Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys! (1958)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Leo McCarey

Writers:

Claude Binyon (screenplay) and
Leo McCarey (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

February 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

20th Century-Fox hilariously declares a national laugh holiday...as the cast of the year brings the # 1 fun best-seller howlingly alive!

Plot:

All about the citizens of Putnam's landing and their reactions to an army missile base in their back yard.

Plot Keywords:

Army | Protest | Sexual Tension | Network Executive | Hot Foot

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Paul Newman	...	Harry Bannerman
Joanne Woodward	...	Grace Oglethorpe Bannerman
Joan Collins	...	Angela Hoffa
Jack Carson	...	Capt. Hoxie
Dwayne Hickman	...	Grady Metcalf, Comfort's suitor
Tuesday Weld	...	Comfort Goodpasture
Gale Gordon	...	Brig. Gen. W.A. Thorwald
Tom Gilson	...	Corporal Opie
O.Z. Whitehead	...	Isaac Goodpasture, Comfort's Father

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate #19108) | Canada:PG (video rating) | Finland:K-8

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Goofs:

Continuity: During long shots of the mock-up of the Mayflower approaching the Fourth of July pageant by ocean, the ship is clearly far out at sea. But in close-ups, foliage from nearby land can be seen just a few feet away.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "My World and Welcome to It: Rally Round the Flag (#1.14)" (1969)

Soundtrack:

You're in the Army Now

Never underestimate Paul Newman's and Joanne Woodward's comic abilities.

"Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!" may be a movie that you never get to see. As far as I know, it's not available on video or DVD; I saw it on TV one night. But anyway, here's the story: Harry Bannerman (Paul Newman) and Grace Oglethorpe (Joanne Woodward) are a typical (or not so typical) suburban couple in an idealistic 1950's small town in Connecticut. Then, when the army announces plans to build a secretive base near the town, Harry is hired to promote it, while Grace does everything possible to oppose it. In the process of everything, the townspeople begin to see things that they've never seen before - namely, when Grace catches Harry...well, I won't spoil it for you (don't worry, it's not (particularly) dirty). The whole thing ends in one wacky climax.

Anyway, this is one of those interesting movies from the late '50s starring A-list stars, that for some reason doesn't seem to be very well remembered today. Good support comes from Tuesday Weld and Dwayne Hickman as local teenagers.