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Stars and Stripes Forever

Play trailer Poster for Stars and Stripes Forever 1952 1h 29m Biography Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Eager to impress his boss, musician Private Willie Little (Robert Wagner) presents Marine Corps Band composer John Philip Sousa (Clifton Webb) with a rejiggered instrument he's dubbed the "sousaphone." When the composer exits the Corps, Little joins Sousa's new band. Sousa wants to play more than just his famed marches, and Little is preoccupied by his performer girlfriend, but when the Spanish-American War starts, both men concentrate on giving all they can to the war effort.

Critics Reviews

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Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine 10/07/2019
An overlong plot thread involving Young Love (Debra Paget and Robert Wagner) doesn't interfere unduly with the rousing band-tunes that make the picture a lot of fun to see and hear. Go to Full Review James Plath Movie Metropolis 12/29/2011
7/10
Like The Music Man, Stars and Stripes Forever captures the turn of the century with loving accuracy, and that's part of the film's charm. Go to Full Review Kevin Carr 7M Pictures 12/20/2011
2.5/5
This is the kind of film that my father-in-law, who loves movies of the 50s and musical tributes, would love. Go to Full Review Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com 03/08/2008
4/5
Great Sousa marches, credible acting by Clifton Webb make this a must see. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mark A 12/20/2022 Clifton Webb is perfect as John Phillip Sousa. See more 08/01/2020 Very much a product of it's time: a whitewashed, simplified bio-pic, If you really want to know about the life of Sousa, you won't get it here, but if you love his music & want a fun romp, this picture will do it. Has Clifton Webb ever given a bad performance? If so, I've yet to see it. Richard Wagner is at his precocious best here. Very much a mid-century, rose colored glasses look back. See more steve d 07/21/2020 Not enough story to it. See more 11/04/2016 Clifton Webb stars as bandleader John Philip Sousa in this highly entertaining, if fictionalized, account of his later years. See more 07/03/2011 Wonderful biography of John Philip Sousa. See more 07/03/2011 Wonderful biography of John Philip Sousa. See more Read all reviews
Stars and Stripes Forever

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Henry Koster

Director

Clifton Webb

John Philip Sousa

Debra Paget

Lily Becker

Robert Wagner

Willie Little

Ruth Hussey

Jennie Sousa

Finlay Currie

Col. Randolph
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Stars and Stripes Forever

Stars and Stripes Forever (1952) Stars and Stripes Forever (1952) Stars and Stripes Forever (1952) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Eager to impress his boss, musician Private Willie Little (Robert Wagner) presents Marine Corps Band composer John Philip Sousa (Clifton Webb) with a rejiggered instrument he's dubbed the "sousaphone." When the composer exits the Corps, Little joins Sousa's new band. Sousa wants to play more than just his famed marches, and Little is preoccupied by his performer girlfriend, but when the Spanish-American War starts, both men concentrate on giving all they can to the war effort.
Director
Henry Koster
Producer
Lamar Trotti
Screenwriter
Lamar Trotti
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Genre
Biography, Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 22, 1952, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Dec 13, 2011
Runtime
1h 29m