What are the main themes of This Is the Army?

The summary picks out 4 themes: Duty, Family, Art in War and Trauma & Resilience.

Who directed This Is the Army?

This Is the Army (1943) was directed by Michael Curtiz and runs 2 hours 1 minute.

This Is the Army Plot Summary & Timeline

Q: Who are the main characters in This Is the Army?

The story follows Jerry Jones (George Murphy) (played by George Murphy), Ethel Jones (played by Rosemary DeCamp), Johnny Jones (Ronald Reagan) (played by Ronald Reagan) and Eileen Dibble (played by Joan Leslie); the character guide covers 7 characters in all.

No spoilers

What Is This Is the Army About?

The premise of This Is the Army in 298 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.

Amidst the backdrop of World War I, the line between footlights and the front lines blurs for Jerry Jones, a talented song-and-dance man who finds himself drafted into the US Army. Rather than letting his artistic spirit fade in the drab environment of military life, he channels his energy into staging “Yip Yip Yaphank,” an ambitious all-soldier revue. The production becomes a sensation, offering a brief, glittering respite from the looming reality of combat overseas. However, the call of duty is inescapable, and the transition from stage to trench proves jarring for Jerry and his fellow performers.

The harsh reality of war in France exacts a heavy toll, leaving Jerry with a lasting injury that ends his career as a dancer and forces him to find a new path as a producer. His resilience sets the stage for the next generation, as the world eventually plunges into yet another global conflict a quarter of a century later. With the outbreak of World War II, Jerry’s son, Johnny Jones, follows in his father’s footsteps by enlisting shortly after Pearl Harbor, carrying the weight of a legacy that intertwines show business with military service.

Johnny reluctantly accepts an assignment to stage a new musical production, “This Is the Army,” intended to boost morale and support the war effort. Yet, his commitment to duty spills over into his personal life, creating friction with his sweetheart, Eileen Dibble. Driven by a fear of potential tragedy, Johnny resolves not to marry until the conflict ends, a stance that tests the patience and hearts of those closest to him. As the production prepares to tour, the narrative weaves together the glitz of Broadway with the solemnity of service, exploring how the cast navigates the tension between entertainment and the ever-present threat of the front.

Full plot

What Happens in This Is the Army?

The complete story of This Is the Army, from the first scene to the last, in 308 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 5 cast member pages.

Spoilers ahead

In World War I, song-and-dance man Jerry Jones, Ronald Reagan, is drafted into the US Army, where he stages a revue called Yip Yip Yaphank. It is a rousing success, but one night during the show orders are received to leave immediately for France: instead of the finale, the troops march up the aisles through the audience, out the theater’s main entrance and into a convoy of waiting trucks. Among the teary, last-minute goodbyes Jones kisses his newlywed bride Ethel, Rosemary DeCamp.

In the trenches of France, several of the soldiers in the production are killed or wounded by shrapnel from a German artillery barrage. Jones is wounded in the leg and must walk with a cane, ending his career as a dancer. Nevertheless, he is resolved to find something useful to do, especially now that he is the father of a son. Sgt. McGee, Alan Hale, and Pvt. Eddie Dibble, Charles Butterworth, the troop bugler, also survive.

Twenty-five years later World War II is raging in Europe. Jerry’s son Johnny Jones, Ronald Reagan, enlists in the Army shortly after Pearl Harbor. He tells his sweetheart Eileen Dibble, Joan Leslie, that they cannot marry until he returns, since he doesn’t want to make her a widow.

Johnny reluctantly accepts an order to stage another musical, following in his father’s footsteps. The show goes on tour throughout the United States and eventually plays Washington, D.C., in front of President Roosevelt. During the show it is announced that this is the last performance: the soldiers in the production have been ordered back to their combat units.

Eileen, who has joined the Red Cross auxiliary, appears backstage. During a break in the show she brings a minister and persuades Johnny that they should marry now – which they do, in the alley behind the theater, with their fathers acting as witnesses.

Timeline

This Is the Army Timeline: Every Key Event in Order

11 key events in the order they happen, from “Jerry Jones is drafted and stars in a WWI revue” to “The wedding in the alley”. 11 events name a place, across 9 locations.

1

Jerry Jones is drafted and stars in a WWI revue

Song-and-dance man Jerry Jones is drafted into the U.S. Army and puts on the lavish revue Yip Yip Yaphank. The show is a rousing success with music and comedy that boosts troop morale. When orders come for immediate deployment to France, the finale is cut and the company must leave mid-performance, while Jones shares a tearful goodbye with his new wife Ethel.

When:World War I Where:Army theater
2

Orders to march to France and a dramatic exit

In a rush to depart, the troops march up the theater aisles through the audience and out into waiting trucks. The abrupt exit comes just as the finale is curtailed, and Jerry must leave behind the life he knew for front-line service. Tears are shed as he says goodbye to his newlywed bride, Ethel.

When:World War I Where:Theater
3

The trenches and Jerry's injury

In the French trenches, several cast members are killed or wounded by German shellfire. Jerry is wounded in the leg, and he must walk with a cane from then on. His dancing career ends, but he resolves to find something useful to do for his family and future son.

When:World War I Where:French trenches
4

Survival of fellow soldiers

Sgt. McGee and Pvt. Eddie Dibble, the troop bugler, survive the fighting alongside Jerry and the others. The barrage leaves many casualties, but these two manage to endure and return home with their comrades.

When:World War I Where:France
5

Jerry becomes a father

Even though the war is over for now, Jerry is a father to a son, changing his outlook and giving him a new purpose beyond dancing. He contemplates how to provide for his family once he returns home.

