For the Boys – Tage des Ruhms, Tage der Liebe (1991)

For the Boys – Tage des Ruhms, Tage der Liebe: Directed by Mark Rydell. With Bette Midler, James Caan, George Segal, Patrick O’Neal. U.S. entertainer Eddie Sparks wants to bring some fun to the soldiers during World War II and contacts singer/dancer Dixie Leonard for help. They become the perfect team and tour from North Africa to the Pacific to perform for “the boys.” They continue their work after the war, but when Eddie fires author Silver for getting involved in McCarthy’s campaign, Dixie also turns away from him.

“Every so often a film comes along that is misunderstood by critics and ignored by the public, but is subsequently rediscovered and reappraised. I sincerely hope that u0026quot;For the Boysu0026quot; will join those ranks. It is an uncommonly sincere, insightful and touching film, and the only things to be held against it amount to quibbles. True, the old age make up is dreadful, and the last five minutes seriously weaken the impact of the film, but the sum total is moving and perceptive.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBette Midler, giving the performance of her career to date, was robbed of the Oscar in my opinion. It is a brave and sincere effort on her part, and such a pity that it was not met with greater recognition. James Caan plays the shallow, slightly dim Eddie Sparks almost too well. There are times when he truly frightened me. The performances on the whole are restrained; when the occasion for histrionics comes, both stars rise to it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThoroughly recommended. I sincerely hope this film finds its audience one day.”