ActuallyGlimmer The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Neive Bellamy Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Calum Hutton It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

DKosty123 In a way, Preston Sturges script is the reverse of The Best Years of Our Lives, only this might just be the film that laid the groundwork for that classic. While this is done as a comedy all the way, it's script touches the soul of wartime America. Everyone was so committed to the war effort, this one goes over board in showing how the home front honors hero's, even though Woodrow(Eddie Bracken) is no hero. This film is a lot of the casts finest hours on film. Bracken is brilliant in a role which he is not real comfortable in, but does play it so well.Ella Raines, though in the background for a fair portion of this one, really shines as Libby, Woodrows childhood love. To me, William Demarest (Sgt. Heffelfinger) is at his absolute best in this movie and nearly steals the show. The Sgt. is the key character in this movie.It is the Sgt. that arranges to get Woodrow, reluctantly, to go home after being rousted out of the Marines on a minor problem ( chronic hay fever) that is why he is not going home. Woodrow is no hero, and working in a factory and drinking at a bar, he buys 6 real Marines (including Sgt.) a round of beer as the real ones have no money. In return, they come up to the bar to thank him, and learn his story. This is the perfect hook for the story to hang on. The comedies have a strong story, and this one is among the best.With all the unaccredited players and folks from silent films in this, you'd think there would be too much physical slapstick. This Sturges script is too good for that. In fact, after being a farce for quite a while when Woodrow gets back home, this movie suddenly becomes an almost dramatic film. This is a credit to Sturges directing his own script as his direction is the only man who could take an out of control farce and put it back on track.Comedy and Drama have rarely been mixed better than this film. As the World War 2 generation is fast departing us now, this movie should be a double feature film with The Best Years Of Our Lives. It would be a long double bill, but the contrast between these 2 differently brilliant films would give everybody an idea of the greatest generation. I am so glad I have finally seen this gem.

Michael Neumann This typically madcap Preston Sturges satire about a 4F Marine reject (Eddie Bracken, suffering from chronic hay fever) who ultimately proves his bravery by admitting his cowardice makes a fitting companion piece to 'The Miracle of Morgan's Creek'. But perhaps it needs to be seen in the proper historical context of wartime deprivation and homefront morale boosting. Unlike the more daring comedy of the earlier film Sturges here wants to have it both ways: mocking the gullibility of Main Street USA while at the same time celebrating its innocence. Mom and apple pie emerge triumphant, as does the little soldier, and the war effort is well served in the process. Sturges was always a master of sophisticated slapstick entertainment (an oxymoronic combination to most comedy filmmakers), but this time his famous dialogue was more fast than furious, if at least delivered with familiar gusto by the director's usual company of stock players.

Andy (film-critic) Preston Sturges' little film, "Sullivan's Travels" has been a favorite of mine for a very long time. Since my discover of it through the Criterion collection, I have been impressed with the comic mind of Sturges and his ability to use dark modern issues as a backdrop for something that audiences could laugh at. In "Sullivan's Travels" it was the story of a Hollywood director trying to become a hobo to learn about life. While it seems dismal, it provided quite a bit of laughs with an ending that not only solidifies Sturges' ability, but also creates brain candy for hours afterwards. Thus, it was no surprise that when "Hail the Conquering Hero" arrived to view - that same excitement for Sturges' overcame me. I was ready for laughter coupled with a sensitive discussion about an ageless topic. Alas, what was viewed, was a cute movie that felt longer than necessary, a comic film with repetitive jokes, and a satire on patriotism that merely scratched the surface to what could have been another ageless film. Instead, "Hail the Conquering Hero" felt dated, lacked the push to make it pioneering, and honestly, felt safe. This was a rushed Sturges film, despite the Oscar nomination, and like Eddie Braken's speech at the end, needed to have a stronger voice of truth. Too many missed elements coupled with repeat jokes caused "Hail the Conquering Hero" to miss it's mark and remain a "cute" movie.The concept is an easy one. You probably have seen it a dozen times before in other films; the son of a war hero is discharged from the army for chronic hay fever, and refuses to go home to face his mother. Enter a band of surly, obvious Army-type figures who influence him into going home looking like a decorated war hero. Hilarity attempts to ensue as the town welcomes him with open arms with such grandiose statements as a parade in his honor, the burning of his mother's mortgage, and the eventual nomination for mayor. As much as Eddie Bracken tries to avoid the applause, he gets further thrust into it. This is a moment where Sturges doesn't quite live up to his comedic hype. There are moments where the scenes are very funny, but Sturges overuses the same jokes again and again that it eventually infects the rest of the film. What should have been witty jokes to move the pace, instead become so repetitive that the nearly hour and half feels like two-plus hours behind the wheel of this vehicle. Braken gives the stationary look of shock throughout, Sgt. Heppelfinger gives the same stern look, and moments of comedy are replaced with awkward settings that should have been funny, but instead failed. Scenes which are reminiscent of this failure are; Braken's arrival home - the entire set up for his grand arrival was funny at first, but as the scene pathetically continued - it just felt claustrophobic and stagnate. This could be said again for the scene where he is about to be nominated for mayor. What should have been funny wasn't - and I think it is because Sturges couldn't control the scenes. Too much in too little time provided minimal laughs.While I claim that our characters were feeling a bit stale, I do argue that they were the strongest element in this film. There were secondary characters that Sturges gave a small string of screen time, and they stole each second. Look out for the priest who burns the mortgage, hilarious; look for the southern Mayor who owns the Chair factory; again - hilarious. I could even laugh again at the Army man who had this fascination with people's mothers. Yet, our major characters couldn't quite reach this level. While the characters were disappointing, the scene structure was obtrusive by Sturges, the actual story was relatively exciting. I loved this concept, the themes of battles not only happening on the front lines, but also at home was impressive. The constant reminders that WAR BONDS were for sale was a small jab at the Government by Sturges, and the universal mind of the soldier who also turned out to be the Braken's guardian angels was delicious. Sturges had a strong mapped film, one just wonders if he was happy with the final product. Again, there were smart elements and there were mediocre moments, all together just making a "cute" one-time viewing movie.Overall, Sturges again entertained, but he did not impress. This was a "cute" film that just felt too long at certain scenes and at others it felt like missed opportunity. This could have been a stronger satire on patriotism, but jokes fell flat. Sub-characters took control and created a strong town, but the ones that were leading us felt stale from the beginning. I was looking forward to this film due to my admiration towards Sturges, but "Hail the Conquering Hero" didn't live up to the hype. "Sullivan's Travels" continues to be my favorite as I continue to view more from this infamous director's cannon. I was happy to see that the screenplay was Oscar nominated, but not surprised that it didn't win. Good, not great - "cute" - not classic.Grade: ** 1/2 out of *****

perfectbond I initially picked this up because I had just seen Phantom Lady with Ella Raines and was very impressed with her work in that film noir thriller. In this film she has a decidedly less prominent role though whenever she is onscreen my enjoyment of the film intensified. This is the first of Eddie Bracken's work that I have encountered. I think he did well with both the dramatic and comedic elements of his chracter. I have seen a few of Preston Sturges' films and in my opinion the director succeeded handsomely with this effort. In addition to the leads he elicited excellent performances from the character actors most of whom are recognizable to avid film buffs like all of us in the IMDB community I'm sure. As a change of pace from the more traditional WW II films, Hero is very smart and entertaining comedy. Recommended, 7/10.