Hail the Conquering Hero

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Hail the Conquering Hero

Released Aug 9, 1944

1h 41m

Comedy

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95%

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21 Reviews

84%

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500+ Ratings

Like his war-hero father who was killed in action during World War I, Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith (Eddie Bracken) leaves his small town to join the Marines during World War II. But when he's given a medical discharge after only a month, he takes a job at a San Diego shipyard and writes letters to his mother about his fictitious wartime exploits. When he returns home, he discovers that his innocent lies have spread further than he expected.

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Variety Staff

Variety

The deft hand of Preston Sturges molded this film, further proof that he is one of the industry's best writer-directors.

Nov 13, 2007

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Tom Milne

Time Out

Wonderful satire on small-town jingoism, all the more remarkable in that it was made during World War II.

Feb 9, 2006

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

This riotously funny motion picture, this superlative small-town comedy, is also one of the wisest ever to burst from a big-time studio.

Rated: 5/5

May 20, 2003

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Not only is your cinematic education woefully incomplete, but your life has missed the boat on several hours of pure pleasure...

Jul 31, 2023

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Jose Maria Santos

Cine-Mundial

A Preston Sturgess comedy can't fail. [Full review in Spanish]

Sep 18, 2019

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James Agee

The Nation

It is a bewilderingly skillful picture, and the skill is used no more brilliantly to tell the story than to cover up the story's weaknesses and those of its author, Preston Sturges.

Sep 14, 2012

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Steve D

Not really cute or funny.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/25/24

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Alec B

Not really a satire of "Patriotism" but there's still interesting commentary on how easily one can lose a narrative especially when a frenzied mob is involved. Eddie Bracken should have gotten more leading roles like this one.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

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Audience Member

Some films truly represent the era in which they were made. "Hail the Conquering Hero" from 1944 nearly drowns in patriotism and proud symbolism. That dates it to an extent which hurts it somewhat. Yet the message of how people need and search for something or someone to rally behind is a much more alive and thriving conclusion. Eddie Bracken plays a soldier who is discharged over a year ago, but when he returns home he passes himself off as a war hero which rallies the town to try and make him mayor. Silly and fun. Corny and dated. Nominated for a Screenplay Oscar.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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razvan p

malevolent universe )

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Not really a satire of "Patriotism" but there's still interesting commentary on how easily one can lose a narrative especially when a frenzied mob is involved. Eddie Bracken should have gotten more leading roles like this one.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

The best comedy movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Preston Sturges

Director

Eddie Bracken

Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith

Ella Raines

Libby

Raymond Walburn

Mayor Everett D. Noble

William Demarest

Sgt. Heppelfinger

Bill Edwards

Forrest Noble

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Synopsis

Like his war-hero father who was killed in action during World War I, Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith (Eddie Bracken) leaves his small town to join the Marines during World War II. But when he's given a medical discharge after only a month, he takes a job at a San Diego shipyard and writes letters to his mother about his fictitious wartime exploits. When he returns home, he discovers that his innocent lies have spread further than he expected.

Director: Preston Sturges
Producer: Preston Sturges
Screenwriter: Preston Sturges
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 9, 1944, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.37:1)

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