Film

Best Foot Forward (1943)

Director: Edward Buzzell

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

A breezy but bland adaptation of the Broadway musical, with Lucille Ball as a movie star called Lucille Ball who, as a publicity stunt designed to revive a flagging career, accepts an invitation from a star-struck cadet (Dix) to attend a prom at his military academy. Much farcical ado ensues since the star's presence has to be kept secret from the authorities and the cadet's regular girlfriend (Weidler), while Ball herself is not pleased at having to garner publicity while remaining incognito. Buzzell's direction is laboured, and the merely passable musical numbers are staged by Charles Walters with surprisingly little flair. Harry James, providing the brash big band swing for the prom, manages to squeeze in his flashy rendition of 'Flight of the Bumble Bee' (not much cop there for the dancers on the floor).

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