Back to the collection

OPEN CLASSIC CINEMA · 060

This Is the Army

Subtitles off by default

YouTube may apply your personal preferences. If needed, select your language under CC / Settings. YouTube controls playback availability, which may vary by region.

Audience rating

Loading ratings…

Synopsis

An entertainer organizes a soldiers' show during the First World War, establishing a tradition that his son is later asked to continue. A new conflict brings a new cast of servicemen to the stage, while the younger man's reluctance to marry creates a private dilemma. Irving Berlin's songs frame this musical made to support wartime morale.

Cast

Historical context

The revue preserves forms of wartime popular entertainment, including material shaped by racial stereotypes and minstrel traditions. These elements belong to the historical production and are relevant to understanding both its appeal at the time and the limitations of its representation.

Inspirations

Irving Berlin's wartime stage revue became a screen musical intended to support morale and Army Emergency Relief. Berlin himself appears, connecting the Hollywood production directly to the creator of its songs.

Sources and availability

The synopsis and editorial text were written for this collection. The references below were cross-checked to identify the film and its copy; each editorial section identifies its reference.

Work catalogued as public domain in the United States.

The reference concerns the original work. Restorations, colorization, translations and other territories may have different conditions. This site uses the player enabled by the channel.

Availability checked on September 10, 2026.

Photograph credit

Photographs cropped, resized and optimized as WebP, displayed in monochrome.

  • George MurphyU.S. Congress · Public domain
  • Joan LeslieDell Publishing, 1946, sourced from https://archive.org/details/modernscreen3233unse Possible copyright status Library of Congress has determined that this item is not in copyright Language English Call number PN1993 .M334 Digitizing sponsor Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division Book contributor Library of Congress, MBRS, Moving Image Section · Public domain
  • Ronald ReaganMichael Evans · Public domain
  • George TobiasNew York Sunday News-at right side of rotated photo-see above. · Public domain