Hail the Conquering Hero (1944)

Not my favorite Ella Raines part, but it’s my favorite movie that Ella Raines is in—that’s because it’s one of my favorite movies by one of my favorite filmmakers, Preston Sturges. Not that it’s a bad part—it’s a great part—one of at least a dozen great supporting parts in this movie—most of them filled by Preston Sturges regulars. This is one of those movies that I don’t feel remotely up to being able to describe what’s so good about it—especially in a short review, which is what I’m doing here, focusing on the Ella Raines angle. And I’ll add, if you haven’t seen it, you’re in luck, because it’s well worth searching out—along with the rest of the (relatively few) Sturges films. Briefly, it’s about young man (Eddie Bracken) from a military family (Marines) who feels disgraced because he was unable to see action due to hay fever—so he’s deceived his mother into thinking he’s been overseas. He meets a group of returning Marines who try to help him (much against his will) by faking some heroics so he can return to town triumphantly—it turns into one of those snowballing situations where the comic misunderstandings just get deeper the more everyone struggles. The movie is complex and nuanced, and you’ve got to pay close attention. The writing, performances, comic choreography, and overlapping dialogue (how did they even pull that off in 1944?)! It manages to be intelligent, hilarious, satirical, cynical, genuinely patriotic, and heartwarming all at once. First, you’ll notice the writing, but the company of great character actors pulls it off—including William Demarest—one of his best parts. As far as Ella Raines, she’s essentially the “straight-woman” among all these goofballs—but she has some really good, emotional scenes, and some funny lines—and she’s essentially the heart of the heartwarming part of the movie.

6.23.24