Review of Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) by Bernard A — 04 Mar 2010

The more I think about it...the more impressed I am by this Preston Sturges flick - especially if you consider when this film was released. 60+ years seperates HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO and Clint Eastwood's 2006 film, FLAG OF OUR FATHERS. Sure...Sturges took the more satiric slant on the subject, but really - both films deal with hero worship. Both asks what makes a man a hero. They ask us to compare public perception versus reality. What makes HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO remarkable was that it was released six months PRIOR to the actual flag raising by the Marines on Iwo Jima!!!

...and like FLAG OF OUR FATHERS...Sturge's HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO is about marines too...well, mainly about one marine - the patriotically named Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith (Eddie Bracken). Woodrow's father was also a marine. He died heroically during the World War I Battle of Belleau Wood (he was killed the same day Woodrow was born.) As the son of a fallen hero revered by his hometown, Woodrow has really BIG shoes to fill. When WWII breaks, Woodrow enlists in the Marines and is given a huge send-off by his home town.

Except his enlistment in the marines is short lived. Woodrow is discharged after just one month of service... due to - yes, chronic hay fever! Woodrow doesn't have the heart to tell his mother (Georgia Caine). He takes a job as a civilian dockworker but writes to his mother as if he was still overseas with the marines. Woodrow even breaks up with his girlfriend, Libby (Ella Raines) by pretending he has met and fallen in love with somebody else. He would rather see Libby live happily with another man rather than a failure such as himself. (If only Woodrow knew who she would end up with...talk about irony).

One evening at a supper club, while attempting to drown his sorrow in alcohol, Woodrow overhears a group of penniless Marines led by Sgt. Julius Heffelfinger (William Demarest) attempting to trade some war mementos for food and drinks:

"We're just a little bit short of cash, see - or i'd never make you this proposition. I was gonna save it for the museum - but when you're out on a limb, ya' gotta make sacrifices...ya' follow me?".

"I'm ahead of you..." says the frustrated manager who produces a pocketful of "war mementos" gotten from other penniless soldiers. I love those kind of fast exchanges from Sturges!

The Marines are on leave, newly arrived from Guadalcanal. Feeling charitable - Woodrow buys them all a round of drinks. To Woodrow's surprise, Sgt. Heffelfinger served with his father during the battle at Belleau Wood! The marines soon find out about Woodrow's dilemma about home and offer to help. They develop a plan to get the reluctant Woodrow back home to his mom and girlfriend. As word reaches Woodrow's hometown about his imminent return - things quickly spiral - and I mean SPIRAL - out of control!!!

I really enjoy Preston Sturges' brand of screwball comedy. THE PALM BEACH STORY, THE LADY EVE and THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK are some of my favorite films. Although Sturges' script is fast and witty, I don't think it is as hilarious overall as, say THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK, which also stars Bracken and Demarest - but it certainly has it's moments. Bracken and Demarest especially play off each other well. We may be a bit more cynical an audience these days - but I think the message in HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO still relevant today in a society such as ours - starved for honest and true heroes.

8.5.