Four Jills in a Jeep (1944)

Best movie of this year hands down!

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

This film obviously was directed mainly at homesick GIs. The Hollywood stars on this fabricated USO tour are mostly among the secondary ranks. However, cameos of Fox's 3 reigning female musical-comedy divas during the war are also included. Betty Grable, Alice Faye and Carmen Miranda sing their signature love songs over the radio to complement the live entertainment. Phil Silvers as the official male escort for the 'girls' is definitely a plus. He was consistently under-appreciated by Fox as a comedian, being mainly used to liven up some of their second rate films. Martha Raye serves well as his female counterpart. Actually, she began her Hollywood career as more of a singer than a comedian, and she does a bit of both in this one. Mitzi Mayfaire, mostly a Broadway dancer, supplies nearly all the dancing for the group. She was cute, flirtaceous and vivacious: definitely a plus. Too bad she didn't get more film roles. Carol Landis mainly filled the desire for a classy-looking blonde. Her USO tours were the highlight of her short life. Although she had a variety of marriages and other romantic relationships in her short life, apparently she was unable to find any lasting romantic or professional relationship. Kay Francis essentially served as the 'girls' chaparone. Dick Haymes was boring in his usual slow forgettable romantic ballads. Otherwise, the film chronicles some of the hardships that USO stars likely encountered. It doesn't include the severe health problems that Carol Landis suffered as a result. This film is included in one of the DVD compendiums of Alice Faye films, much to the displeasure of most reviewers.

Except for the musical numbers, this picture was a waste of time and talent by all concerned. The humor is strictly cornball and the plot is non-existent, the acting stilted and self-conscious. The sole bright spot is Martha Raye, who shows off her particular brand of manic comedy as well as a pretty fair singing voice. The usually dependable Phil Silvers is also on hand in a thankless role which does him no credit.Four entertainers volunteer to go overseas to entertain the troops, and are placed in artificial plot circumstances and unfunny situations. Was this really the best the studio could do? Was there no plausible storyline to put performers in while waiting for a song spot? As stated, the musical numbers are the only reason to watch this almost unwatchable movie. Special thanks go to Betty Grable and Alice Faye for their singing cameos, and to the Jimmy Dorsey band for livening up the proceedings.

Kay Francis, Carole Landis, Martha Raye and Mitzi Mayfair entertain troops in London and Africa with some love interests thrown in to try and make a story. Some star guests also make an appearance but they are not very good.This film is about 4 women doing their wartime turns for soldiers at different camps. There is no storyline and their acts are pretty dreadful. While I was watching the film, I had a phone call asking me what I wanted from MacDonalds. I replied that I wanted a Big Mac, a Quarter Pounder with cheese, a cheeseburger and small fries coz I had 3 bottles of wine the night before and was craving junk food. When I resumed watching the film, the girls were riding camels and even though I had no idea what was happening, I can guarantee 100% that I missed absolutely nothing. There are 2 good moments in the film - one is Carole Landis singing lit up by lighters as the lights go out because of an air raid, and the other is Mitzi Mayfair dancing - she can kick the back of her head! Overall verdict - a Big Mac is better than a Quarter Pounder with cheese.

It is a good, light-hearted story for the day. Funny and cute. Does not follow the genre of today of having to be realistic. Even at that, it is a great reference to 40's fashions and styles, and the girls are great. Martha Raye is just beginning to slap stick in the Phillis Diller style of later years, Carole Landis is just SO gorgeous, Kay Francis only lisps once (which I caught, but didn't understand until I read about it later), Mitzy Mairfair dances beautifully with such powerful legs that one wishes she would have done more movies, and it is so fun to see Phil Silvers in a row that had to be a prelude to Sgt. Bilko eventually. Overall, it was a very delightful film of an era long passed.