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Best Foot Forward

Play trailer Poster for Best Foot Forward 1943 1h 34m Musical Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter 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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Best Foot Forward

Critics Reviews

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Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 03/25/2013
C
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 01/29/2011
C
Most of the musical numbers were inconsequential. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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08/05/2022 LOL, the funniest 01 hour: and 34 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more 07/14/2015 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." See more 05/21/2014 another frothy WWII musical See more 08/09/2012 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. See more 07/08/2011 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. See more 11/08/2010 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 See more Read all reviews
Best Foot Forward

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Cast & Crew

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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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Best Foot Forward

Best Foot Forward (1943) Best Foot Forward (1943) View more photos

Movie Info

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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