Buy War Bonds; or Sturges' missed opportunity
Added 11/26/2009
Preston Sturges' little film, "Sullivan's Travels" has been a favorite of mine for a very long time. Since my discover of it through the Criterion collection, I have been impressed with the comic mind of Sturges and his ability to use dark modern issues as a backdrop for something that audiences could laugh at. In "Sullivan's Travels" it was the story of a Hollywood director trying to become a hobo to learn about life. While it seems dismal, it provided quite a bit of laughs with an ending that not only solidifies Sturges' ability, but also creates brain candy for hours afterwards. Thus, it was no surprise that when "Hail the Conquering Hero" arrived to view - that same excitement for Sturges' overcame me. I was ready for laughter coupled with a sensitive discussion about an ageless topic. Alas, what was viewed, was a cute movie that felt longer than necessary, a comic film with repetitive jokes, and a satire on patriotism that merely scratched the surface to what could have been another ageless film. Instead, "Hail the Conquering Hero" felt dated, lacked the push to make it pioneering, and honestly, felt safe. This was a rushed Sturges film, despite the Oscar nomination, and like Eddie Braken's speech at the end, needed to have a stronger voice of truth. Too many missed elements coupled with repeat jokes caused "Hail the Conquering Hero" to miss it's mark and remain a "cute" movie.
The concept is an easy one. You probably have seen it a dozen times before in other films; the son of a war hero is discharged from the army for chronic hay fever, and refuses to go home to face his mother. Enter a band of surly, obvious Army-type figures who influence him into going home looking like a decorated war hero. Hilarity attempts to ensue as the town welcomes him with open arms with such grandiose statements as a parade in his honor, the burning of his mother's mortgage, and the eventual nomination for mayor. As much as Eddie Bracken tries to avoid the applause, he gets further thrust into it. This is a moment where Sturges doesn't quite live up to his comedic hype. There are moments where the scenes are very funny, but Sturges overuses the same jokes again and again that it eventually infects the rest of the film. What should have been witty jokes to move the pace, instead become so repetitive that the nearly hour and half feels like two-plus hours behind the wheel of this vehicle. Braken gives the stationary look of shock throughout, Sgt. Heppelfinger gives the same stern look, and moments of comedy are replaced with awkward settings that should have been funny, but instead failed. Scenes which are reminiscent of this failure are; Braken's arrival home - the entire set up for his grand arrival was funny at first, but as the scene pathetically continued - it just felt claustrophobic and stagnate. This could be said again for the scene where he is about to be nominated for mayor. What should have been funny wasn't - and I think it is because Sturges couldn't control the scenes. Too much in too little time provided minimal laughs.
While I claim that our characters were feeling a bit stale, I do argue that they were the strongest element in this film. There were secondary characters that Sturges gave a small string of screen time, and they stole each second. Look out for the priest who burns the mortgage, hilarious; look for the southern Mayor who owns the Chair factory; again - hilarious. I could even laugh again at the Army man who had this fascination with people's mothers. Yet, our major characters couldn't quite reach this level. While the characters were disappointing, the scene structure was obtrusive by Sturges, the actual story was relatively exciting. I loved this concept, the themes of battles not only happening on the front lines, but also at home was impressive. The constant reminders that WAR BONDS were for sale was a small jab at the Government by Sturges, and the universal mind of the soldier who also turned out to be the Braken's guardian angels was delicious. Sturges had a strong mapped film, one just wonders if he was happy with the final product. Again, there were smart elements and there were mediocre moments, all together just making a "cute" one-time viewing movie.
VIDEO: Released in the Preston Sturges box set, this was a mediocre outing for a man who can confidently create better. Our sub-characters are a great reason to watch this film, while Braken finds his stride within the first two-minutes and continues on that course throughout. The pacing and overall scene development within the town were meant to build laughter, but with me - it just built tension and claustrophobia. Not the elements needed for a Preston Sturges film.
VISUAL: The transfer seemed good, with little to no fuzzy elements or missing frames. Nothing elaborate to talk about here - it was your standard release of a smaller Sturges film.
SOUND: Matches well with the visuals. Again, the train scenes and music moments worked, when characters were outside you could hear them inside, which provided excellent depth. With a box set, it carried decent film as well as visuals.
EXTRAS: Just watching the individual disc, there was nothing except for an option for the language. The special features must have been on another disc - my loss.
