When the Stars Went to War:: Hollywood and World War II

This vastly entertaining book covers the WWII activities of Hollywood's best-known stars. Hoopes identifies those who received legitimate deferments, those who had strings pulled on their behalf by studio heads and those who joined the armed forces and saw action. But the bulk of the book deals with the experiences of stars who took part in war-bond drives and USO tours, and describes the acts performed by such troop-entertainers as Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper and Edward G. Robinson. Hoopes explains that the Hollywood Canteen came into being largely through the initiative of John Garfield and Bette Davis and developed into a much-appreciated club where the lowest-ranking GI could drop in for a chat with-and be served refreshments by-a ``real live movie star.'' The book is jammed with breezy quips, one-liners and polished show-biz anecdotes. Hoopes is Washington bureau chief of Modern Maturity. Photos. First serial to Modern Maturity. (Jan.)