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The Girl He Left Behind

  • 19561956
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
528
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Natalie Wood and Tab Hunter in The Girl He Left Behind (1956)
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Play trailer1:55
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40 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
Privileged college student Andy Shaeffer is a mama's boy who flunks out of school and is drafted by the army where he becomes a real man, to the astonishment of everyone.Privileged college student Andy Shaeffer is a mama's boy who flunks out of school and is drafted by the army where he becomes a real man, to the astonishment of everyone.Privileged college student Andy Shaeffer is a mama's boy who flunks out of school and is drafted by the army where he becomes a real man, to the astonishment of everyone.
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
528
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • David Butler
  • Writers
    • Guy Trosper(screen play by)
    • Marion Hargrove(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Tab Hunter
    • Natalie Wood
    • Jessie Royce Landis
Top credits
  • Director
    • David Butler
  • Writers
    • Guy Trosper(screen play by)
    • Marion Hargrove(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Tab Hunter
    • Natalie Wood
    • Jessie Royce Landis
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 28User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:55
    Official Trailer

    Photos40

    Tab Hunter in The Girl He Left Behind (1956)
    Tab Hunter in The Girl He Left Behind (1956)
    Tab Hunter with Natalie Wood for "The Girl He Left Behind", 1956.
    Natalie Wood with Tab Hunter in "The Girl He Left Behind," 1956.
    Marion Hargrove, author of "the Girl He Left Behind," discusses the story with Natalie Wood.  c. 1956.
    Natalie Wood in The Girl He Left Behind (1956)
    Natalie Wood in The Girl He Left Behind (1956)
    Natalie Wood in The Girl He Left Behind (1956)
    Natalie Wood in The Girl He Left Behind (1956)
    Natalie Wood in The Girl He Left Behind (1956)
    Natalie Wood in The Girl He Left Behind (1956)
    Natalie Wood in The Girl He Left Behind (1956)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tab Hunter
    Tab Hunter
    • Andy L. Shaefferas Andy L. Shaeffer
    Natalie Wood
    Natalie Wood
    • Susan Danielsas Susan Daniels
    Jessie Royce Landis
    Jessie Royce Landis
    • Mrs. Madeline Shaefferas Mrs. Madeline Shaeffer
    Jim Backus
    Jim Backus
    • Sgt. Hannaas Sgt. Hanna
    Henry Jones
    Henry Jones
    • Hansonas Hanson
    Murray Hamilton
    Murray Hamilton
    • Sgt. Clydeas Sgt. Clyde
    Alan King
    Alan King
    • Maguireas Maguire
    James Garner
    James Garner
    • Prestonas Preston
    David Janssen
    David Janssen
    • Capt. Genaroas Capt. Genaro
    Vinton Hayworth
    Vinton Hayworth
    • Arthur Shaefferas Arthur Shaeffer
    Budd Knapp
    Budd Knapp
    • Congressman Hardisonas Congressman Hardison
    • (as Wilfred Knapp)
    Les Johnson
    Les Johnson
    • Lt. Tayloras Lt. Taylor
    Raymond Bailey
    Raymond Bailey
    • Generalas General
    Florenz Ames
    Florenz Ames
    • Mr. Hillabyas Mr. Hillaby
    Fredd Wayne
    Fredd Wayne
    • Sgt. Sheridanas Sgt. Sheridan
    Ronald Anton
    • Young Boyas Young Boy
    • (uncredited)
    Sammy Armaro
    • Taxi Driveras Taxi Driver
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Baldwin
    Bill Baldwin
    • Football Game Announceras Football Game Announcer
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • David Butler
    • Writers
      • Guy Trosper(screen play by)
      • Marion Hargrove(based on the novel by) (uncredited)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Natalie Wood had originally intended to attend the 1956 Academy Awards with Raymond Burr as her date. Warner Brothers, however, felt that Wood's perceived involvement with a much older man appeared unseemly. The studio instead forced her to attend the ceremony with her co-star for this film, Tab Hunter.
    • Goofs
      It is not an error that several of the soldiers seen in this film are wearing other unit patches on their right sleeves. They are all wearing the 5th Infantry diamond on their left sleeve. A soldiers current unit is always worn on the left sleeve. Those soldiers who are combat veterans are authorized to permanently wear the unit patch of the unit they fought with on their right shoulder. So all those patches on the right sleeves represent units those men served in during World War II or Korea.
    • Quotes

      Mrs. Madeline Shaeffer: I'm here to see my son.

      Military Policeman: Yes, ma'am. What outfit is he in?

      Mrs. Madeline Shaeffer: Outfit? I suppose just the regular thing a soldier wears.

      Military Policeman: I mean what company is he in ma'am?

      Mrs. Madeline Shaeffer: Well, only the best, I'm sure. He was never a boy to run around.

    • Crazy credits
      After the opening credits:  " To the United States Army...and its famous Fifth Infantry Division at Ford Ord, California...whose generous and effective cooperation made this motion picture possible...And to the future young soldiers of America...Greetings!"
    • Connections
      Featured in I Am Divine (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Honey-Babe
      (uncredited)

      Music by Max Steiner

      Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster

      Sung by the soldiers while marching

    User reviews28

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Uncle Sam Wants Tab Hunter
    In a typical American town, handsome healthy Tab Hunker (as Andrew "Andy" L. Sheaffer) plays college football during the day, and dates kissable Natalie Wood (as Susan Daniels) at night. For cash, Mr. Hunter charms fawning mother Jessie Royce Landis (as Madeline). Hunter remains in college to avoid the draft, which Ms. Wood tells him means he's "insolent." She is working her way through school. Wood feels Hunter has no sense of responsibility, getting through life on his charm and good looks. She loves him, but returns his pin. This separation causes Hunter to flunk out of college, and he is drafted. In US Army training at Fort Ord, California, the film's narrator says Hunter works on his muscle tone - which doesn't appear to need much refining...

    Hunter turns his head and coughs, hops on one foot, and does sit-ups. After three days of training, Sgt. Murray Hamilton (as Clyde) shouts at Hunter, "Suck that fat civilian belly in!" But, Hunter never looked fat at all. He meets fellow recruits Henry Jones (as Hanson), Alan King (as Maguire), and James Garner (as Preston); they have a good attitude about the military, but Hunter remains cocky. Sgt. Jim Backus (as Hanna) wants Hunter to grown up; he lets him know Wood stopped by to visit, but was accosted by Captain David Janssen (as Genaro). Writer Guy Trosper fashioned a decades-old formula (the arrogant youth in the military) picture for Hunter and Warner Bros. He is helped by a fun supporting cast, especially the drilling and winking Mr. Hamilton.

    ****** The Girl He Left Behind (10/26/56) David Butler ~ Tab Hunter, Natalie Wood, Murray Hamilton, Jessie Royce Landis
    helpful•3
    4
    • wes-connors
    • Jun 19, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 31, 1957 (Netherlands)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Marion Hargrove's the Girl He Left Behind
    • Filming locations
      • Fort Ord, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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