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Hail the Conquering Hero

Play trailer Poster for Hail the Conquering Hero 1944 1h 41m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Like his war-hero father who was killed in action during World War I, Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith leaves his small town to join the Marines during World War II. But when he's given a medical discharge after only a month, he takes a job at a San Diego shipyard and writes letters to his mother about his fictitious wartime exploits. When he returns home, he discovers that his innocent lies have spread further than he expected.
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Hail the Conquering Hero

Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety Nov 13, 2007
The deft hand of Preston Sturges molded this film, further proof that he is one of the industry's best writer-directors. Go to Full Review Tom Milne Time Out Feb 9, 2006
Wonderful satire on small-town jingoism, all the more remarkable in that it was made during World War II. Go to Full Review Bosley Crowther New York Times May 20, 2003
5/5
This riotously funny motion picture, this superlative small-town comedy, is also one of the wisest ever to burst from a big-time studio. Go to Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills Jul 31, 2023
Not only is your cinematic education woefully incomplete, but your life has missed the boat on several hours of pure pleasure... Go to Full Review Jose Maria Santos Cine-Mundial Sep 18, 2019
A Preston Sturgess comedy can't fail. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review James Agee The Nation Sep 14, 2012
It is a bewilderingly skillful picture, and the skill is used no more brilliantly to tell the story than to cover up the story's weaknesses and those of its author, Preston Sturges. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Dec 3, 2025 Funny in 01 hour and 41 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All ages admitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Steve D @RT35616104 Mar 25, 2024 Not really cute or funny. See more Alec B @Alec97 Jan 9, 2024 Not really a satire of "Patriotism" but there's still interesting commentary on how easily one can lose a narrative especially when a frenzied mob is involved. Eddie Bracken should have gotten more leading roles like this one. See more Steve S @RT32687682 Nov 27, 2021 Some films truly represent the era in which they were made. "Hail the Conquering Hero" from 1944 nearly drowns in patriotism and proud symbolism. That dates it to an extent which hurts it somewhat. Yet the message of how people need and search for something or someone to rally behind is a much more alive and thriving conclusion. Eddie Bracken plays a soldier who is discharged over a year ago, but when he returns home he passes himself off as a war hero which rallies the town to try and make him mayor. Silly and fun. Corny and dated. Nominated for a Screenplay Oscar. See more razvan p @n1mr0d Jul 21, 2021 malevolent universe ) See more Feb 8, 2020 Not really a satire of "Patriotism" but there's still interesting commentary on how easily one can lose a narrative especially when a frenzied mob is involved. Eddie Bracken should have gotten more leading roles like this one. See more Read all reviews
Hail the Conquering Hero

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Cast & Crew

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Preston Sturges

Director

Eddie Bracken

Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith

Ella Raines

Libby

Raymond Walburn

Mayor Everett D. Noble

William Demarest

Sgt. Heppelfinger

Bill Edwards

Forrest Noble

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Hail the Conquering Hero

Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Like his war-hero father who was killed in action during World War I, Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith leaves his small town to join the Marines during World War II. But when he's given a medical discharge after only a month, he takes a job at a San Diego shipyard and writes letters to his mother about his fictitious wartime exploits. When he returns home, he discovers that his innocent lies have spread further than he expected.
Director
Preston Sturges
Producer
Preston Sturges
Screenwriter
Preston Sturges
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 9, 1944, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 12, 2014
Runtime
1h 41m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Flat (1.37:1)
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