Main Cast: Kay Francis, Carole Landis, Martha Raye, Mitzi Mayfair
Release Year: 1944
Country: US
Run Time: 89 minutes
Plot
Four Jills in a Jeep is the (mostly) true story of a four-girl USO team, entertaining American troops overseas. Kay Francis, Martha Raye, Carole Landis and Mitzi Mayfair play "themselves," recreating their recent whirlwind tour of Europe and North Africa. This wisp of a plot takes a back seat to the musical numbers performed by the four stars, by Dick Haymes in his screen debut as a singing GI, and by guest stars Alice Faye, Betty Grable and Carmen Miranda. Phil Silvers, George Jessel, and Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra also pop up to do their usual. Very much a time capsule of the War years, Four Jills in a Jeep was later adapted into a best-selling book, ostensibly written by costar Carole Landis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Four Jills in a Jeep probably shouldn't be as entertaining as it is. After all, there's nothing to the story really, which is hardly anything more than a framework that allows the members of the cast a chance to do their various things. The songs are pleasing, of course, but most are pulled from hither and yon rather than being a score written especially for this particular film. And although there are some bona fide big stars among the "guests," the leads are either past their screen prime (Kay Francis) or never really top drawer screen stars (Martha Raye, et al). Yet Jills is a heap of fun, in spite of itself. The plot is nonsense, but the routines are quite engaging, whether they're Phil Silvers doing his usual Phil Silvers routine or Alice Faye doing quite right once again by "You'll Never Know" or the always enjoyable Carmen Miranda "I Yi Yi Yi"-ing her way across the screen. And even if they're not in a league with guest star Betty Grable, Francis, Raye, Carole Landis, and Mitzi Mayfair as a group generate a lot of good will. Check your critical ego at the door, and these Four Jills in a Jeep can show you a good time, Charlie. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
James Basevi - Art Director, Albert Hogsett - Art Director, Don Loper - Choreography, Yvonne Wood - Costume Designer, William Seiter - Director, Ray F. Curtiss - Editor, Charles Henderson - Musical Direction/Supervision, Emil Newman - Musical Direction/Supervision, J. Peverell Marley - Cinematographer, Irving Starr - Producer, Thomas K. Little - Set Designer, Al Orenbach - Set Designer, Fred Sersen - Special Effects, Carole Landis - Screen Story, Fred Niblo, Jr. - Screen Story, Froma Sand - Screen Story, Helen Logan - Screenwriter, Snag Werris - Screenwriter, Robert Ellis - Screenwriter
