John T. Ryan ONCE AGAIN WE bring you a picture to be reviewed that we should have done some time ago. In fact, we did believe that we had done this for SEVEN DAYS LEAVE (RKO Radio Oictures, 1942), but we must have confused this with another Service Comedy. (I think it was DONDI.) ANYWAY, THIS MOVIE stands out as being quite unique, difficult to classify and definitely custom tailored to a United States just entering World War II. From beginning to end all of the action takes place in NYC with a gang of newly trained, uniformed Soldiers. But it is far, far away from any Theatre of War. It would appear that it is a sort of 'Bachelors Party' for the Military.THE CAST OF this one features so many of the performers who were popular at this time. This featured group was not only made up of film actors; but who was on top of his game in Music, Theatre, Vaudeville and Radio. So, we had a healthy helping of the varying musical talents of Les Brown, Freddy Martin, Mapy Cortes, Ginny Simms and the eccentric dance team of Lynn, Royce & Vanya.FROM THE WORLD of big time Network Radio, we see Ralph Edwards & Company recreate a broadcast of TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES. The 'show' interestingly enough includes the pre-show warm-up and 'selection' of contestants.AND THOSE CONTESTANTS were the co-stars Lucielle Ball & Victor Mature. For the muscular Mr.Mature, this was a radical departure from his other roles that he would play. His 'Johnny Grea' proved that he could handle comedy, as well as his greatly varied characterizations in ONE MILLION B.C., KISS OF DEATH and SAMSON & DELILAH.OF COURSE THE co-star, Lucielle Ball was smooth in her performance; which was more of a straight role. This was long before she had become both a Redhead, as well as being 'Lucy Recardo.' THE VERY TALENTED Peter Lind Hayes made a rare film appearance as a sort of second banana to Victor Mature; giving him ample screen time to both do some great comic bits and to display his abilities as an impersonator of well known actors Ronald Coleman, Lionel Barrymore and Charles Laughton.THE PICTURE SERVED to introduce to two others, now familiar to several generations since. The first was Harold Peary, from THE GREAT GILDERSLEEVE show (a spin off from FIBBER McGEE & MOLLY). The powers that be at RKO thought that including GILDERSLEEVE would be a draw. (Well, Schultz, we can't say we disagree.) THE OTHER PERFORMER bowing in his first flick was Arnold Stang. Small, be-speckled and speaking in a near slur, he would have a long and highly visible career on Radio, TV, the Movies and in commercials. His tag-line of "Chunky! What a chunk o' chocolate!", can still be heard reverberating across the years! (in our minds) THE STYLE OF acting in use here would appear to be a throwback to an earlier era. it is very much like that used in Vaudeville, Burlesque and in the Silent Movies. The overdone expressions and held poses would seem to suggest a kinship with both Newspaper Comic Strips and the popularity of the Comic Book; which had only recently emerged as a force in publishing.AT THE CONCLUSION of this Comedy-Musical fun fest, we have the women now in uniform seeing off the soldiers on a troop transport; which was heading into a true Theatre of the War. It didn't matter either.THE FRIVOLITY WAS now over and was replaced with the grim realities of combat.

MartinHafer "Seven Days' Leave" is a piece of wartime propaganda fluff--pure and simple. Much of it consists of lots of soldiers singing and dancing and putting flowers in their hats--and it makes you wonder HOW the US managed to win the war if these guys are like the soldiers they fielded during WWII! After a whole lot of singing and dancing, the plot FINALLY is introduced. Johnny Grey (Victor Mature) will inherit a fortune. He's thrilled and plans on marrying his girlfriend. HOWEVER, he soon learns that there is a stupid codicil to the will. He MUST marry a descendant of General Allen. It seems, in a VERY contrived plot twist, that Johnny's grandfather, General Grey, fought against General Allen during the Civil War. And, the will wants a descendant of Allen to marry a descendant of Grey to heal up these old wounds. And, this woman is NOT the lady he plans on marrying but Terry Allen (Lucille Ball)--a woman who HATES the Greys.So, you've got a VERY contrived plot, lots of silly and superfluous singing and Victor Mature doing comedy. All in all, it sounds pretty bad...and it is. Even worse is when a fourth-rate guy does imitations of various celebrities. They announce each one before he begins--and you really need to be told who they are supposed to be because you really cannot tell by listening to him! A silly and forgettable film.By the way, there is a very strange character in the film. Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve (Harold Peary) is the lawyer who handles the estate, right? Well, this same character (and actor) played Gildersleeve in quite a few other films. Plus, Gildersleeve was a very popular radio character who appeared regularly on "Fibber McGee and Molly" and later had his own spin off radio show starring, who else, Peary!

bkoganbing Unless you are of that age and those are some of our most senior citizens nowadays or familiar with the culture of the times, Seven Days Leave will probably be way out of the league of some of our younger viewers.Through the magic of cable television, today's viewers are of course familiar with leading lady Lucille Ball. Her name will be what attracts viewers to this film. She's a descendant of a Confederate general and a girl with some means. And according to the screwball plot of this film, Victor Mature means to marry her and get some means because he's the last descendant of a Union general who wanted one of his offspring to marry one of the Confederate heirs and bind the nation's wounds so to speak.Mature is just a buck private, not quite like Abbott&Costello were, but still a buck private and a man with a way with the ladies. I think you can figure out where this one is going.The film and its silly plot just serve as an excuse to showcase some radio shows and big bands and other assorted acts from the World War II era. Mature is found on a real popular radio program of the day that traced missing heirs and he also appears on Truth Or Consequences with Ralph Edwards. And Harold Peary makes an appearance as the Great Gildersleeve and unless you are familiar with that popular radio comedy you probably won't understand Peary and his significance in being in Seven Days Leave.Singer Buddy Clark is in the film and when I saw his name in the credits I looked forward to hearing him. Sad his numbers probably wound up on RKO's cutting room floor. I'm sure that bothered him no end. Seven Days Leave is one terribly dated World War II era film that folks not brought up in that culture will not really enjoy.

edwardsrc "Seven Days' Leave" is a WWII-era musical comedy about a young Army soldier [Mature] who is due a large inheritance. The problem is, he must marry a certain girl [Ball] whom he does not love, in order to collect.If one is a Lucy fan, this movie is a great watch. Lucy is actually drop-dead gorgeous in this flick, more so than she had ever been in her entire career, in my opinion.Also, Harold 'The Great Gildersleeve' Peary adds to the fun, along with Marcy McGuire as the younger sister to Lucy's character.Unfortunately, this film as a whole is quite mediocre. And, Victor Mature sings twice. FFWD required.All in all, one watch of this movie is definitely worth it. The video is even worth owning if you like Lucy.