Hail the Conquering Hero

1944
Approved
1h 41m

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

5.3K

YOUR RATING

Eddie Bracken, William Demarest, and Ella Raines in Hail the Conquering Hero (1944)

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Watch Hail The Conquering Hero: They Want Heroes

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Screwball Comedy Comedy War

Woodrow is discharged from the military for hay fever, but fabricates receiving a heroic honorable discharge before returning home.Woodrow is discharged from the military for hay fever, but fabricates receiving a heroic honorable discharge before returning home.Woodrow is discharged from the military for hay fever, but fabricates receiving a heroic honorable discharge before returning home.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

5.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 4 wins & 3 nominations total

Trivia
As the marines are leaving the Oakridge station, a billboard behind them is advertising The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1943), another film by Preston Sturges.

Goofs
Early in the movie, in the nightclub, there's a shot of a man sitting at a table eating a sandwich. After a quick cutaway the man is smoking and the sandwich is on his plate...untouched.

Quotes
Libby: [mad at Mayor Noble for criticizing Woodrow] That ass of a father of yours! Going around talking about people he doesn't know anything about.
Forrest Noble: You're still talking about your children's grandfather.
Libby: What are you trying to do? Depress me? If I thought they'd look anything like him...
Forrest Noble: Well, I don't look anything like him.
Libby: I've noticed that. I've pinned my hopes on it.

Connections
Featured in American Masters: Preston Sturges: The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer (1990)

Soundtracks
Mademoiselle from Armentieres
(uncredited)
(Also Called "Hinky Dinky Parley Voo")
Music traditional
In the score several times

User reviews55

Review

Featured review

One of the funniest comedies ever made

Brilliant farce with more than a bitter-sweet tang about the attitudes of small town Americans towards the war and the people who served. The dialogue and pacing is first rate and Preston Sturges' stock cast are all excellent, not least Freddie Steele as the slightly dented Bugsy. His performance gives an odd edge to the film, being an awful actor and a poor comedian helps him stand out and appear as someone more real and genuine.

Sturges is Hollywood's most forgotten great director, writer and producer. Even though he shone brightly but briefly he made far superior comedies than Woody Allen's and those are pretty damn good themselves.