Hail the Conquering Hero

19441944
PassedPassed
1h 41m

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

4.7K

YOUR RATING

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

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.

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

4.7K

YOUR RATING

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 4 wins & 3 nominations total

Photos29

Preston Sturges and 2 year old son directing "Hail The Conquering Hero" 1944 Paramount

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

Eddie Bracken, William Demarest, and Franklin Pangborn in Hail the Conquering Hero (1944)

Eddie Bracken, James Damore, William Demarest, Jimmie Dundee, Stephen Gregory, Len Hendry, and Freddie Steele in Hail the Conquering Hero (1944)

James Damore, Jimmie Dundee, Stephen Gregory, Len Hendry, and Freddie Steele in Hail the Conquering Hero (1944)

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

Eddie Bracken, James Damore, William Demarest, Jimmie Dundee, Bill Edwards, Ella Raines, and Freddie Steele in Hail the Conquering Hero (1944)

Storyline

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Trivia
As the marines are leaving the Oakridge station, a billboard behind them is advertising Haikara herättää huomiota (1944), 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
Mayor Everett D. Noble: This problem is not local, it's national. In a few years, if the war goes on - heaven forbid - you won't be able to swing a cat without knocking down a couple of heroes. Now... are we going to be governed by young men - very young men - however well-meaning or patriotic they may be - whose principal talent consists of hopping in and out of wolfholes...
Political Boss: Foxholes.
Mayor Everett D. Noble: Huh?
Political Boss: They're called foxholes.
Mayor Everett D. Noble: ...talent consists of hopping in and out of foxholes and killing hundreds of enemies with one swoop of the sword. Or... are we going to be governed by respectable civic leaders of mature age who do not seek the appointment, but accept it as a civic duty. I refer to men like... uh, well... myself.

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 reviews49

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.

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