Advance to the Rear (1964)

A Union army outfit of misfits and rejects is sent to the Western territory. Southern spies try to figure out what they're up to.

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

Samuel A. Peeples (screen play), William Bowers (screen play)

Stars:

Glenn Ford, Stella Stevens, Melvyn Douglas

Cast

Cast overview:
Glenn Ford	...	Capt. Jared Heath
Stella Stevens	...	Martha Lou Williams
Melvyn Douglas	...	Col. Claude Brackenbury
Jim Backus	...	Gen. Willoughby
Joan Blondell	...	Easy Jenny
Andrew Prine	...	Pvt. Owen Selous
Jesse Pearson	...	Cpl. Silas Geary
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Sgt. Beauregard Davis (as Alan Hale)
James Griffith	...	Hugo Zattig
Whit Bissell	...	Capt. Queeg
Michael Pate	...	Thin Elk

Storyline

A Union army outfit of misfits and rejects is sent to the Western territory. Southern spies try to figure out what they're up to.

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Plot Keywords:

spy | civil war | based on novel | slapstick comedy | united states cavalry colonel | 

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Taglines:

You've met the Rat Pack...Now meet the Mouse Pack!!!!

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Genres:

Comedy | War | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1964 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Helden ohne Hosen

Filming Locations:

Janss Conejo Ranch, Thousand Oaks, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 97 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Neither side in the Civil War had regiments with companies designated as "Q". Screw-up outfits and misfits were, however called Company Q.

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Goofs

In the scenes where the cannons fire 30 rounds, some of the cannons fire before their fuses are ignited.

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Quotes

Heath: Well, I've been out on patrol, sir. And, as a matter of fact, we brought you back some prisoners.
Col. Claude Brackenbury: Prisoners?
Heath: Yes sir.
Col. Claude Brackenbury: Who told you to go out after prisoners?
Heath: Well, nobody told me, sir.
Col. Claude Brackenbury: Well... well... Take 'em back.
Heath: Take 'em back?
Col. Claude Brackenbury: You heard me. Take 'em back.

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Soundtracks

Company Q Whistle March
Written by Randy Sparks (uncredited)
Performed by The New Christy Minstrels

User Reviews

Comedy Capers - Civil War style!

This film was shown on Turner Classic Movies and in the absence of other reviews, this review is for the film itself, only. It's also known as "Advance In Reverse".

It's not hard to fall into liking this easy-going and ramshackle comedy, which switches easily from knockabout physical humour (with 'assorted' sound effects) to silly dialogue and a general feel that the assorted misfits of this Union regiment just aren't taking their roles that seriously. The story, for what it is has the regiment being sent out of reach of action but still manage to capture a rebel spy, played by Stella Stevens and they all end up in a heap of trouble. A $2 million gold bullion gets in the mix as do some rather "friendly" Indians.

Glenn Ford is easily the most recognisable as the captain and Melvyn Douglas as the Colonel "in charge" and these two string it all together and he's not bad at comic timing or deadpan delivery. He has a romantic fling with Stevens, as all the regiment do (in their dreams!) Destry Rides Again director George Stevens' film is in widescreen and (here) an attractively dark-greened tinged black & white and which runs for 96mins.

The comedy is gentle and clever rather than broad, or crude and the targets are fairly obvious but as it's all fairly sweet it's all a nicely pleasurable watch rather than anything classic or downright hilarious - though the scene where they storm the camp, dressed in long-johns, with boards on their feet down the dry grass slopes, to the soundtrack of a WW2 fighter plane battle is actually really rather humorous!