This Is the Army (1943) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A soldier's life is shaped by wartime duty, performance, sacrifice, veteran solidarity, and love facing another departure.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Soldier Takes the Stage

Jerry Jones is drafted in 1917 and encouraged to create a morale revue at Camp Upton. The all-soldier production succeeds before sudden orders send the troops toward France.

Key Events

• Jerry Is Drafted — Actor and dancer Jerry Jones is drafted into the United States Army in 1917. Characters: Jerry Jones Location: New York City
• Revue Proposal — Camp Upton superiors encourage Jerry to stage a musical revue to boost military morale. Characters: Jerry Jones Location: Camp Upton
• Soldier Rehearsals — Jerry helps develop Yip Yip Yaphank with an all-soldier cast. Characters: Jerry Jones Location: Camp Upton theater
• Revue Success — The all-soldier production becomes a rousing success. Characters: Jerry Jones Location: Camp Upton theater
• Orders For France — Orders arrive requiring the troops to leave immediately for France. Characters: Jerry Jones Location: Theater backstage
• March Through Audience — Instead of performing the finale, the troops march through the audience and into waiting trucks. Characters: Jerry Jones Location: Theater and street

War Cuts Through Song

The former performers reach the trenches, where artillery kills or wounds members of their group. Jerry survives a leg injury that ends his dancing career and forces him to seek a new purpose.

Key Events

• Departure Farewells — The departing soldiers exchange tearful last-minute goodbyes before leaving for France. Characters: Jerry Jones Location: Theater entrance
• French Artillery Barrage — A German artillery barrage kills or wounds members of the former production. Characters: Jerry Jones, Eddie Dibble Location: Trenches in France
• Jerry Is Wounded — Jerry is wounded in the leg and must later walk with a cane. Characters: Jerry Jones Location: Trenches in France
• Dancer Career Ends — The leg injury prematurely ends Jerry's career as a dancer. Characters: Jerry Jones Location: United States
• A New Purpose — Jerry resolves to find useful work and eventually establishes a theatrical agency. Characters: Jerry Jones Location: United States
• Eddie Survives — Eddie, the troop bugler, is identified as one of the surviving cast members. Characters: Eddie Dibble Location: France

Veterans Reunite

Twenty-five years later, Jerry, Eddie, and Maxie return to Camp Upton and find Sergeant McGee still training soldiers. They decide to revive military entertainment for the Army Relief Fund.

Key Events

• Veterans Return — World War I veterans revisit Camp Upton and find Sergeant McGee still training soldiers. Characters: Jerry Jones, Eddie Dibble, Maxie Twardofsky, Sergeant McGee Location: Camp Upton
• Relief Show Conceived — The veterans decide to stage This Is the Army for the Army Relief Fund. Characters: Jerry Jones, Eddie Dibble, Maxie Twardofsky, Sergeant McGee Location: Camp Upton

The Army Takes the Road

This Is the Army becomes a major touring success and reaches Washington, D.C. The announcement of its final performance reminds the soldiers that combat service awaits them again.

Key Events

• Second Revue Opens — The new military revue becomes popular and begins touring throughout the United States. Characters: Jerry Jones, Eddie Dibble, Maxie Twardofsky Location: United States theaters
• Washington Performance — The production reaches Washington, D.C., where it performs before the President. Characters: Jerry Jones, Eddie Dibble, Maxie Twardofsky Location: Washington, D.C. theater
• Final Performance Announced — The audience learns that the performance is final because the soldiers are returning to combat units. Characters: Jerry Jones, Eddie Dibble, Maxie Twardofsky Location: Washington, D.C. theater

Love Before Departure

Eileen confronts the dangers of marrying a soldier and chooses an immediate wedding. The veterans perform their final number and symbolically march toward the front.

Key Events

• Eileen Appears Backstage — Eileen, now part of the Red Cross auxiliary, appears backstage and acknowledges the risks of marrying a soldier. Characters: Eileen Dibble Location: Theater backstage
• Veterans Perform Again — The former Yip Yip Yaphank performers present a song-and-dance number, with Jerry performing despite his injured leg. Characters: Jerry Jones, Eddie Dibble, Maxie Twardofsky Location: Washington, D.C. theater stage
• Immediate Wedding Plan — During the intermission, Eileen brings a minister and arranges an immediate wedding. Characters: Eileen Dibble Location: Theater backstage
• Alley Wedding — The couple marries in the alley, with their fathers serving as witnesses. Characters: Eileen Dibble, Jerry Jones, Eddie Dibble Location: Alley behind the theater
• Simulated March Off — At the show's end, the men simulate marching to the front as their fathers did before them. Characters: Jerry Jones, Eddie Dibble, Maxie Twardofsky Location: Washington, D.C. theater stage

Story Breakdown

• Draft and Revue — Jerry's military service unexpectedly leads him from civilian performance into a soldier-created morale show.
  • Jerry Is Drafted — Jerry Jones enters the United States Army after being drafted in New York City.
  • Camp Upton Production — Military superiors encourage an all-soldier musical revue at Camp Upton.
• Success and Departure — The first production succeeds, but military orders abruptly replace entertainment with deployment.
  • Revue Triumphs — Yip Yip Yaphank becomes a rousing success.
  • March Through Theater — The troops leave through the audience instead of performing the planned finale.
• War and Injury — Combat destroys the performance group's temporary unity and permanently changes Jerry's future.
  • French Trenches — The former cast members serve in the trenches of France.
  • Jerry Loses Dancing — A leg wound forces Jerry to use a cane and ends his dancing career.
• A New Civilian Purpose — Jerry responds to loss by seeking useful work and building a new life through theater.
  • Search for Meaning — Jerry resolves to find another useful role after his injury.
  • Theatrical Agency — Jerry eventually establishes a theatrical agency.
• Veterans Reunite — Years later, the surviving veterans return to Camp Upton and reconnect with their former instructor.
  • Camp Upton Visit — Jerry, Eddie, and Maxie revisit the camp as World War I veterans.
  • Sergeant McGee Returns — They discover that Sergeant McGee is still training soldiers.
• The Relief Revue — The veterans transform memory and performance into a fundraising effort for soldiers and the Army Relief Fund.
  • Show Is Conceived — The veterans decide to create This Is the Army.
  • Nationwide Tour — The production becomes popular and tours throughout the United States.
• Final Showdown — The Washington performance combines public triumph with the personal cost of renewed military departure.
  • Final Performance — The soldiers learn that the Washington show will be their last.
  • Orders to Return — The performers are ordered back to their combat units.
• Love Before War — Eileen accepts the dangers of military marriage and chooses commitment before the soldiers leave again.
  • Backstage Confession — Eileen acknowledges the risks associated with marrying a soldier.
  • Alley Wedding — An immediate wedding takes place behind the theater during intermission.
• Echoes of Fathers — The closing performance repeats the earlier generation's departure image while honoring endurance and sacrifice.
  • Jerry Performs Again — Jerry joins the former performers despite his injured leg.
  • Symbolic March — The men simulate marching to the front as their fathers did before them.

Directed by

Michael Curtiz

Key Cast

• George Murphy — Jerry Jones
• Joan Leslie — Eileen Dibble
• George Tobias — Maxie Twardofsky
• Alan Hale — Sergeant McGee
• Charles Butterworth — Eddie Dibble