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For the Boys

For the Boys

Drama · Music · Comedy · 1991

Talented USO entertainer Dixie Leonard and comedian Eddie Sparks deal with their relationship over the course of 5 decades from World War II to the Vietnam War era to their twilight era in the 90's.

Movie details

For the Boys

“Laughter and tears. Tragedy and triumph. They lived it all. For the boys.”

1991 Drama · Music · Comedy 2h 18m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.4 / 10

Community rating

Talented USO entertainer Dixie Leonard and comedian Eddie Sparks deal with their relationship over the course of 5 decades from World War II to the Vietnam War era to their twilight era in the 90's.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over For the Boys?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Mark Rydell

Written by

Marshall Brickman · Neal Jimenez · Lindy Laub

Bette Midler

Bette Midler

Dixie Leonard

James Caan

James Caan

Eddie Sparks

George Segal

George Segal

Art Silver

Patrick O'Neal

Patrick O'Neal

Shephard

Christopher Rydell

Christopher Rydell

Danny Leonard

Arye Gross

Arye Gross

Jeff Brooks

Norman Fell

Norman Fell

Sam Schiff

Court is in session

Put For the Boys on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.