Hail the Conquering Hero (1944)

94% of critics liked it
(18 reviews)
86% of users liked it
(503 ratings)

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… More 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, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Preston Sturges
Genres: Drama, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 9, 1944 Wide
On DVD: May 10, 2011
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
The deft hand of Preston Sturges molded this film, further proof that he is one of the industry's best writer-directors.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
This riotously funny motion picture, this superlative small-town comedy, is also one of the wisest ever to burst from a big-time studio.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
A scathing delight.
Christopher Lloyd, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Hail the Conquering Hero is widely praised as one of Preston Sturges' best films, but I found it tedious and mawkish - the 1944 equivalent of a dopey sitcom.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The premier comedy writer-director of 1940s Hollywood strikes again!
Chris Barsanti, Filmcritic.com
...half a Sturges is better than no Sturges at all.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Sturges turns upside down the conventions of Hollywood's small-town film: His characters' eccentricity is meant to show the more multifarious and resourceful nature of folks who appear to be bland and ordinary.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
moves beyond slapstick as it's skillfully and energetically put together to tell much about Americana.
Tom Milne, Time Out
Wonderful satire on small-town jingoism, all the more remarkable in that it was made during World War II.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Still hilarious Sturges after all these years.
Ian Waldron-Mantgani, UK Critic
The dialogue of Preston Sturges shoots and shoots, never seems to miss, and convinces you of its genius in around about a minute.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Not one of Sturges' best, but good enough.
, Film4
Sturges takes a savage swipe at some of America's most sacred cows in a classic comedy containing some of his most sustained satire.
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
Sturges veteran Demarest is at his peak here, as is Bracken, whose desperation is hysterical.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Still worth seeing, as always, because of that amazing Sturges dialogue.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Stella D

eddie bracken plays a washed out marine who returns home to a hero's welcome thanks to some service buddies who don't want to disappoint his mother. and then things get complicated. great performances, wonderful writing, classic sturges
jay n

Frantic comedy that in lesser hands would be ridiculous but Sturges moves it along at such a lively clip that it comes across as silly and charming. An ace cast all perform marvelously but Demarest stands out as marine with a solution, no matter how farfetched, for every problem.

Cast

            Eddie Bracken as Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith

            Ella Raines as Libby

            William Demarest as Sergeant

            Bill Edwards as Forrest Noble

            Raymond Walburn as Mr. Noble

            Freddie Steele as Bugsy

            Jimmie Dundee as Corporal

            Georgia Caine as Mrs. Truesmith

            Al Bridge as Political Boss

            James Damore as Jonesy

            Stephen Gregory as Bill

            Len Hendry as Juke

            Esther Howard as Mrs. Noble

            Jimmy Conlin as Judge Dennis

            Arthur Hoyt as Reverend Upperman

            Harry Hayden as Doc Bissell

            Franklin Pangborn as Committee Chairman

            Victor Potel as Progressive Bandleader

            Torben Meyer as Mr. Schultz

            Jack Norton as Regular Bandleader

            George Melford as Sheriff

            Frank Moran as Town Painter

            Chester Conklin as Western Union Man

            Merrill Rodin as Alfie

            Marjean Neville as Mamie

            Dot Farley as Mamie's Mother

            Julie Gibson as Singer

            Miriam Franklin as Dancer

            Paul Porcasi as Cafe Owner

            George Anderson as Bartender

            Pauline Drake as Telephone Operator

            Franklin Farnum as Town Councilman

            Kenneth Gibson as Town Councilman

            Mildred Harris as Marine Colonel's Wife

            Philo McCullough as Town Councilman

            Tom McGuire as Town Councilman

            Charles R. Moore as Porter

            Elizabeth Patterson
            
            Dewey Robinson as Conductor

            Robert Warwick as Marine Colonel

            John Sinclair as American Legion Bandleader

            Maxine Fife as Colonel's Daughter
See full cast