Hail the Conquering Hero

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Hail the Conquering Hero

1944,

1h 41m,

Comedy

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95%

21 Reviews

Tomatometer

84%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Like his war-hero father who was killed in action during World War I, Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith leaves his small town to join the Marines during World War II. But when he's given a medical discharge after only a month, he takes a job at a San Diego shipyard and writes letters to his mother about his fictitious wartime exploits. When he returns home, he discovers that his innocent lies have spread further than he expected.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Nov 13, 2007

The deft hand of Preston Sturges molded this film, further proof that he is one of the industry's best writer-directors.

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Tom Milne

Time Out

Feb 9, 2006

Wonderful satire on small-town jingoism, all the more remarkable in that it was made during World War II.

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

May 20, 2003

5/5

This riotously funny motion picture, this superlative small-town comedy, is also one of the wisest ever to burst from a big-time studio.

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Jul 31, 2023

Not only is your cinematic education woefully incomplete, but your life has missed the boat on several hours of pure pleasure...

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Jose Maria Santos

Cine-Mundial

Sep 18, 2019

A Preston Sturgess comedy can't fail. [Full review in Spanish]

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James Agee

The Nation

Sep 14, 2012

It is a bewilderingly skillful picture, and the skill is used no more brilliantly to tell the story than to cover up the story's weaknesses and those of its author, Preston Sturges.

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Jan 26, 2019

The best comedy movie ever made!

Kylo M

Jun 1, 2017

This is my favorite Sturges film among many good ones. Somehow deeply patriotic at the same time as it can openly challenge an American culture of hero worship and the kind of "phonies" we elect to represent us. Eddie Bracken's facial expressions are precious throughout. Performances by William Demarest as the sarge, Raymond Walburn as the pompous mayor, and Ella Raines as the girlfriend are all notable. The Walburn scenes are tight and hilarious, worthy of film courses and acting classes. For all those out there with hay fever!

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Leia R

Jan 10, 2017

Honesty prevails in this outstanding classic film. You almost can't bear to watch the end, but it is ultimately touching. A memorable movie that is not to be missed. (First and only viewing - 2/17/2017)

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Preston Sturges

Director

Eddie Bracken

Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith

Ella Raines

Libby

Raymond Walburn

Mayor Everett D. Noble

William Demarest

Sgt. Heppelfinger

Bill Edwards

Forrest Noble

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Synopsis

Like his war-hero father who was killed in action during World War I, Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith leaves his small town to join the Marines during World War II. But when he's given a medical discharge after only a month, he takes a job at a San Diego shipyard and writes letters to his mother about his fictitious wartime exploits. When he returns home, he discovers that his innocent lies have spread further than he expected.

Director: Preston Sturges
Producer: Preston Sturges
Screenwriter: Preston Sturges
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 9, 1944, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.37:1)

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