SUPPOSE THEY GAVE A WAR AND NOBODY CAME

US, 1969, 114 minutes, Colour.
Tony Curtis, Brian Keith, Ernest Borgnine, Ivan Dixon, Suzanne Pleshette, Tom Ewell, Bradford Dillman, Arthur O'Connell, Robert Emhardt, John Fiedler, Don Ameche.
Directed by Hy Averback.

Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came is a product of the late '60s, echoing the ambivalence towards authority, the military, police and law and order. (The film was to be used in the '80s as the basis for another rebellion story, James Garner and C. Thomas Howell in Tank.)

The film was directed by Hy Averback (I Love You Alice B. Toklas, The Great Bank Robbery). It has a strong cast of veterans who all give solid performances. The film highlights the antagonism towards the military in American towns, the redneck bullying of the extreme Right in the American towns. A lot of the humour is verbal - building towards the farcical confrontation with the tank at the end of the film. Brian Keith is appropriately gruff. Tony Curtis gives his conman performance with great gusto. Ernest Borgnine is the redneck sheriff. Ivan Dixon is the sympathetic black sergeant. Suzanne Pleshette is the love interest. Tom Ewell, Bradford Dillman and Arthur O'Connell are about. Don Ameche is surprisingly effective as the colonel and Christopher Mitchum also appears. Grady Sutton as the Reverend does a take-off of his style of sissy comic from the '40s films.

1. Enjoyable comedy? Satire?

2. The town of Anderson, the army base, the clash between the personnel in town and base? The special effects and stunts - the tank, the confrontations? The musical score?

3. The title and its satiric overtones?

4. The initial focus on Shannon, his relationships with women, the army? Public relations? His friendship with Nace, with Jones? On the base, the interview with Colonel Flanders? The clashes with Harve, with the other officials of the town? The decision to have the party, his role, meeting Ramona, his relationship with her? His being arrested by Harve, in jail? The elaborate tactics to get him out - and the irony of using the tank which he and Jones had been refitting? The happy ending - and the change to the town (and to Shannon?)?

5. Nace, his background, his coming in for public relations? His gruffness, friendship with Shannon and Jones? The clashes with Myerson? The interviews with Colonel Flanders? The orders for proper relationships with the townspeople? The party, his drinking? The clashes with Billy Joe and the other Right-Wing? types? The arrest of Shannon, his decision to get him out, the tank warfare?

6. Jones, friendship with Shannon, working together, with public relations, fixing the tank, the party, the battle?

7. Colonel Flanders and his tough military style, his prudish assistant and making him speak directly? His relationship with Nace and the men? Relationship with the town, the interview with Billy Joe and his friends? The social? The final intervention by the colonel and military justice? Dramatising the ethos of the army?

8. Myerson, his lectures, sternness with the men, his relationship with Nace, Jones and Shannon? Drinking? His future?

9. Ramona, in the town, relationship with Harve? At the bar, putting Shannon off? Attraction, in the car with Harve finding them? The party, the war?

10. Harve, the redneck sheriff, ordering people about? Antagonism towards the military? Relationship with the mayor, with Billy Joe? His relationship with Ramona? Clash with Shannon, arresting him? The final confrontation and his being sacked?

11. Billy Joe Davis and the Right-Wing? speeches, conspiracy ideas? His influence on the mayor, on the reverend, on the banker?

12. The banker, the upright citizen - and his interview with Jones about the money loan and his ambition to build the gas station?

13. The young recruits, Shannon in charge, their arrival, speeches, drilling? Alturi symbolising the younger generation?

14. Entertaining comedy? Farcical routines? Verbal humour? Spoof in the '60s style?