For the Boys is a 1991 American musicalcomedy-drama film that traces the life of Dixie Leonard, a 1940s actress/singer who teams up with Eddie Sparks, a famous performer, to entertain American troops.
As in The Rose, Midler's first starring role and also a large budget quasi-biopic, the film is fiction. However, actress and singer Martha Raye believed that Midler's character was based on many widely known facts about her life and career with the USO and pursued legal action based on that assumption. After a protracted legal engagement, Raye ultimately lost the case. The Caan character was generally believed to be based on Bob Hope.
In the early 1990s, retired entertainer Dixie Leonard has a commitment to attend a Hollywood ceremony being televised live to honor her and her longtime show-biz partner Eddie Sparks. When a young man from the TV show comes to pick her up, Dixie balks and explains what brought Eddie and her together, as well as what drove them apart. The majority of the film is an extended flashback.
Dixie's story begins during World War II when she receives an offer to entertain the troops overseas as part of Eddie's act. Dixie is an instant hit with the boys in uniform, but Eddie wants her gone, ostensibly because he finds her kind of humor too coarse, but in actuality because she stole the show by topping his jokes. Dixie doesn't care for him much, either, but fellow entertainers and her joke-writer uncle Art persuade her to stay.
Eddie wins her over, particularly by reuniting Dixie with her soldier husband on stage. However, later in the war, Dixie's husband dies in battle.
Despite her distaste for Eddie, Dixie continues working with him back in the States...mostly to support herself and her son Danny. Eddie is married with daughters, yet he becomes a proud surrogate father to Danny.
As the Korean War breaks out, Eddie announces on stage that he and Dixie will be performing for the U.S. troops there, without having told Dixie of his plans first. In revenge, Dixie announces that Eddie made a $100,000 donation ($1,174,000 today) to the Red Cross. Reluctantly, she travels to Korea with him. On their way to the camp, they encounter a unit of soldiers that has been ambushed. Dixie cares for a wounded soldier but cannot save him: he is pronounced dead on arrival at the field hospital. Dixie and Eddie appear to spend the night together. At the Christmas dinner, a fight ensues after Art announces to everybody that Eddie has fired him for being a communist sympathizer.
In the meantime, Danny has grown up to be a soldier like his father and is deployed to Vietnam. At Art's suggestion, Dixie eventually agrees to perform there for Christmas with Eddie. On their way to the camp, the performers are warned of the camp possibly being attacked, because of which they are to be flown out immediately after their performance. Before going on stage, Dixie and Eddie meet Danny, who reveals to them the barbarity that is spreading among his comrades. The show begins with the performance of a dancer, who starts getting harassed by the soldiers, and only Eddie's intervention prevents the situation from getting out of control. Dixie comes on stage and makes some cynical remarks about the soldiers, then sings “In My Life”. While she is still on stage, the camp is attacked in a mortar barrage. Dixie and Eddie find shelter, but Danny is killed right in front of them; both mourn deeply for him.
Dixie has not forgiven Eddie for his part in all this, and they have another heated argument in the dressing room. Eddie goes out on stage alone. But, at the last minute, because he speaks of their joint loss in Vietnam, Dixie joins him on stage for one last song and dance, before appearing to accept their mutual love for one another.
The film received mixed reviews from critics, holding a 44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 16 reviews, with an average rating of 5/10.[3]John Simon of the National Review called For the Boys "mindless".[4]
Produced on a $40 million budget, For the Boys was a commercial disappointment upon its original release, returning just $23 million in box office receipts worldwide.
The soundtrack album is composed largely of popular standards from the era, although several were written after the time period in which the film takes place.
Track Listing Information based on the album's Liner Notes[8]
"P.S. I Love You" Performed by Bette Midler Music composed by Gordon Jenkins Lyrics written by Johnny Mercer Rhythm arranged by Dave Grusin Strings arranged by Arif Mardin
"The Girl Friend of the Whirling Dervish" Orchestra arranged & conducted by Marc Shaiman Music composed by Harry Warren Lyrics written by Al Dubin and Johnny Mercer Background Vocals arranged by Marc Shaiman, Morgan Ames & Lorraine Feather
"I Remember You/Dixie's Dream" Performed by Bette Midler and James Caan Arranged by Marc Shaiman "I Remember You" Music composed by Victor Schertzinger "I Remember You" Lyrics written by Johnny Mercer "Dixie's Dream" Written by Marc Shaiman
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" Performed by Bette Midler and James Caan Written by Frank Loesser Rhythm arranged by Marc Shaiman Strings arranged by Arif Mardin
"Dreamland" Performed by Bette Midler Music composed and arranged by Dave Grusin Lyrics written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman
"Vickie and Mr. Valves" Trumpet Solo performed by Jack Sheldon Orchestra arranged & conducted by Marty Paich Written by Lenny Lacroix
"Come Rain or Come Shine" Performed by Bette Midler Music composed by Harold Arlen Lyrics written by Johnny Mercer Rhythm arranged by Marc Shaiman Strings and Woodwinds arranged by Arif Mardin
"I Remember You" Performed by Bette Midler with Orchestra conducted by Arif Mardin Music composed by Victor Schertzinger Lyrics written by Johnny Mercer Background Vocals arranged by Arif Mardin
"Every Road Leads Back to You" Performed by Bette Midler Written by Diane Warren Arranged by Joe Mardin Drums: Jeff Porcaro Guitar: John Goux
Two Bette Midler singles were issued from the soundtrack, although neither performed particularly well on the U.S. singles charts. "Every Road Leads Back to You" peaked at No. 78 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 15 on the Adult Contemporary chart, while "In My Life" reached No. 20 on the Adult Contemporary chart while failing to register at all on the pop side.
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