Thu 23 Jan 2025
Archived Movie Review: WHEN WILLIE COMES MARCHING HOME (1950).
Posted by Steve under Films: Comedy/Musicals[5] Comments
WHEN WILLIE COMES MARCHING HOME. 20th Century Fox, 1950. Dan Dailey, Corinne Calvert, Colleen Townsend, William Demarest. Screenplay by Richard Sale & Mary Loos. Director: John Ford.
Dan Dailey stars as the first young man in his hometown to sign up for World War II, but the fanfare becomes frustration as he soon discovers he’s permanently stationed only five miles from home.
Finally given the chance to redeem himself in the eyes of his family and friends, his mission to France ends so quickly, no one believes he was gone. As a young actor, Dailey proves to have been a lanky, likable sort of chap, and I liked his performance here.
— Reprinted from Movie.File.1, March 1988.
January 23rd, 2025 at 7:41 pm
I liked Willie a lot, Dan, of course, but I remember it well from 1950, and even at that age, eleven, I knew it would not be a major success, and felt confused and devastated about that realization.
January 23rd, 2025 at 9:20 pm
No not a major success, and I think your reaction was rather justified. I wish I remembered the movie more, but alas I don’t. I was writing reviews in minimalist mode back then, so I also wish I’d said more about what I thought about the move, but I didn’t.
But, for what it’s worth, here’s a tidbit of information about it, taken from its Wikipedia page:
“It is based on the 1945 short story “When Leo Comes Marching Home” by Sy Gomberg. The film won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival.
“Sy Gomberg also received an Oscar nomination for Best Motion Picture Story at the 23rd Academy Awards in 1951 but was edged out for the award by Edna Anhalt and Edward Anhalt for Panic in the Streets.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_Willie_Comes_Marching_Home
January 25th, 2025 at 1:15 am
Entertaining film in a minor flag waving key, aimed no doubt at veterans returned from the War, but it feels very much like a slightly bigger production of a Private Hargrove film or something like Mr. Winkle Goes to War.
The cast and Dailey help and it’s a reminder that Ford did turn his hand to comedy with good results more often than he is remembered for.
Richard Sale and wife Mary Loos, niece of Anita Loos, perhaps don’t get the credit they deserve for some decent scripts and his direction of Dailey in Ticket to Tomahawk.
January 25th, 2025 at 9:50 pm
Not an actor I have frequent occasion to give thought to (I haven’t seen hardly any of his long list of musicals), but I do enjoy a good ole-fashioned, rangy/tall Irish actor like this. He reminds me of Paul Kelly.
Looking through his filmography I see two titles I have savored. ‘Wings of Eagles’ w/ John Wayne is the first.
The second, is my pick for all-time fave performance by Dan Dailey (albeit, based on my very limited scope).
When he is opposite James Cagney in ‘What Price Glory?’ hilarity ensues. A milestone in the development of buddy/buddy flicks.
January 25th, 2025 at 10:45 pm
Lazy,
Both of your favorite Dailey selections are John Ford films, which may have more to do with it.