Show-Business at War is a March of Time newsreel entry released in 1943. It is devoted to showing the many ways in which the entertainment industry was participating in the war effort. First and foremost, some people in showbiz enlisted, both behind-the-scenes players as well as big-name stars like Tyrone Power and Clark Gable. Famous entertainers participated in bond drives, for example Dorothy Lamour and Carole Lombard, who died in a plane crash returning from a bond rally. Many technicians helped make training films for the armed forces and helped shoot documentaries as well. John Ford and Darryl F. Zanuck volunteered their talents in this way. Walt Disney turned over much of his studio to making instructional films.
Of course, show business also helped by doing what show business does best -- entertaining. Irving Berlin wrote a hit show called This Is the Army. He is seen here singing "Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning," a popular song Berlin wrote for a WWI-era show. The Stage Door Canteen entertained soldiers in New York City, which we get a glimpse of, along with stage great Alfred Lunt cooking. Radio stars did their bit as well, such as Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone and Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, who we see performing. The Hollywood Canteen in California was the equivalent of New York's Stage Door Canteen. Movie stars performed, danced with soldiers, and even waited on tables. Here we see servicemen dancing with Olivia de Havilland, Marlene Dietrich, and Deanna Durbin; Linda Darnell, John Garfield, and Robert Benchley serving; and a soldier who won a contest being presented with his prize by Kay Kyser and getting a kiss from Hedy Lamarr.
Many celebrities also went far across the seas and even right into combat zones to bring a little cheer to the men and women serving their country. We get glimpses of Joe E. Brown performing and Martha Raye standing in a line. One of the best parts of this newsreel is a look at Al Jolson singing a large chunk of "My Mammy." The documentary ends with another section about radio performers. An especially interesting bit is a clip of Louis Armstrong and Rochester doing a show together. Command Performance was a program broadcast especially for the troops, and they took requests, including an odd one shown here for a sigh from Carole Landis.
