“Caught in the Draft” was released on this day in 1941, starring Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour, with Eddie Bracken and Lynn Overman as the supporting cast.
Don Bolton (Hope) is a gun-shy actor who looks for any excuse to avoid being drafted. He falls for the colonel’s daughter, Antoinette “Tony” Fairbanks (Lamour), who sees right through him and his intentions. In classic Hope fashion, his plan to pretend to enlist in the army goes wrong, and he finds himself having to face his fears to win the girl.
Prior to its official release, “Caught in the Draft” had a special preview on May 2nd at an army base. In Dottie’s autobiography, she shares: “Paramount decided to premiere the film at Fort Ord, a large Army installation in Monterey, California. The soldiers got a full-dress view of Hollywood on parade as stars joined Bob and me for the festivities. They responded in kind by demonstrating the latest military equipment, staging boxing matches, and feting us at a gala dinner in the mess hall.”
This film holds a special place in my heart, primarily because it was my very first introduction to Dottie. During my undergraduate years, I minored in Film Studies and focused on courses that delved into the world of classic Hollywood. I took a course titled, “Hollywood and WWII” in which “Caught in the Draft” was included in the syllabus. I will never forget the moment I saw Dottie appear on screen. You can say I was instantly infatuated with her. During post-viewing discussion, my professor shared how prolific both Dottie and Bob were during the war effort. I needed to know more about her! Fast forward to today … the rest is history.
In case you haven’t seen “Caught in the Draft” or if you’re due for a rewatch (and what better day than today!), you can view it for free on YouTube. Enjoy!
