Four Jills in a Jeep (1944)

Reenactments of actual USO experiences of its female stars entertaining troops overseas.

Director: William A. Seiter
Cast: Kay Francis, Carole Landis, Martha Raye, Mitzi Mayfair, Jimmy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra, John Harvey, Phil Silvers, Dick Haymes, Alice Faye, Betty Grable, Carmen Miranda, George Jessel, Eddie Acuff, Renee Carson, Edith Evanson, Mary Field, Betty Roadman, Kirk Alyn, Warren Ashe, Bonnie Bannon, Martin Black, Esther Brodelet, Ralph Byrd, Lucille Carroll, Harry Carter, Roger Clark, Lester Dorr, David Essex, James Flavin




Four Jills In A Jeep in based loosely on the true story of a USO unit which went overseas. Headed by Kay Francis, it also included Martha Raye, Carole Landis, and Mitzi Mayfair. In the movie version, there are romances which didn't really take place, plus all-too-frequent appearances by Phil Silvers as an Army sargeant who is their escort. This film also marked the first "official" appearance of Dick Haymes in a movie, although he actually appeared in a film earlier. As with USO type musicals of this period, there are specialty numbers by guest stars including Jimmy Dorsey and his band (in top form here), Betty Grable, Carmen Miranda, and Alice Faye, in one of her last films. She sings a heart rending version of "You'll Never Know" which make one realize what a beautiful song this really is, how much it meant to service men and women far from home, and what a jerk Englebert Humperdinck is for the way he sings it. The movie was also the last high water mark for the four leading actresses. Mitzi Mayfair never made another movie. Kay Francis made only two or three more before retiring. Carole Landis would suffer personal problems and die a few years later. Martha Raye moved on to a successful career in 1950's television, and twenty years later would entertain troops in Viet Nam in much the same way as she does here

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