Through most of the 1940s, "Duffy's Tavern" was a popular radio program. It was set in a bar and the show featured lots of famous guest stars stopping by the joint. Well, considering its success, it's not surprising that they'd make this film version as well as a 1950s television series.
It's pretty obvious that Paramount pulled out the stops to make this film, as the story called for many, many cameos from stars under contract with the studio. Bing Crosby (and his young sons), Alan Ladd, Dorothy Lamour, Veronica Lake, Betty Hutton, Paulette Goddard, Sonny Tufts, Eddie Bracken and several other stars appear in the film along side with the usual radio characters from the show.
The plot is scant and instead of getting into explaining it, suffice to say the bartender needs to raise money fast or he'll go to jail So he somehow convinces some stars in New York (all, oddly enough who are under contract with Paramount!) to put on a benefit show. Most of the acts are poor, but the singing of Betty Hutton and Cass Daley are something to hear....once! They both sing with as much subtlety as a stripper doing her act at a Baptist picnic!! Neither one so much sings as screams and somehow Daley managed to out-scream the queen of sing-screaming, Hutton! Unpleasant doesn't even begin to explain it!! Overall, a very slight film with some horrifyingly bad cameos.
It's pretty obvious that Paramount pulled out the stops to make this film, as the story called for many, many cameos from stars under contract with the studio. Bing Crosby (and his young sons), Alan Ladd, Dorothy Lamour, Veronica Lake, Betty Hutton, Paulette Goddard, Sonny Tufts, Eddie Bracken and several other stars appear in the film along side with the usual radio characters from the show.
The plot is scant and instead of getting into explaining it, suffice to say the bartender needs to raise money fast or he'll go to jail So he somehow convinces some stars in New York (all, oddly enough who are under contract with Paramount!) to put on a benefit show. Most of the acts are poor, but the singing of Betty Hutton and Cass Daley are something to hear....once! They both sing with as much subtlety as a stripper doing her act at a Baptist picnic!! Neither one so much sings as screams and somehow Daley managed to out-scream the queen of sing-screaming, Hutton! Unpleasant doesn't even begin to explain it!! Overall, a very slight film with some horrifyingly bad cameos.