It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

This week’s musical:
Duffey’s Tavern (1945) – Musical #787

Studio:
Paramount Pictures

Director:
Hal Walker

Starring:
Ed Gardner, Barry Fitzgerald, Victor Moore, Marjorie Reynolds, Barry Sullivan, Charles Cantor, Eddie Green, Ann Thomas, Howard Da Silva, Billy De Wolfe, Walter Abel, Frank Faylen (uncredited), Matt McHugh (uncredited), Noel Neill (uncredited),
Themselves: Bing Crosby, Betty Hutton, Paulette Goddard, Alan Ladd, Dorothy Lamour, Eddie Bracken, Brian Donlevy, Sonny Tufts, Veronica Lake, Arturo de Cordova, Cass Daley, Diana Lynn, Robert Bencley, William Demarest, Joan Caulfield, Gail Russell, Hlen Walker, Jean Heather, Maurice Rocco, Dennis Crosby, Gary Crosby, Lindsay Crosby, Phillip Crosby, Olga San Juan,

Plot:
During World War II, a record manufacturer closes down because a shortage of Shellac. While the factory is closed, the out of work employees eat for free and drown their sorrows at Duffy’s Tavern on credit, which is run by Archie (Gardner). The record company owner, Michael O’Malley (Moore), tries to find finances and a way to open the plant. Archie and O’Malley also learn that a bevvy of celebrities will be in town, they ask them to host a benefit for out of work soldiers returning from the war.

Trivia:
• Inspired by the radio sitcom “Duffy’s Tavern,” which was broadcast from 1941 to 1951. The show starred Ed Gardner as Archie, who reprised the role on film.
• The first time when Bing Crosby appeared on screen with his four sons.
• Ed Gardner’s first and only feature film performance.
• Before vinyl, records were made from Shellac.
• First feature film of Charles Cantor

Highlights:
• Cameos from the celebrity
• The “Swing on a Star” sequence
• Johnny Coy and Miriam Nelson’s performance

Notable Songs:
• “(Doin’ It) The Hard Way” performed by Betty Hutton
• “When Johnny comes Marching Home” danced by Johnny Coy and Miriam Nelson
• “Swingin’ on a Star” performed by Bing Crosby, Sonny Tufts, Arturo de Córdova, Cass Daley, Jean Heather, Helen Walker, Gail Russell, Diana Lynn, Billy De Wolfe, Betty Hutton, Howard Da Silva and Dorothy Lamour

My review:
I think I set my expectations too high with this one.

DUFFY’S TAVERN is one of a long list of films made during World War II with an all-star cast and a thin plot. It’s almost like a variety show or a film version of a bond drive. Others include THIS IS THE ARMY, TWO GIRLS AND A SAILOR or STAR SPANGELED RHYTHM. But those films I fully enjoy. Sadly, DUFFY’S TAVERN is just okay.

The film is based on a popular radio program of the same name starring Ed Gardner. In the film, Gardner reprises his role of Archie the bartender who runs Duffy’s Tavern. During World War II, a record manufacturer closes down because a shortage of Shellac. While the factory is closed, the out of work employees eat for free and drown their sorrows at Duffy’s Tavern on credit, which is run by Archie (Gardner). The record company owner, Michael O’Malley (Moore), tries to find finances and a way to open the plant. When Hollywood actors are in town for a bond drive, Archie and Michael ask Hollywood actors to help put on a show as a benefit for out of work soldiers returning from the war. The second half of the film are skits and songs from Hollywood performers, playing themselves.

Truthfully, the skit and song second half is lots of fun, and I loved seeing the cameos. I enjoyed the skit with Brian Donlevy, Sonny Tufts and Paulette Goddard, because it was so lighthearted and differed from Donlevy’s usual roles.

But the main highlight is a star-studded performance of “Swing on a Star, which riffs on being an actor. And who would think you’d see Howard Da Silva and Sonny Tufts sing a song?

There are a couple of downsides in this film. First of all, Cass Daley is not for me. She’s too much, and reminds me of a Martha Raye, Joan Davis and Judy Canova. Her song is awful.

The second is that while I know Ed Gardner was wonderful on the radio, it’s no wonder that this is his first and only film appearance.

DUFFY’S TAVERN is merely a footnote in the autobiographies of the performers who appeared in this film. Betty Hutton hits the nail on the head in her autobiography: That the successful radio show didn’t translate to film.

However, while it didn’t translate well, it’s still an interesting curio to see Ed Gardner in his only film appearance.

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