

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    • For The Boys
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    • In this ambitious musical saga, unknown USO singer Dixie Leonard (Bette Midler) is teamed up with one of America's beloved song-and-dance men--Eddie Sparks (James Caan)--in England during World War ...