HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO

This comedy is the last of five terrific films written and directed by Preston Sturges that were released between 1941 and 1944, in a remarkable burst of creativity.

We start off in a bar where our protagonist Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith is feeling very sorry for himself.  His lifelong ambition has always been to emulate his dad and join the Marines, but when he enlisted a year ago he was quickly discharged on medical grounds (chronic hay fever, since you ask).

Woodrow was so ashamed of his failure (as he saw it) that instead of going home he’s spent the last year working in a shipyard, pretending to his mother that he was on active service, and ditching his fiancée on the pretence that he has met someone new.

Who should then come into the bar but six actual Marines, who are sympathetic to Woodrow's story, especially Sarge (played by the wonderful Sturges regular William Demarest) who knew Woodrow's dad before he died in battle.

Before he knows what has hit him the Marines are accompanying Woodrow on the train home and physically manhandle him into wearing a uniform complete with medals.  Woodrow to his credit is very much against this deception but Sarge has no problem with making his mum happy, and besides Woodrow will only need to wear the uniform for a few hours before returning to civilian life, right?

Er, no, very much wrong.  They get their first inkling of just how wrong when the train pulls in at Woodrow's home station where there is a massive hero’s reception waiting there on the platform for which it seems the whole town has turned out.

Those present include Woodrow's ex-fiancée, Libby, who is now engaged to Forrest, the son of the town's mayor, Mr Noble (ironic name alert).  Forrest is very dull and it’s obvious that Libby still carries a torch for Woodrow.

Once the ordeal of the reception is over Woodrow hopes to slip quietly into civilian life but there's no chance of that.  First the town have a whip-round to pay off his mother’s mortgage.  Then the town insist on Woodrow running for mayor in the imminent election.

All this has great potential for satirical comedy aimed at the foibles of small town America.  And certainly Sturges extracts a fair bit of comedy from the incumbent mayor who is clearly a phoney.  I especially enjoyed the contributions of his laconic campaign manager, who reminded me of Walter Matthau.

Elsewhere though Sturges treats Woodrow’s plight with surprising seriousness.  

Eventually Woodrow cannot stand the deception he is perpetrating, and in an address to the stunned townspeople he reveals the truth about his lack of a war record and offers to withdraw from the election.

That should be that but when Woodrow’s courage in facing the music is pointed out to them the good townsfolk have the sense to realise that a man of integrity such as Woodrow might actually make a good mayor. 

Somewhere in all this hullabaloo Libby and Woodrow find time to admit their true feelings for each other, so in the end everything comes up roses for young Mr Truesmith.

Woodrow is played by Eddie Bracken who didn’t exactly have a stellar Hollywood career, but he is perfect for this role.

I came to this movie looking forward to the satiric barbs aimed at small town America but left it pleasantly surprised at how heartwarming it ended up being.