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Hail the Conquering Hero
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Synopsis
It took nerve for writer/director Preston Sturges to lampoon the whole concept of hero worship in the middle of World War II, but once more Sturges' oddball sense of taste and propriety paid off at the box office in Hail the Conquering Hero. Eddie Bracken plays the son of a World War I Marine hero who is the first in his small town to sign up for military service. When Bracken is discharged from the Marines for hay fever, he hasn't the nerve to go home and tell his mother and the rest of the townsfolk. Fortunately, he is befriended by a bunch of good-hearted Marines, led by sergeant William Demarest. Bracken's new buddies decide to help him save face by accompanying him to his home and telling one and all that Bracken has served valiantly in the Pacific. Lauded as a hero thanks to this subterfuge, the hapless Bracken finds himself being coerced into running for mayor! When he finally does confess the truth, the townspeople decide that only a real hero would own up to his lies in public. As always, Preston Sturges' richly varied supporting cast makes the most of every scene they're in, especially Raymond Walburn as a blustering politico and Franklin Pangborn as a persnickety councilman. Special mention must be made of Ella Raines as a refreshingly non-cliched heroine, and ex-boxer Freddie Steele as a morose Marine with a Mother complex. While Eddie Bracken's nerdish mannerisms can wear on the viewer, he is kept marvelously in check throughout Hail the Conquering Hero. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast

Eddie Bracken Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith
Al Bridge Political Boss
Georgia Caine Mrs. Truesmith
Chester Conklin Western Union Man
Jimmy Conlin Judge Dennis
James Damore Jonesy
William Demarest Sergeant
Jimmie Dundee Corporal
Dot Farley Mamie's Mother
Miriam Franklin Dancer
Julie Gibson Singer
Stephen Gregory Bill
Harry Hayden Doc Bissell
Len Hendry Juke
Esther Howard Mrs. Noble
Arthur Hoyt Reverend Upperman
Torben Meyer Mr. Schultz
Frank Moran Town Painter
Jack Norton Regular Bandleader
Franklin Pangborn Committee Chairman
Paul Porcasi Cafe Owner
Victor Potel Progressive Bandleader
Ella Raines Libby
Merrill Rodin Alfie
Freddie Steele Bugsy
Raymond Walburn Mr. Noble
George Melford Sheriff
Bill Edwards Forrest Noble
Marjean Neville Mamie

Production Crew

Haldane Douglas Art Director
Hans Dreier Art Director
John F. Seitz Cinematographer
Werner Richard Heymann Composer (Music Score)
Edith Head Costume Designer
Preston Sturges Director
Stuart Gilmore Editor
Wally Westmore Makeup
Sigmund Krumgold Musical Direction/Supervision
Preston Sturges Producer
Preston Sturges Screenwriter
Stephen Seymour Set Designer
Walter Oberst Sound/Sound Designer
Year: 1944
Runtime: 101
Country: USA
MPAA Rating:
Category: Feature

Genre
Comedy

Produced by
Paramount

Release
by Paramount

Awards
1944 - 10 Best Films - New York Times
1944 - Best Film - New York Film Critics Circle
1944 - Best Picture - National Board of Review