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.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 4 wins & 3 nominations total
- Bartender
- (uncredited)
- One of the Guardsmen
- (uncredited)
- Train Ticket Clerk
- (uncredited)
- Western Union Man
- (uncredited)
- Pfc. Jones
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAs the marines are leaving the Oakridge station, a billboard behind them is advertising The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1943), another film by Preston Sturges.
- GoofsEarly 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
Libby: [mad at Mayor Noble for criticizing Woodrow] That ass of a father of yours! Going around talking about people he doesn't know anything about.
Forrest Noble: You're still talking about your children's grandfather.
Libby: What are you trying to do? Depress me? If I thought they'd look anything like him...
Forrest Noble: Well, I don't look anything like him.
Libby: I've noticed that. I've pinned my hopes on it.
- SoundtracksMademoiselle from Armentieres
(uncredited)
(Also Called "Hinky Dinky Parley Voo")
Music traditional
In the score several times
Eddie Bracken plays Woodrow Truesmith, a would-be marine who was discharged from service for chronic hay fever. Woodrow, whose father died a hero during WWI, hasn't had the heart to tell his mother about his discharge and has been pretending to still be on the front line. When he befriends a group of marines on leave, they dress him up as a hero and bring him home to make his mother happy, not anticipating that his whole town will give him a hero's welcome.
Considering that the film was made during the war, it is surprising the way it satirises the notion of the war hero as well as the attitudes of those who did not go away to fight. The awestruck townspeople are depicted as being rather gullible while the marines are shown as a tough, cohesive unit, if maybe a bit dishonest and mercenary (and in one case slightly unhinged). The film has fine production values and great performances across the board but it is Sturges' script, with its marvellous characterisations and sparkling dialogue, that really shines. If you like Preston Sturges' other, earlier comedies, this film is essential viewing.
- n_m_mcnamara
- Apr 23, 2004
- Permalink
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Details
- Runtime1 hour 41 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1