For the Boys 1991
Spanning five decades—from World War II through the Vietnam War and into the 1990s—USO star Dixie Leonard and comedian Eddie Sparks navigate love, ambition, and the challenges of show‑business, experiencing laughter, tears, tragedy and triumph together.
Does For the Boys have end credit scenes?
No!
For the Boys does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.
Meet the Full Cast and Actors of For the Boys
Explore the complete cast of For the Boys, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.
Billy Bob Thornton
Marine Sergeant, Korea
Bette Midler
Dixie Leonard
James Caan
Eddie Sparks
Andy Dick
Extra (uncredited)
Leonard Gaines
Lou Presti, Awards T.V. Show
George Segal
Art Silver
Norman Fell
Sam Schiff
Mark Rydell
Michael Greene
Maj. Gen. Scott
Richard Portnow
Milt, Recording Studio
Arliss Howard
Sgt. Michael Leonard (uncredited)
Xander Berkeley
Roberts, Vietnam
D. David Morin
Cameraman, Vietnam
Vince Vaughn
Cheering Soldier in Crowd (uncredited)
Michael Stern
Self (uncredited)
Arye Gross
Jeff Brooks
Patrick O'Neal
Shephard
Brian Rooney
Vietnam Soldier (uncredited)
Brandon Call
Danny Leonard (at 12), New York
Christopher Rydell
Danny Leonard
John O'Leary
T.V. Censor, New York
Matthew Faison
Sponsor #3, New York
Tony Pierce
Major at Firebase, Vietnam
Jim Raposa
Dancing Airman, England
Patrick White
Audience Airman, England
Rosemary Murphy
Luanna Trott
Bruce Gray
Sponsor #1, New York
Andrew Bilgore
Nervous Production Assistant, New York
Shannon Wilcox
Margaret Sparks
David Bowe
Photographer, Awards T.V. Show
Beau Dremann
Army Messenger, Recording Studio
John Doolittle
Capt. Donelson, Korea
Jeffrey Weissman
Stage Manager (uncredited)
Andy Milder
Dressing Room Page, New York
John Richard Petersen
Vietnam Soldier (uncredited)
Sal Landi
Marine Driver, Korea
Andrew Lauer
Corpsman on Battlefield, Korea
Maggie Wagner
Stan's Assistant, Awards T.V. Show
Melissa Manchester
Corrine
Robert Clotworthy
Navy Commander, Japan
Forest Baker
Soldier (uncredited)
William Marquez
Caretaker
Hayley Carr
Ann Sparks, New York
Thom Adcox-Hernandez
Wounded Marine, Korea
Amy Rydell
1950's T.V. Show Dancer
Fred Parnes
Jeep Driver
Lada Boder
Awards Dinner Dancer
Stewart J. Zully
T.V. Stage Manager, New York
David Selburg
Assistant Director, Awards T.V. Show
Carey Eidel
Green Room Page, New York
Steven A. Hite
Soldier (uncredited)
Deborah Stern
Showgirl, New York
Melissa Hurley
1950's T.V. Show Dancer
Dori Brenner
Loretta
Jack Sheldon
Wally Fields
Karen Martin
Victoria Lee
Pattie Darcy
Myra, Recording Studio
Jameson Rodgers
Danny Leonard (at 4), Recording Studio
Gary Gershaw
Stage Manager, England
Christopher Kaufman
Band Person, England
James Patrick
Captain, England
Christopher Wilkinson
Niles LaGuardia, New York
Kimberly Ann Evans
Kate Sparks, New York
Heidi Sorenson
Showgirl, New York
Richardson Morse
Sponsor #2, New York
Richard Hochberg
Merrill, New York
John Ruskin
Marine Who Stops Trucks, Korea
Marc Poppel
Corpsman at MASH, Korea
Tamaki Kawakubo
Violinist, Japan
Mark Roberts
Vice Admiral, Japan
Maia Winters
Janie, Vietnam
Alan Haufrect
Technical Director, Awards T.V. Show
Barry Michlin
Executive Producer, Awards T.V. Show
Sherlynn Hicks
Teleprompter Operator, Awards T.V. Show
Annie Prager
Associate Producer, Awards T.V. Show
Morgan Ames
Awards Conductor, Awards T.V. Show
Esther Jacobs
Ida Silver
Garrison M. Singer
Commander at Citadel
Janice Cronkhite
1950's T.V. Show Dancer
Connie Chambers
1950's T.V. Show Dancer
Kirk Hansen
1950's T.V. Show Dancer
Lynnmarie Inge
1950's T.V. Show Dancer
Theresa King
1950's T.V. Show Dancer
Steven Majewicz
1950's T.V. Show Dancer
Paula Nichols
1950's T.V. Show Dancer
Susanne Sullivan
1950's T.V. Show Dancer
Michael Telmont
1950's T.V. Show Dancer
Kristy Zlock
1950's T.V. Show Dancer
Paul Michael Thorpe
1950's T.V. Show Dancer
Ken Molina
Awards Dinner Dancer
Sheri Norwood
Awards Dinner Dancer
Tita Omeze
Awards Dinner Dancer
Raymond Rodriguez
Awards Dinner Dancer
Rick Gavin Tjia
Awards Dinner Dancer
Natsuo Tomita
Awards Dinner Dancer
Jerald Vincent
Awards Dinner Dancer
Kirby Ward
Awards Dinner Dancer
Beverly Ward
Awards Dinner Dancer
George Atamian
Webb (uncredited)
Michael Boston
Wounded Marine #2 (uncredited)
Ian Paul Cassidy
Cpl. England (uncredited)
Eric Clarke
Vietnam Soldier (uncredited)
