Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysHispanic & Latino VoicesSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

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)
ComedyWar
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
  • Director
    • Preston Sturges
  • Writer
    • Preston Sturges
  • Stars
    • Eddie Bracken
    • Ella Raines
    • Raymond Walburn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 49User 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 Truesmith
    Ella Raines
    Ella Raines
    • Libby
    Raymond Walburn
    Raymond Walburn
    • Mayor Everett J. Noble
    William Demarest
    William Demarest
    • Sgt. Heffelfinger
    Franklin Pangborn
    Franklin Pangborn
    • Reception Committee Chairman
    Elizabeth Patterson
    Elizabeth Patterson
    • Aunt Martha
    Georgia Caine
    Georgia Caine
    • Mrs. Truesmith
    Al Bridge
    Al Bridge
    • Political Boss
    Freddie Steele
    • Bugsy
    Bill Edwards
    Bill Edwards
    • Forrest Noble
    Harry Hayden
    • Doc Bissell
    Jimmy Conlin
    Jimmy Conlin
    • Judge Dennis
    Jimmie Dundee
    Jimmie Dundee
    • Cpl. Candida
    George Anderson
    • Bartender
    • (uncredited)
    William Brandt
    • One of the Guardsmen
    • (uncredited)
    Nora Cecil
    Nora Cecil
    • Train Ticket Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    Chester Conklin
    Chester Conklin
    • Western Union Man
    • (uncredited)
    James Damore
    • Pfc. Jones
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Preston Sturges
    • Writer
      • Preston Sturges
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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
    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.
    helpful•26
    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

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Eddie Bracken, William Demarest, and Ella Raines in Hail the Conquering Hero (1944)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View image
    Photos
    Trending: Stars to Watch
    See the gallery
    View image
    Photos
    Double Duty: Musicians-Turned-Actors
    See the full gallery
    View image
    Photos
    We Love These Hollywood Power Couples
    See the gallery

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.