Movie: "Hail the Conquering Hero"

Release Date: Jan 1944 Genre: Comedy Awards: Nominated for Oscar. Runtime: 101 min Cast: Eddie Bracken (Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith) Ella Raines (Libby) Raymond Walburn (Mayor Everett D. Noble) William Demarest (Sgt. Heppelfinger) Franklin Pangborn (Committee Chairman) Elizabeth Patterson (Libby's Aunt) Georgia Caine (Mrs. Truesmith) Al Bridge (Political Boss (as Alan Bridge)) Freddie Steele (Bugsy) Bill Edwards (Forrest Noble) Harry Hayden (Doc Bissell) Jimmy Conlin (Judge Dennis) Jimmie Dundee (Cpl. Candida) Chester Conklin (Western Union Man) Esther Howard (Mrs. Noble) Arthur Hoyt (Rev. Upperman) Robert Warwick (Marine Colonel) Torben Meyer (Mr. Schultz) Jack Norton (Second Bandleader) Paul Porcasi (Cafe Owner) George Anderson (Bartender (uncredited)) Nora Cecil (Train Ticket Clerk (uncredited)) James Damore (Pfc. Jones (uncredited)) Pauline Drake (Telephone Operator (uncredited)) Dot Farley (Mother of Mamie (uncredited)) Jim Farley ((uncredited)) Franklyn Farnum (Town Councilman (uncredited)) Maxine Fife (Daughter of Colonel (uncredited)) Miriam Franklin (Tap Dancer (uncredited)) Julie Gibson (Singer (uncredited)) Kenneth Gibson (Town Councilman (uncredited)) Stephen Gregory (Bill (uncredited)) Eddie Hall (Man swigging beer at the bar...) Mildred Harris (Wife of Marine Colonel (uncredited)) Len Hendry (Juke (uncredited)) Ida Kitaeva (Dancer (uncredited)) Philo McCullough (Town Councilman (uncredited)) Tom McGuire (Town Councilman (uncredited)) George Melford (Sheriff (uncredited)) Charles R. Moore (The Porter (uncredited)) Frank Moran (Town Painter (uncredited)) Marjean Neville (Mamie (uncredited)) Victor Potel (Progressive Bandleader (uncredited)) Dewey Robinson (Train Conductor (uncredited)) Merrill Rodin (Alfie (uncredited)) John Sinclair (American Legion Bandleader (uncredited))

Storyline

Having been discharged from the Marines for a hayfever condition before ever seeing action, Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith (Eddie Bracken) delays the return to his hometown, feeling that he is a failure. While in a moment of melancholy, he meets up with a group of Marines who befriend him and encourage him to return home to his mother by fabricating a story that he was wounded in battle with honorable discharge. They make him wear a uniform complete with medals and is pushed by his new friends into accepting a Hero's welcome when he gets home where he is to be immortalized by a statue that he doesn't want, has songs written about his heroic battle stories, and ends up unwillingly running for mayor. Despite his best efforts to explain the truth, no one will listen.