Johnny Doughboy
Cast & Crew
John H. Auer
Jane Withers
Henry Wilcoxon
Patrick Brook
William Demarest
Ruth Donnelly
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Sixteen-year-old actress Ann Winters, who has been a movie star since childhood, declares that she no longer wants to play "childish" roles. Her attitude irritates her agent, Harry Fabian, who tells her that the studio has decided that her next picture will be Ann of Honeysuckle Farm , in which she is to play a twelve-year-old. Ann leaves a note for her sympathetic secretary, "Biggy" Biggsworth, saying that she does not want a career if she cannot have a life, too, then runs away for a two-week vacation. Just then, innocent Penny Ryan from Oriole, NE arrives. Penny is the winner of a contest concocted by Harry in which the fan who most resembles Ann gets to spend two weeks with her in her home. Harry and Biggy are stunned by Penny's appearance, for she is an exact double for Ann. Harry decides to induce Penny to impersonate Ann, who is to start her new film the next day or else be suspended by the studio. Penny's first test comes shortly after her arrival, with the visit of "The 20 Minus Club," a group of former child stars who have not enjoyed Ann's continued success. Included in the group is Johnny Kelly, Ann's former co-star and boyfriend. The kids plead with Penny, whom they believe is Ann, to join their "Junior Victory Caravan" show, with which they want to entertain the troops. Harry signals to Penny that Ann could not get involved with such a project and Penny reluctantly declines. While Penny is settling into her life as Ann, the real Ann runs out of gas on a mountain road and goes to a nearby house, which is the residence of playwright Oliver Lawrence. Ann tries to hide her identity so that Oliver will not regard her as a child, and he agrees to let her spend her holiday at his home, with his housekeeper Mammy as chaperone. Ann develops a crush on the charming writer, while Penny spends more time with The 20 Minus Club. After viewing their show, Penny really believes in the kids, but must deflate their hopes by saying that she is above such amaturish endeavors. Disillusioned by Hollywood scheming, Penny decides to return home, but Biggy reveals Ann's whereabouts and suggests that Penny consult her about the show. Penny rounds up the gang, and Johnny drives them to Lawrence's home. Ann is shocked by Penny's appearance, but quickly asserts that she and Oliver are practically engaged, and that she has given up film work for the theater. Oliver overhears their conversation and realizes the seriousness of Ann's crush on him. He tells Penny not to give up hope, then sends for his daughter Jennifer. Oliver tells Ann that Jennifer is "the woman in his life," and Ann, believing that Jennifer is his girl friend, runs outside. There she meets Johnny, who thinks that her tearful mien is because she wants to do the show but cannot because of her own career pressures. Johnny tells her how "swell" he thinks she is, and Ann realizes how much he and the other kids mean to her. Soon after, Ann, Johnny and the kids stage their show, and Penny is a member of the appreciative audience.
Director
John H. Auer
Cast
Jane Withers
Henry Wilcoxon
Patrick Brook
William Demarest
Ruth Donnelly
Etta Mcdaniel
Joline Westbrook
Bobby Breen
Baby Sandy
"alfalfa" Switzer
"spanky" Mcfarland
Butch And Buddy
Cora Sue Collins
Robert Coogan
Grace Costello
The Falkner Orchestra
Karl Kiffe
Joe Conti
Beverly Hudson
Norma Varden
Lucille Lambert
Dorothy O'kelly
Cecil Weston
Arthur Q. Bryan
Jackie Brown
Harry Mckim
Frank Kent
Douglas Cooper
Norman Nesbitt
Robert Middlemass
Richard Love
Lloyd Whitlock
Herbert Evans
Crew
John Alton
John H. Auer
Sammy Cahn
Nick Castle
Al Goodhart
Wallace Grissell
Russell Kimball
Lawrence Kimble
Harry Knight
Frederick Kohner
Edward Mann
Adele Palmer
Allan Roberts
Gene Rose
Walter Scharf
Otto Siegel
Jule Styne
Kay Twomey
Film Details
Technical Specs
Award Nominations
Best Score
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to Hollywood Reporter news items, the title Johnny Doughboy was first assigned to this picture, then to one starring Ruth Terry, then was switched back. Hollywood Reporter also noted in June 1942 that John Carradine was being considered for a role, and in August 1942, that Henry Wilcoxon was going to donate his salary to U.S. Coast Guard Relief. Hollywood Reporter production charts include Marietta Canty, Dick Humphreys and Marilyn Kay in the cast, but their appearance in the completed film has not been confirmed. Production charts also list Edward Mann as the film editor, although only Wallace Grissell receives screen credit. Johnny Doughboy was the first film made by Jane Withers after ending her seven-year association with Twentieth Century-Fox in 1941. The picture also marked the last screen appearance of actor Bobby Breen. Walter Scharf was nominated for an Academy Award for Achievement in Music (Scoring of a Musical Picture), but lost to Ray Heindorf and Heinz Roemheld, who won for Yankee Doodle Dandy.
