The Gang's All Here is a 1943 Technicolor musical film produced and released by Twentieth Century Fox. Its stars included Alice Faye, James Ellison, Edward Everett Horton, Charlotte Greenwood, Eugene Pallette, Benny Goodman, and, in one of her most memorable roles, Carmen Miranda. It was directed by one of the era's most creative visual pioneers Busby Berkeley.

The film exhibits both the strengths and weaknesses of the musical films produced at Fox in the 1940s. It is visually striking, making lavish use of the period's saturated Technicolor color, extravagant sets that range from an ocean liner that morphs into a New York nightclub stage to eye-popping musical number fantasy sets --including a multi-story version of Miranda's trademark banana hat-- and costumes that showcase the era's exaggerated fashions.

The performances range from the competent -- Ellison, and, as an annoying debutante, Sheila Ryan -- to the inspired. Greenwood, in her element as a Matron With A Past, and Horton, as a befuddled plutocrat, add a welcome comic boost to the proceedings. Faye was rarely better showcased, with songs including the moving wartime ballads "No Love, No Nothin'" and "A Journey to a Star". The songstress concludes the film with the bombastic "Polka Dot Polka" (which proves the setting for some of Berkeley's most surreal choreography, including a roster of chorus girls dancing with neon hula hoops). Miranda, as a boisterous cabaret star, gleefully mangles the English language, romances any man who crosses her path, and performs both "The Lady In the Tutti-Frutti Hat" and a chorus of Goodman's "Paducah," as well as an insinuating, witty version of "You Discover You're in New York" that lampoons contemporary fads, fashions, and wartime shortages.

In the end, though, The Gang's All Here succeeds better as a collection of wild moments (Greenwood, on seeing Miranda for first time: "I'd better watch out for my bell pulls and lampshades!") and wilder visuals (Miranda amidst a sea of chorines carrying vast strawberries and bananas they arrange into Berkeley's familiar patterns) than as first-rank musical. The plot (playboy soldier falls for singer; is promised to debutante; comes to his senses) is serviceable at best and, in the end, simply stops, as if enough time had been filled, to make way for a swift resolution of the Faye-Ellison romance and the big finale.

Playboy Andy Mason, on leave from the army, romances showgirl Eadie Allen overnight to such effect that she's starry-eyed when he leaves next morning for active duty in the Pacific. Only trouble is, he gave her the assumed name of Casey. Andy's eventual return with a medal is celebrated by his rich father with a benefit show featuring Eadie's show troupe, at which she's sure to learn his true identity...and meet Vivian, his 'family-arrangement' fiancée. Mostly song and dance. Written by Rod Crawford

Frankie O'Malley and Jefferson Smith are broke and looking for work. In the help-wanted section of the newspaper they see employment offered at the Overland Transport Company, a hauling firm owned by "Pop" Wallace. Unaware that a trucking war is going on and that Wallace's trucks are being wrecked and his men killed, Frankie and Jefferson apply for work and are hired by "Chick" Daly , mechanic at the garage, and by Patsy Wallace, the daughter of "Pop" Wallace. On their first haul---Frankie is the driver and Jefferson is the helper---they have a run-in with the hi-jackers, but escape after a race between the two five-ton trucks. But they aren't as lucky on their second trip as their truck is run off the road and the hi-jackers take them prisoner. Frankie recognizes the assailants as drivers for a rival trucking firm. Meanwhile, George Lee, Chinese undercover agent for the insurance company that is covering Wallace's claims, has learned that Wallace is working with Ray Saunders, division superintendent for the insurance company. Saunders has a hold over Wallace and his forcing him to participate against his will. Frankie and Jefferson, after a knock-down battle, escape for the hi-jacker's garage in a stolen truck and return to Wallace's garage to find him slugged and unconscious. Frankie and Jefferson decide to get the evidence that will clear Wallace before the police move in. Frankie, Jefferson, "Chick" and Patsy break into the hi-jacker's stronghold, but are captured by Saunders' men. Saunders has the foursome loaded into a truck and driven out into the country-side and killed. Written by Les Adams