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Hail the Conquering Hero

  • 19441944
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
4.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
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
  • Director
    • Preston Sturges
  • Writer
    • Preston Sturges
  • Stars
    • Eddie Bracken
    • Ella Raines
    • Raymond Walburn
Top credits
  • Director
    • Preston Sturges
  • Writer
    • Preston Sturges
  • Stars
    • Eddie Bracken
    • Ella Raines
    • Raymond Walburn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 48User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
  • 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, William Demarest, and Ella Raines in Hail the Conquering Hero (1944)
    Eddie Bracken and William Demarest in Hail the Conquering Hero (1944)
    Eddie Bracken, William Demarest, and Ella Raines 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)
    Eddie Bracken, William Demarest, and Ella Raines in Hail the Conquering Hero (1944)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Eddie Bracken
    Eddie Bracken
    • Woodrow Truesmithas Woodrow Truesmith
    Ella Raines
    Ella Raines
    • Libbyas Libby
    Raymond Walburn
    Raymond Walburn
    • Mayor Everett J. Nobleas Mayor Everett J. Noble
    William Demarest
    William Demarest
    • Sgt. Heffelfingeras Sgt. Heffelfinger
    Franklin Pangborn
    Franklin Pangborn
    • Reception Committee Chairmanas Reception Committee Chairman
    Elizabeth Patterson
    Elizabeth Patterson
    • Aunt Marthaas Aunt Martha
    Georgia Caine
    Georgia Caine
    • Mrs. Truesmithas Mrs. Truesmith
    Al Bridge
    Al Bridge
    • Political Bossas Political Boss
    Freddie Steele
    • Bugsyas Bugsy
    Bill Edwards
    Bill Edwards
    • Forrest Nobleas Forrest Noble
    Harry Hayden
    • Doc Bissellas Doc Bissell
    Jimmy Conlin
    Jimmy Conlin
    • Judge Dennisas Judge Dennis
    Jimmie Dundee
    Jimmie Dundee
    • Cpl. Candidaas Cpl. Candida
    George Anderson
    • Bartenderas Bartender
    • (uncredited)
    William Brandt
    • One of the Guardsmenas One of the Guardsmen
    • (uncredited)
    Nora Cecil
    Nora Cecil
    • Train Ticket Clerkas Train Ticket Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    Chester Conklin
    Chester Conklin
    • Western Union Manas Western Union Man
    • (uncredited)
    James Damore
    • Pfc. Jonesas Pfc. Jones
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Preston Sturges
    • Writer
      • Preston Sturges
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Having been discharged from the Marines for a hayfever condition before ever seeing action, Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith (Eddie Bracken) delays the return to his hometown, feeling that he is a failure. While in a moment of melancholy, he meets up with a group of Marines who befriend him and encourage him to return home to his mother by fabricating a story that he was wounded in battle with honorable discharge. They make him wear a uniform complete with medals and is pushed by his new friends into accepting a Hero's welcome when he gets home where he is to be immortalized by a statue that he doesn't want, has songs written about his heroic battle stories, and ends up unwillingly running for mayor. Despite his best efforts to explain the truth, no one will listen. —J. Adam Ingle
    • national film registry
    • screwball comedy
    • liar revealed
    • mayor
    • mother
    • 22 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • MIRACLES DO HAPPEN! (original print ad - all caps)
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • War
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      As the marines are leaving the Oakridge station, a billboard behind them is advertising The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (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 reviews48

    Review
    Top 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.
    helpful•24
    5
    • xander-2
    • Feb 13, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 1944 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Heil dem siegreichen Helden
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Ranch - 2813 Cornell Road, Agoura, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

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    New to Streaming: Preston Sturges, Rose Plays Julie, Another Round, Zack Snyder’s Justice League & More
    Mar 19The Film Stage
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    Feb 26The Film Stage

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