20th Century Fox
Not part of a collection.
When Willie Comes Marching Home
His story is taken from Government films ... because they didn't want it !
When Willie leaves home to join the war effort he is all ready to become a hero, but he is only frustrated when his posting ends up to be in his home town, and he is recruited into training, keeping him from the action. However, when he finds himself accidently behind enemy lines he unexpectedly becomes a hero after all.
- Original title
- When Willie Comes Marching Home
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- —
- Revenue
- —
CinemaSerf
May 17, 2026 · via TMDB
"Kluggs" (Dan Dailey) is constantly being berated by his father for living at home, even after he has joined up to fight in WWII. Despite his repeated protestations, he is told that he is just too valuable as a trainer to be sent into combat and so must stay put. Then, serendipity takes an hand, as he benefits from a bit of right place right time and is soon on a flight to the UK, and thence onto another over occupied territory. When that plane meets with a mishap, he finds himself immersed amongst a sceptical French resistance where "Yvonne" (Corinne Calvet) might be his only hope of salvation. Then, just as accidentally, he becomes privy to some information that could be crucial to the war effort. They decide they have to get him out of France and despatched back to Washington as soon as possible. Think on the amount of time the poor fellow has already spent constantly awake and you'll appreciate just how zonked he is when he returns home, makes his implausible report to his superiors, and then heads to his family, including his girlfriend "Marje" (Colleen Townsend) who think he could be a deserter. All the man really wants to do is snooze! Dailey holds this together quite entertainingly once it gets going and though some of his French experiences play a little to stereotype, there is enough light-heartedness to keep this well paced and amiable post-wartime comedy made with it's tongue in it's cheek.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
Dan Dailey
William 'Bill' Kluggs
Corinne Calvet
Yvonne Le Tete
Colleen Townsend
Marjorie 'Marge' Fettles
William Demarest
Herman Kluggs
Jimmy Lydon
Charles 'Charlie' Fettles
Lloyd Corrigan
Major Adams
Evelyn Varden
Gertrude Kluggs
Whit Bissell
Lt. M.J. Hanley - Psychiatrist (uncredited)
Vera Miles
Laughing Sergeant's Date (uncredited)
Luis Alberni
Barman (uncredited)
Gregg Barton
Colonel (uncredited)
George Blagoi
German Officer (uncredited)
William Bryant
B-17 Crew Member in Cockpit (uncredited)
Paul Bryar
French Resistance Fighter (uncredited)
Ann Codee
French Resistance Fighter (uncredited)
Heinie Conklin
American Legionnaire at Dance (uncredited)
Russ Conway
Maj. J.A. White (uncredited)
Clyde Cook
Tarjack (uncredited)
Johnny Duncan
Soldier (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum
Officer at Party (uncredited)
James Flavin
Gen. Brevort (uncredited)
Everett Glass
Colonel J.W. Hollingsworth (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)
Paul Harvey
Brig. Gen. Lamson (uncredited)
Robin Hughes
Marine Officer (uncredited)
Ted Jordan
Gunner #1 (uncredited)
Larry Keating
Gen. G. 'Larry' Reeding (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp
'Butch' - Officer at Meeting (uncredited)
Harry Lauter
Aide (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons
Churchgoer (uncredited)
J. Farrell MacDonald
Gilby - Pharmacist (uncredited)
George Magrill
Chief Petty Officer (uncredited)
Hank Mann
American Legionnaire at Dance (uncredited)
Mae Marsh
Mrs. Clara Fettles (uncredited)
John McGuire
Major L.T. Moore (uncredited)
David McMahon
Col. Ainsley (uncredited)
Louis Mercier
French Resistance Fighter (uncredited)
Alberto Morin
French Resistance Fighter (uncredited)
Robert Patten
Corporal heckling Bill (uncredited)
Jack Pennick
Sgt. Briggs - Instructor (uncredited)
Otto Reichow
Gestapo Agent (uncredited)
Dan Riss
Gen. Adams (uncredited)
Mickey Simpson
Military Policeman Kerrigan (uncredited)
Harry Strang
Sergeant (uncredited)
Charles Tannen
Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook
Joe - Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Kenneth Tobey
Lt. K. Geiger (uncredited)
Charles Trowbridge
Gen. Merrill (uncredited)
Hank Worden
American Legionnaire Band Leader (uncredited)
Travilla
Costume Design
John Ford
Director
Alfred Newman
Music
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The Shop on Main Street
Aren't We Wonderful
Escape to Victory
Schtonk!
I Served the King of England
A Night in Casablanca
The Black Parachute
Rosenstrasse
Deliver Us from Eva
I Can Do Bad All By Myself
Alice's Restaurant
Multiple Maniacs
My Führer
Zone Troopers
Shock Waves
The Chord of David
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Duck Soup
No Time for Sergeants
The Alamo
Block-Heads
The Pink Panther Strikes Again
The Best of Enemies
Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story
Shoulder Arms
Buck Privates
The Bridge at Remagen
Oh! What a Lovely War
LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition
Carry On Sergeant
Johnny English Strikes Again
Cadet Kelly
The Silencers
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
Attack Force Z
The Sandlot 2
Feb 17, 1950
