Which Way to the Front? (1970)

Brendan Byers III, one of the richest men in America, has been pronounced 4-F and can't serve his country in it's fight against Hitler. However, Byers is not the kind of man who takes "No" ... See full summary »

Director:

Jerry Lewis

Writers:

Gerald Gardner (screenplay), Dee Caruso (screenplay),

Stars:

Jerry Lewis, Jan Murray, John Wood

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jerry Lewis	...	Brendan Byers III
Jan Murray	...	Sid Hackle
John Wood	...	Finkel
Steve Franken	...	Peter Bland
Willie Davis	...	Lincoln
Dack Rambo	...	Terry Love
Robert Middleton	...	Colonico
Kaye Ballard	...	Mayor's Wife
Harold J. Stone	...	General Buck
Paul Winchell	...	Schroeder
Sidney Miller	...	Hitler
Joe Besser	...	Dock Master
Gary Crosby	...	SS Guard
Danny Dayton	...	Man in Car
Kathleen Freeman	...	Bland's Mother

Storyline

Brendan Byers III, one of the richest men in America, has been pronounced 4-F and can't serve his country in it's fight against Hitler. However, Byers is not the kind of man who takes "No" for an answer and so a recruits other 4-F's to fight against the Axis powers.

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Plot Keywords:

millionaire | hitler spoof | playboy | slapstick | world war two | 

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Taglines:

You vill see "Which Way to the Front?" ... und you vill laugh!

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Genres:

Comedy | War

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 September 1970 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

¿Dónde está el frente?

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jerry Lewis Films, Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joe Besser's final film.

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Quotes

Adolf Hitler: Did you know that last year more people died from cigarette smoking than from bombings?
Brendan Byers III: What will you do about that, Führer?
Adolf Hitler: Increase the bombings!

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Connections

Referenced in Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003)

User Reviews

WHICH WAY TO THE FRONT? (Jerry Lewis, 1970) **

I had watched this as a kid but, not being much of a Jerry Lewis fan, I had completely forgotten it (not that it's in any way memorable). The film revolves around impersonation (which seems to be in the curriculum of every comic star!) - in this case a German officer - and, while not as bad as Leonard Maltin claims (awarding it a BOMB rating), it's not exactly classic stuff either - certainly leagues behind Chaplin's THE GREAT DICTATOR (1940), even if comparably narcissistic! Ironically, the scenes prior to the appearance of the would-be wacky General offer more felicities than the rather forced humor at Nazi expense!

The film was really Lewis' last gasp during his heyday; in fact, this proved to be his last vehicle to be released for 10 years (it's painfully apparent here that his particular brand of foolishness wouldn't pass muster in the age of Mel Brooks and Woody Allen)!