What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966)

72% of users liked it
(385 ratings)

In this service comedy set during World War II, Capt. Cash (Dick Shawn) and Lt. Christian (James Coburn) are given orders to invade a small but strategically important village in Sicily. To their surprise, none of the natives offer the slightest resistance to the Americans taking over their town,… More In this service comedy set during World War II, Capt. Cash (Dick Shawn) and Lt. Christian (James Coburn) are given orders to invade a small but strategically important village in Sicily. To their surprise, none of the natives offer the slightest resistance to the Americans taking over their town, who present only one stipulation -- the main event on the town's annual social calendar, a football match followed by a wine festival, is scheduled to happen in a few days. If the Americans would be kind enough to let them have their party, they'll hand over the town without a fight. Cash and Christian think that this plan sounds reasonable enough, and a few days later they and their men are drunkenly whooping it up with the townspeople when both German and U.S. surveillance planes spot the festivities. Thinking the wild party looks more like some sort of battle, both the Germans and Americans make plans to send in troops. Screenwriter William Peter Blatty would enjoy greater success a few years down the line with The Exorcist, a novel about a different sort of conflict. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 59 min.
Directed By: Blake Edwards
Written By: William Peter Blatty, Blake Edwards
Genres: Drama, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1966 Wide
On DVD: May 20, 2008
Studio: United Artists

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
War as fun in this service comedy by director Blake Edwards.
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Cheerfully nihilistic WWII spoof
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Tasteless shambles of a comedy.

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Cast

            James Coburn as Lt. Christian

            Dick Shawn as Capt. Lionel Cash

            Sergio Fantoni as Capt. Oppo

            Aldo Ray as Sgt. Rizzo

            Giovanna Ralli as Gina Romano

            Carroll O'Connor as Gen. Bolt

            Leon Askin as Colonel Kastorp

            Henry Rico Cattani as Benedetto

            Jay Novello as Mayer Romano

            Vito Scotti as Federico

            Johnny Seven as Vittorio

            Art Lewis as Pfc. Needleman

            William Bryant as Capt. Minow

            Robert Carricart as Cook

            Vincent Barbi
            
            Carl Ekberg as Adolf Hitler

            Phil Garris as Italian Soldier

            Kelly Johnson as American GI #4

            Kurt Kreuger as German Captain

            James Lanphier
            
            Ralph Manza as Waiter

            Sondra Farrell
            
            Tom Hunter as American GI #3

            Ken Wales as PFC Blair

            Louise DeCarlo
            
            Ken DelConte as American GI #2

            Emily LaRue
            
            Jerry Martin as Villager

            Karla Most
            
            Benito Prezia
            
            Harry Morgan as Maj. Pott

            Herb Ellis as Sgt. Lumpe
See full cast

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