Review of Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) by Blake P — 11 May 2011

There is one particular scene in this film where Eddie Bracken's character has nightmares on being stationed in the war front. A soldier who is outside his door comforts him for his nightmare, but also critisizes him for not experiencing the war front. This soldier emphasizes how many personnelle from war come home psychologically mortified and are unable to cope with the horrors they had seen on the battleground. I found this scene a spectacular surprise within quite a raging comedy.

Preston Surges' "Hail the Conquering Hero" is one of the most underrated, finest comedies of the 1940's. It balances funniness, romance, and tenderness into one go. The film passes by very quickly, as a small town mistakes Eddie Bracken as a returning soldier, thanks to a prank from six real soldiers from a bar into another town. He had actually been discharged a year earlier for chronic hay fever, of all things. Events get way out of control as result. It is scathing, dramatic, smart, and joyous movie. It is also one of two notable great films from 1944 that uses a pretty B-cast (the other one being "Laura"), of which the main actors are not A-stars (such as Humphrey Bogart, James Stewart, Katherine Hepburn, etc.). The script is terrific. Nice Preston Sturges film!