Two Girls and a Sailor

Two Girls and a Sailor, starring Van Johnson, Gloria DeHaven, June Allyson, Jimmy Durante

Synopsis of Two Girls and a Sailor

Emmy-nominee Van Johnson (“Too Young to Kiss,” “Thrill of a Romance“), Golden Globe-winner June Allyson (“Too Young to Kiss,” Little Women“) and Gloria Dehaven (“The Yellow Cab Man,” So This is Paris“) take part in a romance where one sister falls in love with a World War II sailor, but the sailor finds himself in love with the other sister instead.

Synopsis

Two Girls and a Sailor starts off very simply. During World War II, two patriotic sisters (June Allyson, Gloria DeHaven) use their apartment to put on USO shows for servicemen. One sailor (Van Johnson) overhears them say they wish they could have a bigger place, but they can’t afford it. Unknown to them, he’s a millionaire — and so he buys them an empty factory.

Living in the factory is a once-great entertainer (Jimmy Durante), who has lost his son. And, his reason for living. But, he decides to help the sisters in their patriotic cause. Soon, there’s a revolving cast of guest celebrities performing there. But there’s a bit of a romantic triangle. One sister wants to marry for money …. But she falls in love with a serviceman, who’s only a farmer in civilian life. Due to a mixup, the other sister wrongly thinks that the millionaire John Dyckman Brown is chasing her sister. But which millionaire? There are three generations of him!

By the end, everything’s sorted out for the happy ending.

Review

I have to say, I truly enjoyed Two Girls and a Sailor, and recommend it highly. The various bits with celebrities entertaining are short enough to be enjoyable, and leave the audience wanting more. The acting in the “main” story is very good, and enjoyable. I especially enjoyed the parts with Jimmy Durante as the father who’s “lost” his son years before. It’s touching, without being overbearing. And the romantic quadrangle’s enjoyable as well. It’s one of my favorite musical service comedies from the 1940s.

Cast

• Van Johnson (In the Good Old Summertime) … John Dyckman Brown III
• June Allyson (High Barbaree) … Patsy Deyo
• Gloria DeHaven (The Yellow Cab Man) … Jean Deyo
• Jimmy Durante (Billy Rose’s Jumbo, The Great Rupert) … Billy Kipp
• Tom Drake (Meet Me in St. Louis) … Frank Miller
• Henry Stephenson (The Young in Heart) … John Dyckman Brown I
• Henry O’Neill (The Story of Louis Pasteur) … John Dyckman Brown II
• Frank Sully (Blondie’s Reward) … Marine Sergeant
• Donald Meek (Blondie Takes a Vacation) … Mr. Nizby

Celebrities

• Albert Coates … Albert Coates
• Amparo Iturbi … Amparo Novarro
• Virginia O’Brien (Lady Be Good, Merton of the Movies) … Virginia O’Brien
• Lee Wilde … Lee Wilde (as The Wilde Twins)
• Lyn Wilde … Lyn Wilde (as The Wilde Twins)
• Harry James and His Orchestra (Best Foot Forward) … Harry James and his Music Makers
• Helen Forrest … Helen Forrest
• Lina Romay … Lina Romay
• Ben Blue (The Big Broadcast of 1938) … Ben Blue
• Carlos Ramírez (Bathing Beauty) … Carlos Ramirez
• José Iturbi (Anchors Aweigh) … José Iturbi
• Gracie Allen … Gracie Allen
• Lena Horne … (Broadway Rhythm) Lena Horne
• Harry James (Best Foot Forward) … Harry James
• Xavier Cugat (Neptune’s Daughter) … Xavier Cugat

Songs

• Did You Ever Have the Feeling That You Wanted to Go?
• Who Will Be with You When I’m Far Away
• Sweet and Lovely
• A Tisket, a Tasket
• A Love Like Ours
• Rumba Rumba
• Granada
• Bim, Bam, Bum
• My Mother Told Me
• Take It Easy
• Thrill of a New Romance
• Concerto for Index Finger
• In a Moment of Madness
• The Young Man with a Horn
• Anchors Aweigh
• You, Dear
• Babalu
• Inka Dinka Doo
• Paper Doll