How I Won the War (1967)

An inept British WWII commander leads his troops to a series of misadventures in North Africa and Europe.

Director:

Richard Lester

Writers:

Patrick Ryan (novel), Charles Wood (screenplay)

Stars:

Michael Crawford, John Lennon, Roy Kinnear

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Crawford	...	Lt. Goodbody
John Lennon	...	Gripweed
Roy Kinnear	...	Clapper
Lee Montague	...	Transom
Jack MacGowran	...	Juniper
Michael Hordern	...	Grapple
Jack Hedley	...	Melancholy Musketeer
Karl Michael Vogler	...	Odlebog
Ronald Lacey	...	Spool
James Cossins	...	Drogue
Ewan Hooper	...	Dooley
Alexander Knox	...	American General
Robert Hardy	...	British General
Sheila Hancock	...	Mrs. Clapper's Friend
Charles Dyer	...	Happy-Trousered Man

Storyline

This film features former Beatle John Lennon and Roy Kinnear as ill-fated enlisted men in under the inept command of Lieutenant Earnest Goodbody. The story unwinds mostly in flashbacks of Lieutenant Goodbody who has lower-class beginnings and education which make him a poor officer who commands one of the worst units of the army.

---

Plot Keywords:

john lennon | british | troop | flashback | army | 

---

Taglines:

"There have been far too many unwounded prisoners taken in this war!"

---

Genres:

Comedy | War

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 October 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cómo gané la guerra

Filming Locations:

Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Petersham Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Lennon wrote "Strawberry Fields Forever" while shooting this movie in Spain.

---

Quotes

Gripweed: Mind you, I'm working class.
Grapple: Oh. I had a grandfather who was working class. Until he sold it.

---

Connections

Referenced in A Touch of Frost: Deep Waters (1996)

User Reviews

This film is funny on so many levels!

Many people hate this movie because of how absurd and hard to follow it is. Really, IMO, it isn't as hard to follow as many people say. The characters are very well developed. Michael Crawford plays the inept Lt. Goodbody and Beatle John Lennon plays a fascist thief named Gripweed. The story, however absurd it may be, is actually pretty interesting. Goodbody's troop must set up a cricket pitch in the middle of nowhere.

I think it's actually a very good movie. I bought it only because it has John Lennon but I love it now for so many more reasons.