When Willie Comes Marching Home (1950)

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Sy Gomberg (story)
Richard Sale
(more)

Release Date:

February 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | War

Plot:

Willie Kluggs enters the service with hopes of going overseas, but his uncanny marksmanship keeps him at home as a shooting instructor... much to his embarrassment.

Plot Keywords:

Embarrassment | France | Ostracism | World War Two | Humiliation

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Dan Dailey	...	William 'Bill' Kluggs
Corinne Calvet	...	Yvonne Le Tete
Colleen Townsend	...	Marjorie 'Marge' Fettles
William Demarest	...	Herman Kluggs
Jimmy Lydon	...	Charles 'Charlie' Fettles (as James Lydon)
Lloyd Corrigan	...	Maj. Adams
Evelyn Varden	...	Mrs. Gertrude Kluggs
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Mitchum	...	Schreves (scenes deleted)
Paul Picerni	...	Kerrigan (scenes deleted)
Luis Alberni	...	Barman (uncredited)
Michael Alvarez	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Beau Anderson	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Frank Baker	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Jack Barnett	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Gregg Barton	...	Colonel (uncredited)
Norman Bergman	...	Musician (uncredited)
Whit Bissell	...	Lt. M.J. Hanley - Psychiatrist (voice) (uncredited)
George Blagoi	...	German officer (uncredited)
Jack Boyle	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Frederic Brunn	...	German Officer (uncredited)
William Bryant	...	B-17 Crew Member in Cockpit (uncredited)
Paul Bryar	...	French Resistance Fighter (uncredited)
Peter Camlin	...	Andre (uncredited)
Allen Church	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Les Clark	...	Musician (uncredited)
Russ Clark	...	Sgt. Wilson (uncredited)
Ann Codee	...	French Resistance Fighter (uncredited)
Gene Collins	...	Andy Barnes (uncredited)
Heinie Conklin	...	American Legionnaire at Dance (uncredited)
Russ Conway	...	Maj. J.A. White (uncredited)
Clyde Cook	...	Tarjack (uncredited)
Lloyd Dawson	...	Sailor Gunner (uncredited)
Mimi Doyle	...	Girl at Party (uncredited)
Michael Dugan	...	Aide (uncredited)
Johnny Duncan	...	Soldier (uncredited)
James Eagles	...	Reporter (uncredited)
George Edwards	...	Tail Gunner (uncredited)
Robert Einer	...	Lt. Bagley (uncredited)
Barney Elmore	...	Musician (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum	...	Officer at Party (uncredited)
James Flavin	...	Gen. Brevort (uncredited)
Everett Glass	...	Colonel J.W. Hollingsworth (uncredited)
Clarke Gordon	...	Marine Officer (uncredited)
Wilton Graff	...	General Chester Jans (uncredited)
Fred Graham	...	Male Nurse in Hospital Corridor (uncredited)
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Laughing Sergeant at Dance (uncredited)
Charles Halton	...	Mr. Fettles (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Hospital Patient (uncredited)
Joe Hartman	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Paul Harvey	...	Brig. Gen. Lamson (uncredited)
William Hawes	...	Musician (uncredited)
Don Hayden	...	Flight Instructor (uncredited)
Gil Herman	...	Lt. Cmdr. Crown (uncredited)
Don Hicks	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Robin Hughes	...	Marine Officer (uncredited)
Tim Huntley	...	Britain Captain (uncredited)
Ray Hyke	...	Maj. Crawford - Pilot (uncredited)
Frank Johnson	...	(uncredited)
Ted Jordan	...	Gunner #1 (uncredited)
Larry Keating	...	Gen. G. 'Larry' Reeding (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	'Butch' - Officer at Meeting (uncredited)
Don Kohler	...	American Colonel (uncredited)
Harry Lauter	...	Aide (uncredited)
Fred Libby	...	Aide (uncredited)
Ken Lynch	...	(uncredited)
Cliff Lyons	...	Churchgoer (uncredited)
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	Gilby - Pharmacist (uncredited)
Lee MacGregor	...	French Resistance Fighter (uncredited)
Harry Mack	...	Soldier (uncredited)
George Magrill	...	Chief Petty Officer (uncredited)
Mike Mahoney	...	Corporal - Hanley's Aide (uncredited)
Hank Mann	...	American Legionnaire at Dance (uncredited)
Mae Marsh	...	Mrs. Clara Fettles (uncredited)
Mickey McCardle	...	Gunner #2 (uncredited)
Keith McConnell	...	British Lieutenant (uncredited)
John McGuire	...	Major L.T. Moore (uncredited)
John McKee	...	Andy - B-17 Co-Pilot (uncredited)
David McMahon	...	Col. Ainsley (uncredited)
Louis Mercier	...	French Resistance Fighter (uncredited)
Vera Miles	...	Girl Next to Laughing Sergeant (uncredited)
Edwin Mills	...	Navigator (uncredited)
Alberto Morin	...	French Resistance Fighter (uncredited)
Peter Ortiz	...	Piere - French Resistance Fighter (uncredited)
Robert Patten	...	Corporal Heckling Hill (uncredited)
Jack Pennick	...	Sgt. Briggs' Instructor (uncredited)
Frank Pershing	...	Maj. Bickford (uncredited)
Otto Reichow	...	Gestapo Agent (uncredited)
Dan Riss	...	Gen. Adams (uncredited)
Felippa Rock	...	Auxiliary Air Force Woman (uncredited)
Carol Savage	...	Auxiliary Air Force Woman (uncredited)
John Shulick	...	Pilot (uncredited)
Mickey Simpson	...	Military Policeman (uncredited)
George Spaulding	...	Judge Tate (uncredited)
Harry Strang	...	Sergeant (uncredited)
Gilchrist Stuart	...	British Lieutenant (uncredited)
Don Summers	...	Sherve - MP (uncredited)
Charles Tannen	...	Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook	...	Joe - Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Tiny Timbrell	...	Musician (uncredited)
Kenneth Tobey	...	Lt. K. Geiger (uncredited)
Charles Trowbridge	...	Gen. Merrill (uncredited)
Arthur Walsh	...	Soldier at Dance (uncredited)
Harlan Warde	...	Captain S. Robbins (uncredited)
James Waters	...	(uncredited)
Cecil Weston	...	Mrs. Barnes (uncredited)
Kenny Williams	...	Musician (uncredited)
Hank Worden	...	Marching Band Leader (uncredited)
Sally Yarnell	...	R.A.F. Radio Operator (uncredited)
William Yetter Sr.	...	German Officer (uncredited)

