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What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?

Play trailer Poster for What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? 1966 1h 59m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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50% Tomatometer 12 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
American officers Lt. Christian (James Coburn) and Capt. Cash (Dick Shawn) are among the soldiers ordered to take over a small town in Sicily during World War II. Remarkably, the townsfolk have no problem being occupied by the American troops -- they just want to ensure that their annual festival goes on as planned. With wine flowing freely, Christian, Cash and their peers soon get in over their heads, leading to lots of confusion on the part of both Allied and Axis forces.
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What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?

Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety Mar 26, 2009
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? carries an engaging title but after dreaming it up the writers promptly forgot all about it and launched into a thinly-devised comedy without much substance. Go to Full Review Tom Milne Time Out Jan 26, 2006
It is held together by terrific performances, Philip Lathrop's exquisite, pastel-shaded photography, and Blake Edwards' instinct for composition and design, let loose in some pleasantly fantastical images. Go to Full Review Bosley Crowther New York Times May 9, 2005
If you might be inclined to take offense at what is callous bad taste in parodying something that was serious, after all, stay away. This only goes to show it's getting tougher all the time to make a marriage of war and farce. Go to Full Review Dennis Stack Kansas City Star Jun 26, 2020
Colorful as a carnival, crazy as a comic opera, this yarn about some GIs in World War II provokes more laughter than a wild party with every guest a comedian. Go to Full Review Craig J. Clark The Dissolve Apr 6, 2015
4/5
It's a well-honed farce that gave Edwards and his cast a solid framework in which to improvise, which they did to superlative effect. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Aug 8, 2009
C+
War as fun in this service comedy by director Blake Edwards. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alain E @AlainE Oct 18, 2025 Insufferable. WW II was hilarious! See more alan g @agenser Jun 24, 2025 Very funny movie. Shawn and Coburn take a masterful turn at outlandish comedy. See more Jul 25, 2020 Writer: Here's the plot of my movie: "The Italian soldiers SHOUT AT THE AMERICANS! A LOT!" "The American soldiers SHOUT BACK AT THE ITALIANS! JUST AS MUCH." "The Italian villagers SHOUT AT BOTH THEIR SOLDIERS AND THE AMERICANS! EVEN MORE!" "The German soldiers SHOUT AT ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE!!" "The villagers JUST SHOUT AND SHOUT AND SHOUT!!" The end. Who thought this was a good idea, even in 1966? See more Feb 5, 2013 Silly farce is loaded with talent and a jovial mood. See more Aug 6, 2012 This is a fantastic movie. A great cast, a great story, and a funny situation. Harry Morgan is outrageous! Everyone should see this movie. See more Dec 17, 2011 This one is hilarious. See more Read all reviews
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?

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Cast & Crew

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Blake Edwards

Director

James Coburn

Lieutenant Christian

Dick Shawn

Captain Lionel Cash

Sergio Fantoni

Captain Oppo

Aldo Ray

Sergeant Rizzo

Harry Morgan

Major Pott

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What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?

What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966) What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966) What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis American officers Lt. Christian (James Coburn) and Capt. Cash (Dick Shawn) are among the soldiers ordered to take over a small town in Sicily during World War II. Remarkably, the townsfolk have no problem being occupied by the American troops -- they just want to ensure that their annual festival goes on as planned. With wine flowing freely, Christian, Cash and their peers soon get in over their heads, leading to lots of confusion on the part of both Allied and Axis forces.
Director
Blake Edwards
Producer
Blake Edwards
Screenwriter
William Peter Blatty
Production Co
The Mirisch Corporation [us]
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
1h 59m
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