Todd Felderstein
WWII Photographer (uncredited)
Russ Isles
Soldier (uncredited)
Lou Lollio
Captain (uncredited)
Kris Murphy
50's T.V. Dancer (uncredited)
Tim Neeley
Soldier (uncredited)
Frank Slaten
Sid (uncredited)
John Wareham
WWII Soldier (uncredited)
External Links and Streaming Options
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Take the Ultimate For the Boys Movie Quiz
Challenge your knowledge of For the Boys with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.
For the Boys Quiz: Test your knowledge of the film *For the Boys (1991)* with these ten questions ranging from easy to difficult.
In what decade does the opening televised ceremony honoring Dixie Leonard take place?
Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for For the Boys
Read the complete plot summary of For the Boys, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.
In the early 1990s, retired entertainer Dixie Leonard, [Bette Midler], has a commitment to attend a Hollywood ceremony televised live to honor her and her longtime show-biz partner Eddie Sparks, [James Caan]. When a young man from the TV show arrives to pick her up, Dixie explains what brought Eddie and her together, as well as what drove them apart. The majority of the film unfolds as an extended flashback.
Dixie’s story begins during World War II when she receives an offer to entertain the troops overseas as part of Eddie’s act. Dixie is an instant hit with the boys in uniform, but Eddie wants her gone, ostensibly because he finds her kind of humor too coarse, but in reality because she stole the show by topping his jokes. Dixie doesn’t care for him much, either, but fellow entertainers and her joke-writer uncle Art persuade her to stay.
Eddie wins her over, particularly by reuniting Dixie with her soldier husband on stage. However, later in the war, Dixie’s husband dies in battle.
Despite her distaste for Eddie, Dixie continues working with him back in the States, mostly to support herself and her son Danny Leonard, [Christopher Rydell], who grows up to be a soldier like his father.
As the Korean War breaks out, Eddie announces on stage that he and Dixie will be performing for the U.S. troops there, without having told Dixie of his plans first. In revenge, Dixie announces that Eddie made a $100,000 donation ($1,211,000 today) to the Red Cross. Reluctantly, she travels to Korea with him. On the way to the camp, they encounter a unit of soldiers that has been ambushed. Dixie cares for a wounded soldier but cannot save him: he is pronounced dead on arrival at the field hospital. Dixie and Eddie appear to spend the night together. At the Christmas dinner, a fight ensues after Art announces to everybody that Eddie has fired him for being a communist sympathizer.
In the meantime, Danny Leonard has grown up to be a soldier and is deployed to Vietnam. At Art’s suggestion, Dixie eventually agrees to perform there for Christmas with Eddie. On their way to the camp, the performers are warned of the camp possibly being attacked, because of which they are to be flown out immediately after their performance. Before going on stage, Dixie and Eddie meet Danny, who reveals to them the barbarity that is spreading among his comrades. The show begins with a dancer, who starts getting harassed by the soldiers, and only Eddie’s intervention prevents the situation from getting out of control. Dixie comes on stage and makes some cynical remarks about the soldiers, then sings In My Life. While she is still on stage, the camp is attacked in a mortar barrage. Dixie and Eddie find shelter, but Danny is killed right in front of them; both mourn deeply for him.
Dixie has not forgiven Eddie for his part in all this, and they have another heated argument in the dressing room. Eddie goes out on stage alone. But, at the last minute, because he speaks of their joint loss in Vietnam, Dixie joins him on stage for one last song and dance, before appearing to accept their mutual love for one another.
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Cars Featured in For the Boys
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For the Boys Themes and Keywords
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For the Boys Other Names and Titles
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