Capital Celluloid 2016 - Day 62: Wed Mar 2

Hail the Conquering Hero (Sturges, 1944): BFI Southbank, NFT1, 8.40pm


This is part of the Preston Sturges season at BFI Southbank, the screening of this movie are on film and also being shown on March 5th. You can find the full details here.

Chicago Reader review:
Preston Sturges's last feature for Paramount (1944) takes on wartime patriotism with a brio and vengeance that may take your breath away. Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith (Eddie Bracken) gets discharged from the marines due to chronic hay fever, but some service buddies decide to present him to his hometown as if he's a returning war hero. As usual, Sturges's stock company of wonderful bit actors—including William Demarest, Franklin Pangborn, Raymond Walburn, and Jimmy Conlin—is orchestrated and conducted like a pop symphony, and Ella Raines does duty as the love interest. A scathing delight.
Jonathan Rosenbaum

Here (and above) is the trailer.

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