Review of Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) by Daniel D — 03 Jan 2013

One of my favorite Preston Sturges comedies. Eddie Bracken (who modern audiences might recognize as Roy Walley from "Vacation") is discharged from the Marines during WWII and is reluctant to return home when he meets up with a group of Marine who reluctantly convince him to fabricate a story about him being a war hero.

Events steamroll into him getting a hero's welcome and being conscripted into running for mayor. It's a funny story that I've always felt could easily be updated for today. Bracken is great as he tries to find a way out of his lie.

William Demarest has his best roles as a crusty Marine sergeant. And if you think about the message of the film, it's actually a pretty subversive satire to come our during the middle of a war, when it calls into question mindless hero-worship and blind patriotism during wartime.

Regardless of your politics though, it's a terrific comedy and a classic screwball comedy with Sturges' unique voice.