Quatro Moças num Jipe

Except for the musical numbers, this picture was a waste of time and talent by all concerned. The humor is strictly cornball and the plot is non-existent, the acting stilted and self-conscious. The sole bright spot is Martha Raye, who shows off her particular brand of manic comedy as well as a pretty fair singing voice. The usually dependable Phil Silvers is also on hand in a thankless role which does him no credit.

Four entertainers volunteer to go overseas to entertain the troops, and are placed in artificial plot circumstances and unfunny situations. Was this really the best the studio could do? Was there no plausible storyline to put performers in while waiting for a song spot? As stated, the musical numbers are the only reason to watch this almost unwatchable movie. Special thanks go to Betty Grable and Alice Faye for their singing cameos, and to the Jimmy Dorsey band for livening up the proceedings.

Four Jills in a Jeep was inspired by a book that Carole Landis wrote about the tours she made with USO overseas at the beginning of American participation in World War II. Besides Carole, the other three performing with her on this tour were Kay Francis, Mitzi Mayfair and Martha Raye.

When 20th Century Fox did this film they appealed to the fantasy of every GI in the field as well those potentially going overseas. Not only do the stars entertain the boys over there, but they get romantically involved with a few of them. Talk about a morale booster.

Besides the four stars playing themselves, Alice Faye, Betty Grable and Carmen Miranda came on via radio broadcast from the Armed Forces Radio broadcast show Command Performance USA. All of them reprised numbers that they had sung in Fox musicals.

In addition to the female film stars Four Jills in a Jeep was the feature film debut of singer Dick Haymes. After Crosby and Sinatra, Haymes was probably the best known male singer of the Forties. He had a smooth baritone and really knew his way around a lyric. He introduced a song How Blue the Night that became a hit for him and just in time to record as the famous musicians strike against the record companies was just concluding.

Seeing Dick Haymes in an army uniform is quite ironic indeed as it was later brought out about how he had claimed Argentine citizenship in order to avoid the draft. Haymes was born in Argentina of visiting American parents. His career sank like an anchor after that one.

Phil Silvers did a version of the character he later perfected as Sergeant Bilko in the Fifties on television. Martha Raye who also made it big on television in the Fifties, complements Silvers well in the comedy department. Phil's a funny guy all right, but he should only be taken in moderation. Martha of course entertained our troops in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam with the same enthusiasm that you see here on the screen.

With Jimmy Dorsey and his band in the cast for some up to date Forties swing, what more could you get in a Forties musical. A nice film, I'm sure appreciated both at home by the Rosie the Riveteer crowd and the troops abroad.

It is a good, light-hearted story for the day. Funny and cute. Does not follow the genre of today of having to be realistic. Even at that, it is a great reference to 40's fashions and styles, and the girls are great. Martha Raye is just beginning to slap stick in the Phillis Diller style of later years, Carole Landis is just SO gorgeous, Kay Francis only lisps once (which I caught, but didn't understand until I read about it later), Mitzy Mairfair dances beautifully with such powerful legs that one wishes she would have done more movies, and it is so fun to see Phil Silvers in a row that had to be a prelude to Sgt. Bilko eventually. Overall, it was a very delightful film of an era long passed.

"Four Jills and a Jeep" is a film about four entertainers who leave the comfort of the United States and head overseas to do their part for the war effort. The stars are Kay Francis, Martha Raye, Carole Landis and Mitzi Mayfair (who was famous for her stage work).

When I watched "Four Jills and a Jeep", a assumed that this film was pure fiction. While I know some actresses DID go to the front lines during WWII, I assume Twentieth Century-Fox chose the four featured actresses purely according to who was available. However, after watching one of the special features on the DVD for this film, I watched "The Real Four Jills" and learned much about the background for the film. It turns out that the story was based on a book by Kay Francis about her and the other three women in the film and their experiences traveling together to entertain the US troops in North Africa and England! So, the story is ESSENTIALLY true. What I mean by that is that the four stars were correct but the film was made here in the States AND liberties were taken with their story. So, while the film is pretty good, it's even better knowing the background for their story. Overall, it's enjoyable and worth your time. Plus, while I usually don't like cameos, I really liked seeing and hearing Alice Faye (in a tiny scene) sing her signature song, "You'll Never Know"--a tune that always gets me. And, that jitterbug sequence....WOW!

By the way, I was just curious and read through the five stars' biographies on IMDb for Kay Francis, Carole Landis, Mitzi Mayfair, Martha Raye and Dick Haymes and found that between them, they had 24 marriages! And, while I already knew this, Landis killed herself at age 29. Yikes...such is the Hollywood life.

This film obviously was directed mainly at homesick GIs. The Hollywood stars on this fabricated USO tour are mostly among the secondary ranks. However, cameos of Fox's 3 reigning female musical-comedy divas during the war are also included. Betty Grable, Alice Faye and Carmen Miranda sing their signature love songs over the radio to complement the live entertainment. Phil Silvers as the official male escort for the 'girls' is definitely a plus. He was consistently under-appreciated by Fox as a comedian, being mainly used to liven up some of their second rate films. Martha Raye serves well as his female counterpart. Actually, she began her Hollywood career as more of a singer than a comedian, and she does a bit of both in this one. Mitzi Mayfaire, mostly a Broadway dancer, supplies nearly all the dancing for the group. She was cute, flirtaceous and vivacious: definitely a plus. Too bad she didn't get more film roles. Carol Landis mainly filled the desire for a classy-looking blonde. Her USO tours were the highlight of her short life. Although she had a variety of marriages and other romantic relationships in her short life, apparently she was unable to find any lasting romantic or professional relationship. Kay Francis essentially served as the 'girls' chaparone. Dick Haymes was boring in his usual slow forgettable romantic ballads. Otherwise, the film chronicles some of the hardships that USO stars likely encountered. It doesn't include the severe health problems that Carol Landis suffered as a result. This film is included in one of the DVD compendiums of Alice Faye films, much to the displeasure of most reviewers.