Best Foot Forward

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Best Foot Forward

Released Jun 29, 1943

1h 34m

Musical

Comedy

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2 Reviews

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250+ Ratings

Beloved actress Lucille Ball plays herself in this lively musical comedy, based on the Broadway play and featuring the music of popular bandleader Harry James. When young military cadet Bud Hooper (Tommy Dix) invites Ball to be his date at the academy's prom, her agent convinces her that accepting would be a great publicity stunt. Soon Ball's presence at the school leads to chaos, and the redheaded celebrity unwittingly incurs the wrath of Bud's girlfriend, Helen (Virginia Weidler).

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: C

Mar 25, 2013

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Most of the musical numbers were inconsequential.

Rated: C

Jan 29, 2011

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Audience Member

LOL, the funniest 01 hour: and 34 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

MGM's Technicolor adaptation of the Broadway musical is fast-moving fun; highlights include June Allyson, Nancy Walker and Gloria DeHaven (in their film debuts) singing "The Three B's"; Walker dancing with bandleader Harry James to "Alive & Kicking"; and the finale, "Buckle Up Winsocki."

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

another frothy WWII musical

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

Odd little 40s musical has some nice moments, and it's fun to see a pre-"Love" Lucy, but it rarely rises above a cute diversion.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Audience Member

Lucy plays herself in this one, as a waning Star Lucille Ball, who as a publicity stunt, agrees to be a Prom Date at a Prep School for West Point Hopefuls.The plan doesn't quite work as planned when his Girlfiend shows up too, & Lucy is kept hidden & out of the spotlight, until the Jealous Girlfriend & others attack her & rip her Dress Off. This results in unwanted publicity for the School, & they expel the Boy(Tommy Dix).June Allyson debuts here in a minor role as Ethel.There is lots of Singing, Dancing, & Lucy Like Shenanigans, & Lucy as herself, Lucille Ball, but for some reason, this one just didn't work for me much.It had all the right ingredients, but this recipe still fell flat for me.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

Worth seeing. Classic war era feel good musical. It was interesting seeing Lucy sing for real. Had a homely, motherly feel to it. Typical for the times racist "Indian" references

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Edward Buzzell

Director

Lucille Ball

Lucille Ball

William Gaxton

Jack O'Riley

Virginia Weidler

Helen Schlesinger

Tommy Dix

Bud Hooper

Nancy Walker

Nancy

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Synopsis

Beloved actress Lucille Ball plays herself in this lively musical comedy, based on the Broadway play and featuring the music of popular bandleader Harry James. When young military cadet Bud Hooper (Tommy Dix) invites Ball to be his date at the academy's prom, her agent convinces her that accepting would be a great publicity stunt. Soon Ball's presence at the school leads to chaos, and the redheaded celebrity unwittingly incurs the wrath of Bud's girlfriend, Helen (Virginia Weidler).

Director: Edward Buzzell
Producer: Arthur Freed
Screenwriter: Irving Brecher, Fred F. Finklehoffe
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 29, 1943, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 11, 2008
Runtime: 1h 34m

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