Main Cast: Danny Kaye, Dinah Shore, Dana Andrews, Constance Dowling, Louis Calhern
Release Year: 1944
Country: US
Run Time: 105 minutes
Plot
It is said that producer Sam Goldwyn had a habit of addressing his new star of the 1940s, Danny Kaye, as "Eddie", confusing Kaye with Eddie Cantor. If true, it may be because Kaye's first starring film for Goldwyn, Up in Arms, was a remake of Cantor's Whoopee--which in turn was a musical version of that old theatrical chestnut The Nervous Wreck. Kaye plays Danny Weems, a hopeless hypochondriac who finds himself drafted into the army. While a passenger on an overseas transport ship, Danny is obliged to hide his girl friend Mary Morgan (Constance Dowling), who has stowed away on board, from the authorities. The plot (what there is of it) contrives to have Danny and Mary, together with Virginia (Dinah Shore), who's in love with Danny, and Joe (Dana Andrews), who's in love with Mary, arrive simultaneously on the same South Sea island. After numerous comic and romantic complications, Danny emerges as the hero of the hour by capturing a whole bunch of Japanese soldiers. The film shows signs of post-production tampering-an offscreen narration, an abrupt ending-indicating that, as yet, Sam Goldwyn wasn't quite sure how to package Danny Kaye for the screen. Despite its erratic editing and uneven scenario, Up in Arms contains some priceless moments, including Kaye's rapid-patter songs "The Lobby Number" and "Melody in 4F", both written by Sylvia Fine (Mrs. Kaye) and Max Liebman. There are also a few cute "inside" jokes referring to the illogical nature of the plotline and such esoterica as the out-of-nowhere appearances of the Goldwyn Girls (one of whom was Kaye's future leading lady Virginia Mayo). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Fans of Danny Kaye will revel in Up in Arms, a showcase for the nervous comedian that started him on his extremely successful movie career. Kaye fanatics will find a lot to like in Arms, as there's a lot of him here. Those who are looking for a coherent story told in a compelling manner, however, will have to look elsewhere. Arms purports to be a remake of The Nervous Wreck and its earlier Eddie Cantor version, Whoopee, but it's really all about giving Kaye a chance to demonstrate his way with a rapid-fire patter song, his unique combination anxiety and ambition, his superb and precise comic timing and his ability to turn on a dime from manic comedy to doe-eyed sincerity. While some will find his persona a bit too over-the-top (though hardly in the same league in that area as the later Jerry Lewis or Jim Carrey), even detractors will have to admire his inspired and unfailing sense of timing, and his handling of "Melody in 4F" and "The Lobby Number" are hard to resist. If one can look past Kaye, there's also a very pleasing Dinah Shore, whose dramatic performance is merely adequate, but whose musical performance is beautiful. Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler provided her with two special numbers, the bluesy "Tess's Torch Song" and the lovely "Now I Know." ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
McClure Capps - Art Director, Perry Ferguson - Art Director, Stewart Chaney - Art Director, Daniel Dare - Choreography, Richard Day - Consultant/advisor, Miles White - Costume Designer, Louis Germonprez - First Assistant Director, Elliott Nugent - Director, Dan Mandell - Editor, James Newcom - Editor, Harold Arlen - Composer (Music Score), Louis Forbes - Composer (Music Score), Ray Heindorf - Composer (Music Score), Max Liebman - Composer (Music Score), Sylvia Fine - Composer (Music Score), Louis Forbes - Musical Direction/Supervision, Robert Stephanoff - Makeup, Ray Rennahan - Cinematographer, Walter Mayo - Production Manager, Samuel Goldwyn - Producer, Don Hartman - Producer, Howard Bristol - Set Designer, R.O. Binger - Special Effects, Clarence Slifer - Special Effects, Allen Boretz - Screenwriter, Don Hartman - Screenwriter, Robert Pirosh - Screenwriter, Owen Davis, Sr. - Play Author
