Best Foot Forward Overview:

Best Foot Forward (1943) was a Musical - Comedy Film directed by Edward Buzzell and produced by Arthur Freed.

SYNOPSIS

A grand MGM musical about a Hollywood star who, as part of a publicity stunt, agrees to be the guest of a young cadet at his military school prom. Probably Lucy's best film, according to Desi. The movie is based on a Broadway show and includes such big-band era hits as "Three Men on a Date," "Wish I May," "Buckle Down Winsocki," and "Two O'Clock Jump."

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

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BlogHub Articles:

Musical Monday: “Best Foot Forward” (1943)

on Sep 14, 2020 From Comet Over Hollywood

It?s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals. In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 500. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals. This week?s musical: ?Best Foot Forward? ?Musical... Read full article


Best Foot Forward (1943)

By Lindsey on Mar 1, 2012 From The Motion Pictures

Best Foot Forward (1943): 2/5 Bud Hooper (Tommy Dix) is a cadet at Winsocki Military Academy. He invites Lucille Ball to be his date at one of the Academy’s dances. Not expecting a reply, he invites his girlfriend Helen (Virginia Weidler) and turns her name into the academy for approval. His e... Read full article


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Quotes from

No Quote for this film.

Facts about

June Allyson had a deleted number entitled "What Do You Think I Am?" (music and lyrics by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane). "Shady Lady Bird" (written by Martin and Blane), sung by Helen Forrest with Harry James and His Music Makers, was also cut from the release print. In shots of the James band at the dance, Miss Forrest can be spotted on the bandstand. A third Martin-Blane number, "I Know You by Heart," was played by the Harry James orchestra during the dance, but a vocal version by Tommy Dix didn't make the release print. All four of the tracks mentioned above are featured on the 2004 soundtrack CD from Rhino Handmade.
MGM bought the rights to the musical from Columbia Pictures for $150,000. Columbia studio head Harry Cohn hoped to star Rita Hayworth and Shirley Temple in the roles eventually played by Lucille Ball and Virginia Weidler.
The play opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 1 October 1941 and had 326 performances. The opening night cast included Nancy Walker, who originated her movie role in the play, and June Allyson, Kenny Bowers, Tommy Dix, Jack Jordan and Stanley Donen, all of whom are also in this film but with different roles; and Rosemary Lane. Gil Stratton was brought out to Hollywood at the same time but appeared in Girl Crazy instead, although some say he had a small role in this film. A 1963 off-Broadway revival starred Liza Minnelli.
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Also directed by Edward Buzzell




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Also produced by Arthur Freed




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Also released in 1943




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