Hail The Conquering Hero (1944) :
Brief Review -
Hail the Preston Sturges for this phoney war hero comedy that has moral and human values at its core. Hail The Conquering Hero is considered one of the best works of Sturges by many critics, but I just don't want to go into details now. For me, "Sullivan's Travels" (1941) will remain his best work, followed by "Christmas In July" (1940). Hail The Conquering Hero may end up in the top 5 for sure, though. This isn't an out-and-out comedy, so I can't say it's a great comedy, but it is a very good drama with a hint of comedy. Mr Woodrow is discharged from the military for hay fever, but six soldiers fabricate him as a recipient of a heroic honourable discharge before returning home. Things get hysterical and phenomenal for him, but deep down, he knows that a successful career cannot be built on deception. Here comes the moral and human values game, where Preston uses plausible human conflicts to make you believe in goodwill. Hail The Conquering Hero never goes out of context, and that's the biggest strength of the film. It is powered by good humour, war factors, and insane chaos. That political angle is just fabulous. I mean, a war hero becoming a small town sensation is fine, I agree, but then people gushing about him being a mayor and then a president is just too much and too funny to miss. Eddie Brackenas as a confused and innocent hero fits the bill, while Ella Raines has a decent role as his lover as well as ex-lover. Two of the most riotous actors in the cast are William Demarest and Raymond Walburn. The supporting cast is great too. Other than comics, I liked a couple of patriotic dialogues too. "Now I have two heroes. I have eight heroes." That touches in there in the chest. Overall, yet another fine piece of contemporary comedy drama by Surges that is a must watch for his fans.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Hail the Preston Sturges for this phoney war hero comedy that has moral and human values at its core. Hail The Conquering Hero is considered one of the best works of Sturges by many critics, but I just don't want to go into details now. For me, "Sullivan's Travels" (1941) will remain his best work, followed by "Christmas In July" (1940). Hail The Conquering Hero may end up in the top 5 for sure, though. This isn't an out-and-out comedy, so I can't say it's a great comedy, but it is a very good drama with a hint of comedy. Mr Woodrow is discharged from the military for hay fever, but six soldiers fabricate him as a recipient of a heroic honourable discharge before returning home. Things get hysterical and phenomenal for him, but deep down, he knows that a successful career cannot be built on deception. Here comes the moral and human values game, where Preston uses plausible human conflicts to make you believe in goodwill. Hail The Conquering Hero never goes out of context, and that's the biggest strength of the film. It is powered by good humour, war factors, and insane chaos. That political angle is just fabulous. I mean, a war hero becoming a small town sensation is fine, I agree, but then people gushing about him being a mayor and then a president is just too much and too funny to miss. Eddie Brackenas as a confused and innocent hero fits the bill, while Ella Raines has a decent role as his lover as well as ex-lover. Two of the most riotous actors in the cast are William Demarest and Raymond Walburn. The supporting cast is great too. Other than comics, I liked a couple of patriotic dialogues too. "Now I have two heroes. I have eight heroes." That touches in there in the chest. Overall, yet another fine piece of contemporary comedy drama by Surges that is a must watch for his fans.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.