Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- nostalgic
- witty
- sentimental
- musical movie night
- classic hollywood night
What critics said
Critics found the ambitious musical war drama uneven and often sentimental, despite its performances and large-scale production.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Dixie and Eddie repeatedly prioritize entertaining audiences and soldiers while their partnership and personal lives deteriorate.
The central duo tours from North Africa to the Pacific to perform for soldiers during World War II.
Dixie and Eddie become a highly successful performance team but split after Eddie fires Art Silver over McCarthy-era politics.
The production centers on elaborate singing and dancing performances presented to troops across multiple theaters of war.
Films like For the Boys, and why
The Rose
shared wartime musical performances, romantic tension, and bittersweet show-business drama
A Star Is Born
shared backstage ambition, musical performance, and emotionally charged entertainer relationships
White Christmas
shared patriotic wartime entertainment, comedy-drama tone, and performers supporting soldiers
Yankee Doodle Dandy
shared historical musical spectacle, personal sacrifice, and romance shaped by war
Movie Details
- Director
- Mark Rydell
- Release Date
- 1991-11-22
- Runtime
- 138 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (85)
Cast
- Bette Midler
- James Caan
- George Segal
- Patrick O'Neal
- Christopher Rydell
- Arye Gross
- Norman Fell
- Rosemary Murphy
- Bud Yorkin
- Dori Brenner
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is For the Boys about?
- Two charismatic entertainers build a celebrated wartime partnership whose songs, loyalties, and betrayals echo across decades of American history.
- What is For the Boys like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of For the Boys as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is For the Boys violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in For the Boys as mild.
- What did critics think of For the Boys?
- Critics found the ambitious musical war drama uneven and often sentimental, despite its performances and large-scale production.
- Which films are like For the Boys?
- Films with a similar feel include The Rose, A Star Is Born, White Christmas, and Yankee Doodle Dandy.
- How long is For the Boys?
- For the Boys runs 138 minutes.
- Where can I watch For the Boys?
- In United States, For the Boys is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
