Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? (1970)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Hy Averback

Writers:

Hal Captain (writer)
Don McGuire (writer)

Release Date:

22 November 1971 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Dance | Army Base | Sergeant | Arrest | Militia

Cast

Brian Keith	...	Officer Michael M. Nace
Tony Curtis	...	Shannon Gambroni
Ernest Borgnine	...	Sheriff Harve
Ivan Dixon	...	Sgt. Jones
Suzanne Pleshette	...	Ramona
Tom Ewell	...	Joe Davis
Bradford Dillman	...	Capt. Myerson
Arthur O'Connell	...	Mr. Kruft
John Fiedler	...	Maj. Purvis
Don Ameche	...	Col. Flanders
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jean Argyle	...	Mrs. Calhoun
John James Bannon	...	1st MP
Stan Barrett	...	Green Beret Soldier
Jeanne Bates	...	Mrs. Flanders
William Bramley	...	Deputy Henry
Pamela Branch	...	Mrs. Purvis
Pamela Britton	...	Sgt. Graham
David S. Cass Sr.	...	Deputy Dave
Janet E. Clark	...	Mrs. Davis
Sam Edwards	...	Deputy Sam
Robert Emhardt	...	Lester Calhoun
Eddie Firestone	...	Deputy Goulash
Dorothy Green	...	Mrs. Kruft
Vince Howard	...	2nd MP
John Lasell	...	Dr. Hillery
Monty Margetts	...	Mrs. Dinwood
Christopher Mitchum	...	Alturi
Cliff Norton	...	Herman Hyde
Paul Sorensen	...	Deputy Randy
Lee Stanley	...	Davidson
Paula Stewart	...	1st Prostitute
Maxine Stuart	...	Zelda
Grady Sutton	...	Rev. Dinwood
Carolyn Williamson	...	2nd Prostitute
Buck Young	...	Deputy Ron

Also Known As:

War Games (USA) (TV title)

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Sweden:11 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG

Company:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Trivia:

Fourth film from distributor Cinerama in just two years to be titled with a question mark, alongside How Do I Love Thee? (1970), They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) and What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice? (1969); _Where Does It Hurt? (1972)_ would soon follow.

Quotes:

Shannon Gambroni: Machines are like broads, built to be had.

Movie Connections:

Remade as Tank (1984)

We Shall Undercome

As a 20 year Military veteran, I was attracted to the intriguing question that is the title of this movie. Deciding whether or not to watch it becomes a no-brainer when you see the list of names that make up the ensemble of the cast: Ernie Borgnine, Ivan Dixon, Don Ameche, Art O'Connell and the great John Fiedler are all solid actors and have appeared in some of the best films in the history of American cinema. (check out their collective credits if you doubt it.)

This film is an underrated one in the canon of films dealing with the U. S. Military. The script, although not perfect, is well written, with subtle and witty commentary on the military hierarchy, prevailing social attitudes, and the precarious relationship between our Vietnam-era military and the civilian community (i.e. "community relations"). No heavy military rigidness here; the flow is free and easy as in 'Catch-22' to provide a frame of reference. Or, as Stephen Sondheim wrote around the same period in "Anyone Can Whistle," the 'laugh at the Kings, or they'll make you cry' approach.

As would be expected, Brian Keith is solid, but surprisingly even Tony Curtis manages to turn in a relatively piped-down performance from his usual fare which, to quote America's best known homemaker Martha Stewart, 'is a good thing.'