tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post5993475761754207983..comments2024-03-25T06:50:31.379-05:00Comments on The War Movie Buff: #70 - Hail the Conquering HeroWar Movie Buffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-22391107929289176912011-03-07T15:03:24.061-06:002011-03-07T15:03:24.061-06:00"Hail" is gutsy, but "Miracle"..."Hail" is gutsy, but "Miracle" is ballsy. A 1940s movie about a single girl being impregnated by an unknown Marine and having the children out of wedlock. How did Sturges get that past the censors? Amazing.<br /><br />I like your analysis that during the war comedies were emphasized and after the war the fare was more dramatic. "Best Years" is #40 on the list.<br /><br />Good choice of memorable scene.<br /><br />I disagree on The Great Dictator - I think it is greatly overrated.<br /><br />A far as Sturges comedies go, I will stick with Miracle. The cast of Bracken, Hutton, Demarest, and , my favorite, Diana Lynn. It's the only one that I laughed out loud during. BTW three of Sturges' comedies are on the AFI Top 100 Comedies list - Sullivan's (39) Miracle (54) Palm Beach (77).<br /><br />I just realize I meant "To Be or Not To Be" - the Jack Benny comedy.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-6815400072557261832011-03-06T22:41:38.111-06:002011-03-06T22:41:38.111-06:00Im a big Sturges fan. He had a great string of com...Im a big Sturges fan. He had a great string of comedies starting with The Lady Eve in '41 followed by Sullivans Travels (my favorite and his best i think), Palm Beach Story, Hail and Miracle. After that not so good. Still easily one of the best American comedy directors. <br />Your right, not his funniest movie. But like all the above movies well written. A few memorable lines and great acting all around. Bracken is wonderful here. I love when he sinks lower and lower in the pew in church. Demerest who was a Sturges regular probably has his best role ever here. Perfect for the sergeant. <br />This was somewhat a gutsy movie for Sturges I think. He balances cynicism and comedy well and thats no doubt hard to do especially in 1944. Just two years later Wyler made The Best Years of Our Lives. Much different movie. Shows how a service comedy was a staple of the war years, but once the war was over and the horror of it was "coming home" attitudes had of course changed alot.<br />Perhaps belongs on the list, but not that high. I think its included simply because it captures the gung ho patriotic atmosphere of the homefront real well. Surprisingly it doesnt get sentimental until the last frames. Shows how good Sturges was.<br />The scene that stuck with me after watching was this: when Bracken falls out of bed after a nightmare. The "momma loving" marine comes in to check on him. Bracken tells him it was just a nightmare. Like it was no big deal. The marine tells him he is lucky, some guys have them every night. Later Bracken finds the marine on "picket" in the hall. Still in the same matter of fact voice the marine tells him he never sleeps at night. Strong message there. Told well by Sturges in his style.<br />Best WW2 comedy...hmmm. Thats tuff. Maybe Chaplin's The Great Dictator. Very daring for 1940.JHardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12975399049775935074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-2997409537427890552011-03-06T08:06:14.249-06:002011-03-06T08:06:14.249-06:00I agree on Casablanca. Great movie, but not a war ...I agree on Casablanca. Great movie, but not a war movie. I do not see how anyone outside America would enjoy "Hail" and I also do not think many Americans below age 50 would like it. You might want to try those other two comedies I mentioned. I definitely think you might like "To Have or Have Not". In my opinion, it is the best WWII comedy. Are there any European WWII comedies you would argue for?War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-2996252236155289082011-03-06T01:18:01.594-06:002011-03-06T01:18:01.594-06:00Not for me this one, I'm sure but I like the i...Not for me this one, I'm sure but I like the idea that you sarcastically define what it takes to get a satire, stating this is a satire and then some lines later admit to not think it is funny... Hehe.<br />This needs to be kicked out of the 100. You know my feelings,depending on how purist you want your list I would even kick out Casablanca, another "war time" movie.allaboutwarmovieshttp://allaboutwarmovies.comnoreply@blogger.com