Directed by
John Ford

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Sy Gomberg		story
Mary Loos		uncredited
Richard Sale

Produced by
Fred Kohlmar	....	producer

Original Music by
Alfred Newman

Cinematography by
Leo Tover

Film Editing by
James B. Clark

Art Direction by
Chester Gore
Lyle R. Wheeler		(as Lyle Wheeler)

Set Decoration by
Thomas Little
Bruce MacDonald		(as Bruce Macdonald)

Costume Design by
Travilla

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist
Myrtle Ford	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Joseph C. Behm	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Wingate Smith	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Eugene Grossman	....	sound (as Gene Grossman)
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)

Special Effects by
Fred Sersen	....	special photographic effects

Stunts
Paul Mantz	....	stunt pilot (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Til Gabani	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Anthony Ugrin	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles Le Maire	....	wardrobe director

Music Department
Alfred Newman	....	musical director
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestrator (as Edward Powell)
Lionel Newman	....	musical director (uncredited)

Other crew
Kenny Williams	....	dances stager
John W. Adams	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
William James	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Jack Pennick	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
John N. Scott	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Meta Stern	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1950) (USA) (theatrical)
• Centfox (1952) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox (195?) (Belgium) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Panasonic Disc Manufacturing  transfer

Also Known As:

"O Azar de Um Valente" - Brazil (original subtitled version), Portugal
"Bill sei grande!" - Italy
"Bill, qué grande eres" - Spain
"Dengang vi drog afsted" - Denmark
"El imposible superhéroe" - Argentina
"Hjälte på villovägar" - Sweden
"L'embusqué malgré lui" - Belgium (French title)
"Lijntrekker zonder het te willen" - Belgium (Flemish title)
"Planqué malgré lui" - France
"Sankari harhateillä" - Finland
"So ein Pechvogel" - Austria
"Tha gyrisis nikitis" - Greece (imdb display title)

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | USA:Approved (PCA #13928) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Conejo Valley, Thousand Oaks, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

June Haver declined to play the role of Marge Fettles. In response, Twentieth Century-Fox placed Miss Haver on suspension.

Goofs:

Continuity: Willie goes in to see Col. Butterworth about a transfer in the late evening, and when he goes into the office, rear projection shows it's daylight outside.

Quotes:

William 'Bill' Kluggs:Somehow that stop-off at Loring Field began to stretch out like a visiting mother-in-law.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in MASH (1970)

Soundtrack:

The Army Air Corps Song

Unjustly overlooked (and unfairly chopped up) Ford semi masterwork.

This unheralded opus from one of our greatest directors seems both oddly timed, (5 years after the end of combat in WWII), and unfortunately truncated. The thankfully preserved out-takes presented as deleted scenes on the DVD reveal that this may have been intended as Ford's only full fledged musical....which would have stood in strong contrast to his magnum opuses of this period (the beloved cavalry trilogy)...

As it stands the finished edit is shockingly good on all accounts...full of the director's astonishing eye for human detail and subtle performance. It plays like a slightly warmer hearted Preston Sturges wartime wacky fest (with William Demarest cementing the connection by almost reprising his great role in "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek".

The few numbers that remain are a tantalizing glimpse of how delightful a longer cut would have been...and the (incomplete) outtakes are both delicious and heartbreaking...

One has to wonder who decided to edit the film down...and how much more successful (and remembered) it might have been as Ford's big wartime set musical...