Overall, Sturges again entertained, but he did not impress. This was a "cute" film that just felt too long at certain scenes and at others it felt like missed opportunity. This could have been a stronger satire on patriotism, but jokes fell flat. Sub-characters took control and created a strong town, but the ones that were leading us felt stale from the beginning. I was looking forward to this film due to my admiration towards Sturges, but "Hail the Conquering Hero" didn't live up to the hype. "Sullivan's Travels" continues to be my favorite as I continue to view more from this infamous director's cannon. I was happy to see that the screenplay was Oscar nominated, but not surprised that it didn't win. Good, not great - "cute" - not classic.
Grade: ** 1/2 out of *****
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"Opportunity has only one hair on its head - Grab it!"
Added 1/30/2006
Top-notch Preston Sturges comedy about patriotism and small-town politics. Eddie Bracken plays the son of a WW I marine hero who has joined up for WW II with high hopes for glory, only to be discharged for hay fever. Embarrassed to go home to his mother and sweetheart (Ella Rains), he meets six marines in a bar one night (led by William Demerest) and before he knows what hit him, he's on his way home a decorated war hero (thanks to the snow job concocted by Demerest). The town goes ga-ga and ends up electing him mayor. He finally straightens things out at the end, but in the meantime we are treated to some of the best Sturges exploding humor on screen. The entire Sturges stock company is on hand, and especially good are Raymond Walburn as the windbag mayor Bracken defeats, Freddie Steele as a mother-loving marine, and, of course, Demerest. Brilliant fare, this is Sturges in peak form.
IT'S A CRYING SHAME THERE'S NO DVD OF THIS YET. COME ON!!
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"What are you nuts or something!?" "Maybe."
Added 1/19/2005
Woodrow comes from a small close-knit town in California. His grandfather owned the land the town was built on and his father was a brave Marine who die for his country. So when Woodrow is kicked out of the Marines after one month for chronic hay fever he's too embarrassed to go home. He works for a year at the shipyards and mails letters home via outgoing soldiers.
One fateful evening some Marines on leave hear his tale and concoct a fake war hero story and escort him home thinking that only his poor worried mother will hear their lies. They even gather up some medals for him. But when they arrive on the train Woodrow's greeted by a cheering crowd and five marching bands all playing different songs at one time. The mayor gives Woodrow the key to the city, the town folk pay off his mother's mortgage, they nominate Woodrow for the upcoming race for mayor, a statue is being erected and they even write a song about him. Woodrow tries over and over to tell everybody the truth, but each time he does the lie only gets bigger and bigger.
Made the same year as Sturges' screwball classic THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK this movie has a number of the same actors (I lost count at 10) and is almost as funny, but for some reason it's kinda slipped through the cracks. Would make a great double feature with THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK.
Why is there not a Preston Sturges DVD box set?
D: Preston Sturges (THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK, THE LADY EVE)
Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith - Eddie Bracken (THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK, HOME ALONE 2)
Libby - Ella Raines (THE SENATOR WAS INDISCREET, BRUTE FORCE)
Sgt. Heppelfinger - William Demarest (THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK. IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD)
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Entertaining little comedy that embraces the values of
Added 4/15/2004
WWII America. I see this as probably the second movie of a double feature at the local Bijou, (who remembers those days?).
Eddie Bracken plays the little guy with a big name (Woodrow LaFayette Pershing Trusmith) & a bigger legacy, that of his father who died a Marine hero. in WWI. Of course he joins the Marines but promptly washes out with severe hayfever. Too embarassed to return home he dumps his girlfriend & pretends to be overseas. He's drinking at a bar & runs into a group of real Marines just back from Guadalcanal. Despite his protests, they accompany him back home. He is mistakenly greeted as a hero home from war. Bedlam & confusion ensue as befits the screwball comedies of the day. It all has a happy ending, (required in those days). This movies satirizes the cult of celebrity & the effects of mob mentality. Woody, his girlfriend Libby played by Ella Rainer & the townsfolks are all likeable. To add a bit of patriotic flavor you have those loveable lugs of the United States Marine Corps., with anthem & everything. They are led by their gruff but loveable Sgt. played by William Demarest. Good movie for the home front during the last "good" war & amusing still today.
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The Best of Sturges
Added 3/11/2003
I watched Sullivan's Travels and didn't understand what the big deal over Sturges was about. THIS film, however, is great! The dialogue is snappy and, most importantly, services a strong PLOT. With Travels it was the other way around.Put this movie on DVD!!
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