jc-osms This has always been always been one of my favourite films and with its central theme of undeserved celebrity, seems even more relevant in today's world of reality TV stars and overnight fame. The difference here is that the object of everyone's affection, the hapless Woodrow Truesmith (there's irony in his name) doesn't want the spotlight accidentally diverted onto him by the six penniless but well-meaning serving fellow-marines for whom he buys a drink in a bar. Although signed up for service in the marines himself, Truesmith has been medically discharged for a year because of chronic hay fever and to finally return home, has at last got up the courage to admit it to his adored mother, herself the widow of a marine hero, Truesmith's dad of course. Not wishing to have him hurt his mum's feelings, the marines phone ahead, fabricating Woodrow's background story of heroism, which promptly catches fire in his native town and sees him lauded to the skies on arrival in his hometown. Reluctant to play along right from the start, things quickly snowball out of control for Woodrow as the town promptly fawns over him, pays off his mum's mortgage and even puts him up for mayor against the long-standing, self-important and bumptious Everett Noble, but even when Truesmith's secret inevitably comes out there are still a few surprises in store before the end.There's no great secret behind the wonderful series of films Preston Sturges produced in the early to mid 40's, it's all there in the writing. The dialogue is crisp, funny and pithy, the sharp exchanges between characters requiring expert timing and intelligent direction. It gets both and then some, the cast young and old, getting nary a line to waste and never wasting a word. With the machine-gun delivery, any slackers would be found out and there just aren't any. By the time we get to the surprise ending when Truesmith's native honesty and humility change the expected run of events, there's still time for Sturges to insert some front-line truth, one of the marines telling Woodrow that he's lucky to only have the one battlefield nightmare compared to the many who have them constantly and even finish with a war-time rallying point as the marines finally leave town to return to duty, their well-meant meddling all repaired at last.None of the stars Sturges employs are household-name, but by dint of many of them forming part of his regular troupe, their interplay is a delight to watch, as is the director's skill with crowd-scenes. Eddie Bracken with his expressive face and honest disposition is great as the accidental hero, Truesmith while Ella Gaines also does well as his love interest, while the interplay between the blowhard elder Noble and his slow-witted, drone-voiced son is hilarious. That said, there's no face out of place here, everyone acts with such naturalness, quirks and all, that like with Capra, you're convinced you're the extra visitor in a real-life town.Sturges was considered the "wunderkind" of Hollywood around this time and this sparkling satire shows him at his considerable best.

nomoons11 Preston Sturges was an odd man out in Hollywood in his day. Independent and full of great story ideas. This was another one of those good ideas.If you need a little Patriotism in your life, then see this film. It'll make you feel good right down to your socks.Eddie Bracken plays a depressed couldn't get in the Marines because of hay-fever guy who happens to run into some real Marines that have run outta money in a restaurant. He pays for their drinks and they befriend him and listen to his troubles. They find out his father is an old Marine war hero from way back and they decide to take him back to see his mother and reinvent him as a war hero himself. After this, things turn a little screwy. Along the way there's a mild little love story mixed in and a possible run for mayor thrown in.Eddie Bracken and William Demarest are the stand out stars in this one. Sturges always goes back to his acting stalwarts to get some good performances and these 2 guys bring the goods.All I can say that makes this worth watching is if you wanna laugh and feel good and have a sense of Patriotism, look no further than this film. It has it all.

Michael Neumann This typically madcap Preston Sturges satire about a 4F Marine reject (Eddie Bracken, suffering from chronic hay fever) who ultimately proves his bravery by admitting his cowardice makes a fitting companion piece to 'The Miracle of Morgan's Creek'. But perhaps it needs to be seen in the proper historical context of wartime deprivation and homefront morale boosting. Unlike the more daring comedy of the earlier film Sturges here wants to have it both ways: mocking the gullibility of Main Street USA while at the same time celebrating its innocence. Mom and apple pie emerge triumphant, as does the little soldier, and the war effort is well served in the process. Sturges was always a master of sophisticated slapstick entertainment (an oxymoronic combination to most comedy filmmakers), but this time his famous dialogue was more fast than furious, if at least delivered with familiar gusto by the director's usual company of stock players.

sddavis63 What makes a hero? That's the essential question being addressed by this movie which is, at one and the same time, both a funny piece of escapism for a war-weary population and a very thought-provoking study of heroism.Eddie Bracken is Woodrow Truesmith, son of a World War I Marine and grandson of a Civil War veteran. Given his family history, Woodrow is, of course, expected to serve honourably in World War II but when he goes to enlist he's rejected for chronic hayfever. Unable to bring himself to tell his mother the news, he tells her he's been sent overseas. One day he meets a group of real Marines (headed by Sgt. Heppelfinger, played very well by William Demarest) and shares his story. They arrange to take him home and have him pose as a veteran of Guadalcanal. I admittedly had some trouble with the plot. From what I know of the Marines, I doubt they'd take kindly to someone posing as a veteran of Marine battles, let alone set the whole thing up. That aside, however, once Woodrow gets home with his new Marine buddies the story takes on a life of its own. Woodrow is suddenly portrayed as a great hero. He's met by bands and given the keys to the city by the typical movie version of the small town mayor (Raymond Walburn). Then the town decides to erect a monument in his memory. Then, the opponents to the mayor draft him to run against the mayor. One lie leads to another, and Woodrow can't get out of it. In the meantime, his re-appearance in town causes emotional angst for his former girlfriend Libby (Ella Raines) who's now engaged to be married to the mayor's son, but who really still loves Woodrow.It's fascinating to watch a little lie take on a life of its own and grow beyond anyone's wildest imagination. It's also interesting to watch Woodrow's torment. He knows he's no Marine hero, but no one will let him out of the story. Every time he tries to explain, he gets shouted down by those who don't want the truth; they just want to live with the hero image. Eventually, though, Woodrow becomes a hero. Here's where the study of heroism comes in. Heroes in wartime are usually those who fight the battles and kill the enemy. Woodrow never did that, but his heroism will ultimately be defined not by wartime battles, but by honesty and integrity and a real courage, as - in a powerful scene near the end of the movie - he faces the town's citizens and finally tells all, admitting the deception in such a way as to let the town know he's no hero, but that will also protect the reputation of the Marines who got him into this in the first place.This is a very good movie featuring a fine story and a collection of excellent performances. It should definitely be watched. 7/10