Hail The Conquering Hero

TCM's Saturday afternoon host Tiffany Vazquez introduces Hail The Conquering Hero, 1944.

Ben Mankiewicz introduces Hail The Conquering Hero, 1944.

Woodrow (Eddie Bracken), overwhelmed and intending to confess that he never served in the Marine Corps, can’t stop the judge (Jimmy Conlin) and Doc Bissell (Harry Hayden), who have nominated him for mayor on his homecoming, in Preston Sturges’ Hail The Conquering Hero, 1944.

Franklin Pangborn (the band leader), the mother (Georgia Caine) and ex-sweetheart Libby (Ella Raines) among the revelers awaiting the local war hero, unaware that he hasn't told them he was forced to accept a medical discharge and never served, early in Preston Sturges' Hail The Conquering Hero, 1944.

Seamless opening scene from writer-director Preston Sturges, introducing Woodrow (Eddie Bracken) crying in his beer, and Marines led by Heffelfinger (William Demarest), in Hail The Conquering Hero, 1944.

Craziness at the homecoming for Woodrow (Eddie Bracken), pressed by Sarge (William Demarest), who served with his father, not to tell his mother (Georgia Caine) he was rejected by the Marines, Torben Meyer the neighbor, Ella Raines his ex-girl, who hasn't told him she's engaged, in Preston Sturges' Hail The Conquering Hero, 1944.

In a single take by writer-director Preston Sturges, Woodrow (Eddie Bracken) tells his life story to Heffelfinger (William Demarest) and the Marines (Freddie Steele, Jimmy Dundee, James Lamore et al) in Hail The Conquering Hero, 1944.