HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO
US, 1944, 101 minutes, Black and White.
Eddie Bracken, William Demarest, Ella Raines, Franklin Pangborn, Elizabeth Patterson.
Directed by Preston Sturges.
Hail the Conquering Hero is considered a classic comedy by writer-director Preston Sturges. It can be linked with its contemporary The Miracle of Morgan's Creek. Sturges had a sardonic wit and was able to uncover some of the hypocrisies of American society. This film has a war setting and so elements of sentiment and patriotism come through the satire. Eddie Bracken and William Demarest lead a strong cast, many of whom appeared regularly in Sturges' films. An example of black comedy which would be taken for granted in later decades.
1. Entertainment classic? War comedy? American satire - on human nature and Americana? An early black comedy?
2. Preston Sturges' work as writer and director? Sardonic writing, dialogue? Sentiment and black humour? Exposing American hypocrisies? A mirror to American society?
3. Production values: black and white photography? The war period? Pace, score and songs?
4. The title and its American patriotic tone? Its ironic fulfilment? Sentimental and hopeful fulfilment at the end? Americans searching for heroes during the war? Expectations of heroics? The credits, music and use? The patriotism and satire - the writer-director having it both ways?
5. The introduction to Woodrow: sadness, wanting to be in the Marines, drinking, the recitation of his history? A nice average American - with hay fever? The comedy of the little man victimised? His being swirled into the pretence? Panic? Cover-up? His being nice to Libby? His father and his expectations? The pressure on the little man to perform? To pretend to be the hero?
6. The Sergeant and his assistant and their listening to the story? The sequence in the New York bar? The phone call home? The exerting of pressures -all with good intentions? The American quick talk? Train ride, medals? Their continued support throughout the charade? Their help in covering up? The growing enthusiasm? The glory of the Marines - in serio-comic tones and music?
7. Woodrow and the train, his fears, reaction? Wanting to tell the truth? Not telling the truth? His mother? Libby? The reception, the statue? The church? The gifts? The Mayor and his speeches? The pressure growing to nightmare? His telling the truth to Libby? The final exposure and the relief? His wanting to leave quietly and honourably? The whirl for Woodrow and the tones of comic pathos?
8. The town and its frenzy? The Mayor and his speeches, the bands, the welcoming committee? The satire with the townspeople and their dithering, speeches, pressures? The group against the Mayor seeing Woodrow as their political hope? The petition and the campaign?
9. The Mayor and his speech, rehearsing? The pressures on his son and the engagement to Libby? His pomposity, exposure and fainting? The satire on American authority figures? The contrast with the earnestness of his opponents?
10. Libby as attractive heroine? Woodrow letting her go, her fiance, relationship with the Mayor? Her hearing the truth, not exposing him? The happy ending? The character sketch of her fiance? His relationship with his father?
11. The portrait of American motherhood - moms, devoted to their sons?
12. The fickleness of the mob? The acclaim at the station? The belief in Woodrow's integrity? Turning against him at the station? And then turning for him? Their motives for supporting him?
13. Themes of human nature? Strengths, weaknesses? Hypocrisies? The true nature of heroism and integrity? Seen in the light of war and politics?
14. The status of the film as an American comic classic.
