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Bette Midler, James Caan, George Segal, Patrick O'Neal, Chris Rydell ... see more see more... , Brandon Call , Arye Gross , Thom Adcox , Xander Berkeley , Andrew Bilgore , Lada Boder , Gabe Bologna , David Bowe , Dori Brenner , Hayley Carr , Connie Chambers , Robert Clotworthy , Janice Cronkhite , Pattie Darcy , John Doolittle , Beau Dremann , Carey Eidel , Kimberly Ann Evans , Matthew Faison , Norman Fell , Leonard Gaines , Gary Gershaw , Bruce Gray , Michael Greene , Kirk Edward Hansen , Alan Haufrect , Sherlynn Hicks , Richard Hochberg , Arliss Howard , Melissa Hurley , Lynnmarie Inge , Jason Iorg , Esther Jacobs , Christopher Kaufman , Tamaki Kawakubo , Theresa King , Sal Landi , Andrew Lauer , Steven Majewicz , William Marquez , Karen Martin , Barry Michlin , Andy Milder , Ken Molina , D. David Morin , Richardson Morse , Rosemary Murphy , Kelly Noonan , Sheri Norwood , John O'Leary , Tita Omeze , Fred Parnes , James Patrick , Jody Peterson , Tony Pierce , Marc Poppel , Richard Portnow , Annie Prager , Jim Raposa , Jameson Rodgers , Raymond Rodriguez , John Ruskin , Amy Rydell , David Selberg , Jack Sheldon , Garrison Singer , Heidi Sorenson , Lynn Stalmaster , Susanne Sullivan , Billy Bob Thornton , Paul Thorpe , Rick Gavin Tjia , Natsuo Tomita , Jerald Vincent , Maggie Wagner , Beverly Ward , Kirby Ward , Jeffrey Weissman , Patrick Whyte , Shannon Wilcox , Maia Winters , Kristy Zlock , Stewart J. Zully , Morgan Ames , Steven Kampmann , Melissa Manchester , Walter C. Miller , Chris Wilkinson , Bud Yorkin , Joe Mays , Mark Roberts

Bette Midler stars as a Martha Raye-type entertainer during the World War II era in this big-budget nostalgia piece. Midler plays big-band singer Dixie Leonard, who is chosen to perform at an overseas... read more read more... USO Christmas show by her uncle Art Silver (George Segal), a comedy writer for famed comedian Eddie Sparks (James Caan). Dixie is shuttled to London, where she is thrown on-stage with Eddie, who takes an immediate dislike to her. But her performance is a sensation, and the audience can't stop howling at Dixie's smart one-liner comebacks to Eddie. Dixie is catapulted to stardom, and the repartee between Eddie and Dixie becomes the stuff of legend. The two spar together through World War II, the McCarthy era, and Vietnam. But Dixie stops speaking to Eddie when he fires a writer for being a communist sympathizer and, later, she doesn't speak to him again after he arranges for a reunion between her and her son on the battlefields of Vietnam. Finally, Dixie, now an old woman, is cajoled to appear on a television awards show to reunite with a now decrepit Eddie, age 91. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

67% liked it

7,339 ratings

Critics

38% liked it

13 critics

R, 2 hr.

Directed by: Mark Rydell

Release Date: November 22, 1991

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DVD Release Date: April 17, 2001

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Stats: 249 reviews

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Bette and James For the Boys For the Boys (1991) Bette Midler in For the Boys For the Boys
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Flixster Reviews (249)

  • flixsterman
    January 17, 2009
    flixsterman
    Good story but a bit of miscasting knocks this one off center and off the mark.
  • jjnxn
    March 27, 2007
    jjnxn
    bette's great, the movie not so much
  • lizlovelylittlequeen
    June 7, 2008
    lizlovelylittlequeen
    I finally saw it, and it was fantastic! Bette Midler has pipes, and her character was such a spit fire! I do not consider this a "lumpy attempt" at creating anything. Love it for what it is. The soundtrack is to die for too.
  • mikeylovesgregg
    June 1, 2008
    mikeylovesgregg
    One of the most under-rated movies in my opinion. Bette Midler did get an Oscar nomination for her role. She has never been better. Very profound and believable epic...
  • insanenutball
    October 31, 2007
    insanenutball
    Bette shouldve gotten an oscar for this movie...this is a very under viewed movie and one that we all should see once...GO BETTE!!!
  • mimmie2
    August 25, 2007
    mimmie2
    Bette Midler and James Caan star in this movie. As you might have guessed they were working with the USO and entertaining the Troops in both the Vietnam War and also in World War II. Bette is Dixie Leonard a USO singer. Mames Caan was a song and Dance man. It's a Romantic Comedy... read more that I think anyone would enjoy, especially if the like the music from the WW II era.
  • ritatruxall
    March 10, 2007
    ritatruxall
    watch this one and watch how our behavior has went to hell in a hand basket. Bette is great,maybe her best next to The Rose
  • nanoqna
    December 31, 2006
    nanoqna
    this movie is really emotional! and james caan was great in this. and bette midler did a good job singing. it was cool showing different points of view. the speech at teh party wasnt very good though.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
February 5, 2007
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Never a subtle director, Rydell goes for the obvious and sentimental. Starring Bette Midler and James Caan. his musical chronicle is not so much nostalgic as it is banal, reducing major events in Amer... Full Review

Carol Cling
December 3, 2004
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Hokey and sentimental, but Midler's divine.

Clint Morris
September 18, 2002
Clint Morris, Moviehole

A very enaging, ultimately satisfying drama with two knockout performances

Andrew Howe
June 25, 2002
Andrew Howe, eFilmCritic.com

There are moments when you might find yourself moved beyond reasonable expectation. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Joe Brown
January 1, 2000
Joe Brown, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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For the Boys Trivia

  • In the movie Sleepers what was the name of the detention center the boys were sent to?  Answer »
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  • Bette Midler plays a USO singer in which film?  Answer »
  • What 1960 movie was about 4 college girls going to Fort Lauderdale for spring break ?  Answer »
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