Janie (1944 film)


Janie is a 1944 film directed by Michael Curtiz based on a 1942 Broadway play by Josephine Bentham and Herschel V. Williams Jr.

Plot

Janie is a free-spirited teenage girl living in a small town. World War II brings the establishment of an army camp nearby, which is opposed by her father, the local newspaper publisher. Janie and her bobby soxer friends have their hearts set afire by the prospect of so many young soldiers so close. She enjoys dating an Army man, which makes her younger local boyfriend jealous.

Cast

Unbilled players include Keefe Brasselle, Jimmie Dodd, Sunset Carson, Julie London, Virginia Sale, The Williams Brothers with Andy Williams.

Reception

, critic for The New York Times, panned the film, writing, "The authors of 'Janie', play and picture, have simply cut a theatrical farce with some kids. And the bluntness with which they have done so provides very little warm appeal"; and: "The performance of Joyce Reynolds in the title role is completely surface and pretentious; she had nothing with which to work".
The film was followed two years later by a sequel, Janie Gets Married.