Overview
A comedic twist on the hero's journey, where the truth is the ultimate casualty of war.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- irreverent
- sardonic
- classic comedy night
- political satire double feature
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Preston Sturges’s sharply written satire as an energetic, humane, and highly effective comedy about patriotic mythmaking and public self-deception.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Truesmith is publicly celebrated through an invented combat record, medals, songs, and plans for a statue despite never seeing battle.
Woodrow tries to explain that he was discharged before combat, but the townspeople absorb his denials as part of the heroic image.
The hero welcome rapidly becomes entangled with a mayoral campaign and the town's political interests.
The fabricated story expands from a private excuse to a public reception, songs, monuments, and an unwanted political candidacy.
Films like Hail the Conquering Hero, and why
The Lady Eve
shared Preston Sturges screwball wit, social satire, escalating public misunderstanding, and a fundamentally humane comic tone
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
shared small-town social satire, comic deception, civic absurdity, and fast-paced ensemble comedy
The Great Dictator
shared anti-heroic military satire, mistaken public acclaim, and comic critique of patriotic mythmaking
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
shared classic Hollywood screwball energy, political maneuvering, imposture, and warm subversive humor
Movie Details
- Director
- Preston Sturges
- Release Date
- 1944-08-09
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (79)
Cast
- Eddie Bracken
- Ella Raines
- Raymond Walburn
- William Demarest
- Franklin Pangborn
- Elizabeth Patterson
- Georgia Caine
- Al Bridge
- Freddie Steele
- Bill Edwards
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Hail the Conquering Hero about?
- A discharged Marine’s harmless lie about wartime heroism spirals into a small-town civic spectacle that skewers patriotism, politics, and the hunger for legends.
- What is Hail the Conquering Hero like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Hail the Conquering Hero as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Hail the Conquering Hero violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Hail the Conquering Hero.
- What did critics think of Hail the Conquering Hero?
- Critics broadly regard Preston Sturges’s sharply written satire as an energetic, humane, and highly effective comedy about patriotic mythmaking and public self-deception.
- Which films are like Hail the Conquering Hero?
- Films with a similar feel include The Lady Eve, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, The Great Dictator, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
- How long is Hail the Conquering Hero?
- Hail the Conquering Hero runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch Hail the Conquering Hero?
- In United States, Hail the Conquering Hero is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
