Mr. Gardenia Jones (1942)

Just how many movies have you seen that feature Ronald Reagan in the shower? He is the eponymous “Deany” whose nickname is rather lengthily explained before we discover that he heard President Roosevelt on the wireless giving a foreboding speech and so joined up. He’s posted to a small town where, alongside 19,999 others, he has nothing to do but kick his heels until he gets himself airborne and uses the Japanese as target practice. At least this propaganda effort has seen some effort gone into it. There is a story, there is even a script and in the end an appeal for the voluntary services organisation that need $32 millions to continue to provide essential entertainment for those training at home and fighting overseas. Basic but friendlier and less overtly jingoistic than many. A documentary, though? Hmmm!