When:World War I Where:France
6

Twenty-five years later: Pearl Harbor and enlistment

A quarter-century passes before another great conflict engulfs Europe and the world. Jerry's son Johnny Jones enlists in the Army shortly after Pearl Harbor. He tells his sweetheart Eileen he cannot marry until he returns, to avoid leaving her a widow.

When:World War II Where:United States
7

Johnny stages a new musical during WWII

Johnny, following in his father's footsteps, accepts the assignment to stage another musical. The show tours the United States, building morale as it travels from town to town and into major cities.

When:World War II Where:United States
8

Washington, D.C. performance before FDR

The musical reaches Washington, D.C., where Johnny's troupe performs in front of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The presence of the President marks a proud moment for the soldiers and the nation.

When:World War II Where:Washington, D.C.
9

Last performance announced; orders to return

During the show, it is announced that this will be the last performance. The troops in the production have been ordered back to their combat units, ending the tour abruptly and reminding everyone of the ongoing war.

When:World War II Where:Theater, Washington, D.C.
10

Eileen backstage with the minister

Eileen, now with the Red Cross auxiliary, appears backstage during a break and brings a minister. She persuades Johnny that they should marry now, rather than waiting for his return.

When:World War II Where:Backstage alley behind the theater
11

The wedding in the alley

Johnny and Eileen wed in the alley behind the theater, with their fathers acting as witnesses. The ceremony is a spontaneous celebration amid the war’s pressures, sealing their commitment to each other.

When:World War II Where:Alley behind the theater

Characters

Who Are the Main Characters in This Is the Army?

7 characters, among them Jerry Jones (George Murphy), Ethel Jones and Johnny Jones (Ronald Reagan): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.

JJ
Jerry Jones (George Murphy)

Played by George Murphy

A celebrated song-and-dance man who leads the World War I revue and later becomes a guiding figure for troops and family. After being wounded in the trenches, he walks with a cane and shifts from performer to mentor, channeling his talent into morale-building.
- 🎭 Performer
- 🛡️ Soldier
- ❤️ Wounded
Ethel Jones

Played by Rosemary DeCamp

Jerry's wife, a stabilizing presence on the home front who shares his wartime years. She endures the separation and supports her husband as he adapts to life after injury.
- 💑 Wife
- 🏡 Family
Johnny Jones (Ronald Reagan)

Played by Ronald Reagan

Jerry and Ethel's son, who follows in his father's footsteps by enlisting and taking part in a WWII-era show. He embodies duty and romance, torn between marriage and his service.
- 🎖️ Son
- 💖 Lover
ED
Eileen Dibble

Played by Joan Leslie

Johnny's sweetheart who joins the Red Cross auxiliary. She represents hope and the personal stakes of wartime love and separation, ultimately marrying Johnny.
- 💖 Lover
- 🩺 Red Cross Volunteer
ED
Eddie Dibble

Played by Charles Butterworth

The troop bugler who survives the war. He personifies the everyday soldier who keeps morale alive through music during the fighting.
- 🎺 Musician
- 🛡️ Soldier
Rose Dibble

Played by Una Merkel

Eileen's mother and Eddie's wife, representing the home-front generation facing wartime anxiety while supporting the troop.
- 👪 Family
- 🏠 Home front
SM
Sgt. McGee

Played by Alan Hale

A steady sergeant who helps steer the troupe through danger and maintains morale. He survives the campaigns and remains a trusted leader.
- 🗡️ Leadership
- 🛡️ Soldier

Setting

Where and When Is This Is the Army Set?

This Is the Army is set in France and United States (World War I era and World War II era). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.

When

World War I era and World War II era

The story begins in the 1910s, when Jerry Jones leads a World War I revue and faces the brutal realities of trench warfare. Twenty-five years later, during World War II, his son Johnny enlists after Pearl Harbor and carries on the family performing tradition. The timeline spans two global conflicts, showing how war touches both generations and the home front.

Where

France, United States

The film shifts between the trenches of France during World War I and locations on the American home front. It follows a theatrical troupe turned soldiers as they stage morale-boosting revues for troops. The action also traces a Washington, D.C. performance in front of President Roosevelt, highlighting the home-front dimension of the war.

🎭 Theatre
🗺️ War zones

Themes

What Are the Themes of This Is the Army?

4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Duty, Family and Art in War.

01

Duty

Duty to country and to fellow soldiers drives the characters to stage morale-boosting performances. Jerry sacrifices his dancing career after being wounded, choosing to contribute in a way that helps others endure the war. The soldiers’ camaraderie and discipline sustain the troupe through hardship.
02

Family

The narrative centers on intergenerational bonds—father and son, husband and wife—whose lives are shaped by warfare. Johnny's desire to marry Eileen is tempered by the realities of war, and the later marriage is celebrated with the fathers as witnesses. The legacy of the Jones and Dibble families becomes a thread through both wars.
03

Art in War

The musical revue becomes a lifeline for troops and a symbol of resilience. Performances bridge personal longing and national purpose, with staging on tour and even a Washington, D.C. venue. The show’s pivot from finale to convoy departure underscores art's pragmatic role in war.
04

Trauma & Resilience

The war leaves scars—injuries, losses, and the challenge of rebuilding after combat. Jerry's leg wound and his use of a cane symbolize the cost of service, while his resolve to contribute anew demonstrates resilience. The film shows how trauma can be transformed into purpose and continuity for the next generation.

Tone & mood

What Kind of Film Is This Is the Army?

Neutral in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.

Tone: Neutral
Pacing: Steady
Story: Straightforward
Intensity: Medium
Ending: Mixed

A wartime musical that follows a father-son duo staging military productions across two generations, blending patriotic entertainment with personal sacrifices and bittersweet romance.