Rally 'Round the Flag Boys (WSE)

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Director {$Leo McCarey} was clearly past his prime when he made this screen version of {$Max Shulman}'s comic novel {-Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys}; still, the film was a success, no small thanks to the star power of real-life husband and wife {$Paul Newman} and {$Joanne Woodward}. The scene is Putnam's Landing, Connecticut, where commuter Harry Bannerman ({$Paul Newman}) is driven crazy by his wife Grace's ({$Joanne Woodward}) insistence upon joining every civic committee known to man. When the government chooses Putnam's Landing as the location for their new missile base, Grace immediately joins a committee to halt this project-which causes no end of trouble for Air Force reservist Harry, who is expected to be the government's liason man for the new base. Adding to the dilemma is local vamp Angela Hoffa ({$Joan Collins}), whose efforts to get her lunchhooks into Harry lead to a dizzying series of recriminations and misunderstandings. Satirical barbs are aimed at military stupidity (as personified by thick-eared Captain Hoxie, played by {$Jack Carson}), small-town hypocrisy, and the teenaged "beat" craze. Among the supporting players are {$Dwayne Hickman} and {$Tuesday Weld}, cast respectively as {$Marlon Brando} wannabe Grady Metcalf and nubile high-schooler Comfort Goodpasture (!); within a year of this film, {$Hickman} and {$Weld} would be reunited on the TV series {#Dobie Gillis}, likewise based on a {$Max Shulman} novel. Also appearing are reliable comedy foil {$Gale Gordon} and an uncredited {$Murvyn Vye} as Angela Hoffa's neglectful husband. Considered fairly racy in 1958, {#Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys} seems slightly childish and draggy today; one wonders how it would have fared had {$Leo McCarey} been at the height of his powers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide. Commentary* by author and film historian Aubrey Solomon*Commentary is only on selected parts of the filmAnimated photo galleryRestoration comparisonOriginal theatrical trailerInteractive pressbookAdvertising galleryVintage press release. Commentary* by author and film historian Aubrey Solomon*Commentary is only on selected parts of the filmAnimated photo galleryRestoration comparisonOriginal theatrical trailerInteractive pressbookAdvertising galleryVintage press release.