Which Way to the Front? (1970)

Brendan Byers III is a wealthy playboy who wants to serve his country as a soldier, but he has been classified as 4-F (Registrant not acceptable for military service). He recruits ... See full summary »

Director:

Jerry Lewis

Writers:

Gerald Gardner (screenplay), Dee Caruso (screenplay)

Stars:

Jerry Lewis, Jan Murray, John Wood

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jerry Lewis	...	Brendan Byers III / Field Marshal Erik Kesselring
Jan Murray	...	Sid Hackle
John Wood	...	Finkel
Steve Franken	...	Peter Bland
Willie Davis	...	Lincoln
Dack Rambo	...	Terry Love
Robert Middleton	...	Colonico
Kaye Ballard	...	Senora Messina
Harold J. Stone	...	General Buck
Paul Winchell	...	Schroeder
Sidney Miller	...	Hitler
Joe Besser	...	Dock Master
Gary Crosby	...	SS Guard
Danny Dayton	...	Man in Car
Kathleen Freeman	...	Bland's Mother

Storyline

Brendan Byers III is a wealthy playboy who wants to serve his country as a soldier, but he has been classified as 4-F (Registrant not acceptable for military service). He recruits volunteers among his employees for a privately-funded mission in the Italian front of the war. Byers impersonate the German general Eric Kesselring, with the plan to order German troops to retreat and give way to advancing Allied forces. Unfortunately for Byers, the impersonation comes with complication. He has to deal with the real general's Italian mistress, while the German authorities are investigating Kesselring's involvement in the July 20 plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

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Plot Keywords:

slapstick comedy | 1940s | italian campaign | italy | southern europe | 

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Taglines:

You vill see "Which Way to the Front?" ... und you vill laugh!

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Genres:

Comedy | War

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dick Miller sold the script to the studio, but claimed it was re-written (originally it was set in the Pacific and was moved to Nazi Germany). He called the experience a "sore spot," but said it was fine for a Jerry Lewis vehicle.

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Goofs

The entire movie is an anachronism. Set in WW2, people have 1970 hair styles, and clothing. A woman is seen in a mini skirt.

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Quotes

Adolf Hitler: Did you know that last year more people died from cigarette smoking than from bombings?
Brendan Byers III: What will you do about that, Führer?
Adolf Hitler: Increase the bombings!

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Connections

Spoofs The Dirty Dozen (1967)

User Reviews

WHICH WAY TO THE FRONT? (Jerry Lewis, 1970) **

I had watched this as a kid but, not being much of a Jerry Lewis fan, I had completely forgotten it (not that it's in any way memorable). The film revolves around impersonation (which seems to be in the curriculum of every comic star!) - in this case a German officer - and, while not as bad as Leonard Maltin claims (awarding it a BOMB rating), it's not exactly classic stuff either - certainly leagues behind Chaplin's THE GREAT DICTATOR (1940), even if comparably narcissistic! Ironically, the scenes prior to the appearance of the would-be wacky General offer more felicities than the rather forced humor at Nazi expense!

The film was really Lewis' last gasp during his heyday; in fact, this proved to be his last vehicle to be released for 10 years (it's painfully apparent here that his particular brand of foolishness wouldn't pass muster in the age of Mel Brooks and Woody Allen)!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 September 1970 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Which Way to the Front?

Box Office

Gross USA:

$402,134

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jerry Lewis Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1