When Willie Comes Marching Home

• Dan Dailey: Bill Kluggs
• Corinne Calvet: Yvonne
• Colleen Townsend: Marge Fettles
• William Demarest: Herman Kluggs
• Evelyn Varden: Mrs. Kluggs
• James Lydon: Charlie Fettles
• Lloyd Corrigan: Major Adams

Too bad bird is an American comedy film against the backdrop of World War II by John Ford, staged in 1950. The screenplay is based on a story by Sy Gomberg. In Germany the film was released in theaters for the first time in 1952.

Action

Bill Kluggs is a student who lives in West Virginia in the small town Punxatawney. When the news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor reached the city, Bill logs in the army and is the first citizen of the city, which makes military service. After he said goodbye to his girlfriend margin Fettles, Bill goes to basic training to Fort Wayne. After training Bill is brought with his regiment after Punxatawney. The men are to wait there until they are brought from the nearby Air Force base Loring Field to the front. The city prepared for the returnees a great reception. But the joy of the people is always smaller than Bill's stay in the city itself drags on. Bills requests Abkommandierung to the front are in vain, he stays two years hanging out in the city. His commander Major Adams denied Bills Abkommandierung because he is too good and could better serve as instructors.

By the time Bill is ignored and ridiculed by the people. When Bill is a B-17 flying to England, which because of the many previous false reports is hardly noticed. Across the Atlantic, gets the machine in bad weather. Bill is asleep and do not get with the commands via radio. When he wakes up, he realizes that he is in danger and increases with the parachute. After landing, Bill finds out that he has landed in the German-occupied France. He is taken prisoner by the French Yvonne and her companions, all members of the Resistance. The resistance fighters have filmed a rocket launch from a secret base. You now want Bill smuggle the film out of the country. For camouflage he should spend a Frenchman and as Yvonne's husband. The plan works, Bill can bring the film to London. From there, Bill is sent back to the United States. He is informed that his application for the detection of enemy rocket base has led. Yvonne was there an intermediary for the U.S. Secret Service.

Bill's absence has lasted only four days. Bill is physically and mentally chipped a little and is seen by his father Herman for a prowler and ko beaten. Later, his father explains Bill experiences as nonsense. Appears only when military police to bring Bill to Washington and to be honored there by the President, is the father realized that the story of his son 's real.

Background

The production of 20th Century Fox was in the Conejo Valley and Santa Catalina Iceland before Los Angeles, California shot.

The original title of the film is inspired by the song When Johnny Comes Marching Home by Louis Lambert, which is played at the beginning, at Bill's first return and the end of the film.

In this film, Vera Miles are in a small role in her feature film debut, while it is the second appearance in an American film for the French Corinne Calvet. Appearances in small roles unnamed complete Whit Bissell as Lieutenant Hanley, Alan Hale, Jr. as Sergeant, Mae Marsh as Mrs. Fettles, J. Farrell MacDonald as a pharmacist, John Mitchum ( brother of Robert Mitchum ) as Mr. Schreves, Kenneth Tobey as Lieutenant Geiger and Hank Worden as a bandleader.

The script writing team of Sale / Loos was a married couple. The Oscar-winning Thomas Littler and Lyle R. Wheeler worked on the film equipment, Roger Heman sr. at the sound and Fred Sersen to the special effects. Musical director was Lionel Newman, as head of wardrobe fundus worked Charles LeMaire.

Soundtrack

• When Johnny Comes Marching Home by Louis Lambert
• Somebody Stole My Gal by Leo Wood
• Hail! Hail! The Gang 's All Here by Theodore Morse, Dolly Morse and Arthur Sullivan
• You're in the Army Now by an unknown composer
• Deep in the Heart of Texas by Don Swander and June Hershey
• You've Got Me This Way by Jimmy McHugh and Johnny Mercer
• The Army Corps song by Robert Crawford
• Frère Jacques, French children's song
• The Yankee Doodle Boy by George M. Cohan

Reviews

" Refreshing satire on military and Hero Worship, by John Ford with a light hand and a wholesome dose staged sentimentality. "

" An enjoyable refreshing satire on military and soldierly heroism from the masterfully light hand by the American John Ford Excellent entertainment. "

Awards

• Grand Prix for John Ford

• Nomination for Best Original Story for Sy Gomberg

• Nomination for Best Actor ( Comedy / Musical) for Dan Dailey