Thank Your Lucky Stars

Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) starring C.Z. “Cuddles” Sakall, Edward Everett Horton, Eddie Cantor, Dennis Morgan, Joan Leslie

Synopsis of Thank Your Lucky Stars

In Thank Your Lucky Stars, theater producers (Horton and Sakall) are staging a wartime charity program.  However, the production is taken over by their egotistical star (Eddie Cantor). Meanwhile, an aspiring singer (Dennis Morgan) and his songwriter girlfriend (Joan Leslie) conspire to get into the charity program by replacing Cantor with their look-alike friend, tour bus driver Joe Simpson (Eddie Cantor).

Review of Thank Your Lucky Stars

In short, Thank Your Lucky Stars is one of the funniest movies that I’ve ever seen, in no small part due to Eddie Cantor.  I’ve known about Eddie Cantor for years — but this was the first time I’ve seen him perform.  And he was hilarious — and willing to lampoon himself mercilessly.  Thank Your Lucky Stars also has two of my favorite second bananas – Edward Everett Horton and C.Z. ‘Cheeks” Sakall – in the center of the story, and they’re both hilarious.  There are a lot of musical numbers (see below) that are very enjoyable, as well.

Musical numbers in Thank Your Lucky Stars

• Thank Your Lucky Stars, sung by Dinah Shore.
• Blues in the Night, Performed by John Garfield on a radio show.
• Now’s the Time to Fall in Love, Performed by Eddie Cantor.
• “Ridin’ for a Fall” sung by Dennis Morgan and Joan Leslie.
• “Hotcha Cornia” performed by Spike Jones & His City Slickers
• “We’re Staying Home Tonight” sung by Eddie Cantor
• “I’m Goin’ North” sung by Jack Carson and Alan Hale, Sr.
• Old Folks at Home, aka “Swanee River“, Played in the “Way Up North” number
• Jingle Bells, Played in the “Way Up North” number
• “Love Isn’t Born (It’s Made)” sung by Ann Sheridan
• Embraceable You, Played when Joe, Pat and Tommy are at the restaurant
• Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair, Performed by Ida Lupino, Olivia de Havilland (dubbed by Lynn Martin) and George Tobias in “The Dreamer” number
• “No You, No Me” sung by Dennis Morgan and Joan Leslie
• “The Dreamer” sung by Dinah Shore
• “Ice Cold Katie” performed by Hattie McDaniel and Willie Best
• “How Sweet You Are” sung by Dinah Shore
• “That’s What You Jolly Well Get” sung by Errol Flynn
• “They’re Either Too Young or Too Old” sung by Bette Davis, including a brief jitterbug performance by Davis and dance contest winner Conrad Weidel. Written by Frank Loesser and Arthur Schwartz
• “The Dreamer” reprise sung by Olivia de Havilland, Ida Lupino and George Tobias
• “Good Night, Good Neighbor” sung by Dennis Morgan with an accompanying dance by Alexis Smith

Cameos in Thank Your Lucky Stars

• Humphrey Bogart (in a short, but hilarious, bit with Cheeks Sakall)
• Jack Carson
• Bette Davis
• Olivia de Havilland
• Ruth Donnelly (Nurse)
• Errol Flynn
• John Garfield
• Alan Hale, Sr.
• Mark Hellinger
• Noble Johnson
• Ida Lupino
• Mike Mazurki
• Hattie McDaniel
• Ann Sheridan
• Alexis Smith
• Madame Sul-Te-Wan
• George Tobias
• Doodles Weaver
• Don Wilson as Radio Announcer
• Spike Jones and His City Slickers

Editorial review of Thank Your Lucky Stars

The stars come out to play in the joyous World War II-era Thank Your Lucky Stars. A breezy, behind-the-Hollywood-scenes story about young talents hoping for a big break glitters with specialty numbers featuring Golden Era greats. Highlight include Humphrey Bogart being out-tough-guyed by S.Z. Cuddles Sakall and singers ranging from the gifted (Dinah Shore, Dennis Morgan) to the good sports (Errol Flynn, John Garfield). And Bette Davis’ witty, wry, jitterbuggin rendition of They Either Too Young or Too Old by Arthur Schwartz and Frank Loesser is the cherry on top (Clive Hirschhorn, The Hollywood Musical). Dig in!