Watch For the Boys For Free

Excellent but underrated film

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

I stumbled just two weeks ago with the soundtrack of this movie without knowing there was a movie for it. I absolutely loved the songs and the band tunes and decided to watch the movie. I think this movie looks better with the age as its obvious flaws (makeup of the old protagonists for example) probably offended moviegoers in 1991. Today the movie is doubly nostalgic as I also found charming the portrayal of the initial scene that was very 80's in style. The hate story in the backstage/perfect chemistry in the stage was perfectly performed and the music (and the now outdated jokes) are terrific. Because there is no pressure to ask the film to be perfect in every possible way now that is 2013, you'll enjoy the movie if you like the music and the 'magic' of show business in a now bygone era that is portrayed very well in the dramatic scenes of the film in my opinion.

This was a fantastic movie and the score which I have on CD is one of the best. The chemistry between Midler and Caan is electric. Bette is in her element and the songs are classic. Jimmy Caan was fabulous as Eddie. Caan can hold his own with actresses Midler in this movie and with Kathy Bates in "Misery." I wish the movie would have more airplay on cable especially given the fact that the US troops are in military op currently. Regardless of whether we should be fighting or whether we should not be, the movie has lots of heart and it's for the boys (and girls)who serve. Has anyone seen the movie on cable lately? I am quite surprised that this movie has not scored higher in the ratings. This is a movie I would pay to watch in theatres today! We could use the good wishes for our troops these days.

I cannot judge it but Bette Midler has appeared in about six movies where her performances were all excellent. These include THE ROSE, THE FIRST WIVES CLUB, RUTHLESS PEOPLE, BEACHES, and this film. It can safely be said that she is more than just a great singer and entertainer, but (when given the right material) she is one hell of an actress in comedy or drama. Although she got nominated for an Oscar for THE ROSE, and she has many fans for her performance in BEACHES, I suspect her performance in FOR THE BOYS may be her best dramatic role.She plays Dixie Leonard, a New York based singer, whose husband is in the armed forces in World War I. She lives with her son Danny in the city. Her uncle, Art Silver (George Segal), gets a notable entertainer Eddie Sparks (James Caan) to hire her for his UFO show. Dixie is a success, but from the beginning she and Sparks have one conflict or another between them. Eddie is pretty ambitious and determined to succeed, and so is Dixie, but Eddie can be more ruthless to do so - even to cutting his losses at the expense of other people. Yet Eddie can show a better side (although one that suggests opportunism again and again). During the first UFO tour he arranges Dixie to see her husband again after nearly two years. But he makes sure that the scene is photographed and filmed for propaganda and career reasons. After the death of Dixie's husband, Eddie becomes close to Dixie's son Danny. However, he teaches Danny to have contempt for school, and he puts patriotic ideas into the boy's head - leading to Danny going into the military. Danny (Christopher Rydell) is a Captain at the time of the Vietnam War. He too is killed during a war (in front of his mother, on a well televised U.F.O tour).The film actually is told in flashback by Dixie, as she is being asked to appear at a special televised ceremony where she and Eddie are being awarded medals by the U.S. Government. She is a lonely, bitter woman, and she loathes the very thought of the program. Eddie is going to get a medal too. Will she go to confront Eddie after all these years? Will Eddie finally admit how he felt about the loss of Danny.The film is quite well done, capturing the spirit of the UFO shows in wartime London (1944), wartime Korea (1952); and wartime Vietnam (1967) although one song is slightly anachronistic. It also gives us glances at the high water mark of radio programing in the late 1940s (before television began to impact upon it). Finally there is a look at the effect of the McCarthy period, as it effects Segal and Midler. The three principals give first rate performances, Middler best in the scene when her son dies, and Caan earlier, when he witnesses the death of a boy soldier in Korea (his first witnessing of such a tragedy in a war). Caan literally looks like he has suffered shell shock as a result. As for Segal, watch his "bitter Santa Claus" scene, where he gives out Christmas gifts while swallowing a tremendous amount of bile and anger.

I feel about the movie the same way I feel about all of the wars the US has been in since WWII. I think WWII was the last "good" war. No war is good, people dying is horrific, but at least our "Boys" died for a noble purpose. Every war since then has gotten increasingly more questionable in terms of why we were there and what we were trying to achieve. I think Bette Midler's attitude reflected that. She became increasingly disillusioned as she went off to entertain in each war. The loss of American (and the other countries) soldiers lives became more questionable. The benefits we got out of so many young men and women dying became less clear. The songs that were written about the wars are a really good reflection on how the war was perceived. As the mother of a marine officer I empathize with her loss. But I think they way she played the part really reflects all of the things that I've said above.