So Proudly We Hail! (1943)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Mark Sandrich

Writer:

Allan Scott (writer)

Release Date:

18 February 1944 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

The first great Love Story of our women at the fighting front!

Plot:

A group of nurses returning from the war in the Phillippines recall their experiences in combat and in love.

Plot Keywords:

Nurse | Army Nurse | Philippines | Corregidor | Evacuation

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars.

Cast

Claudette Colbert	...	Lt. Janet 'Davy' Davidson
Paulette Goddard	...	Lt. Joan O'Doul
Veronica Lake	...	Lt. Olivia D'Arcy
George Reeves	...	Lt. John Summers
Barbara Britton	...	Lt. Rosemary Larson
Walter Abel	...	Chaplain
Sonny Tufts	...	Kansas
Mary Servoss	...	Capt. 'Ma' McGregor
Ted Hecht	...	Dr. Jose Bardia
John Litel	...	Dr. Harrison
Dr. Hugh Ho Chang	...	Ling Chee
Mary Treen	...	Lt. Sadie Schwartz
Kitty Kelly	...	Lt. Ethel Armstrong
Helen Lynd	...	Lt. Elsie Bollenbacher
Lorna Gray	...	Lt. Tony Dacolli

Runtime:

126 min | Germany:112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Paramount Ranch - 2813 Cornell Road, Agoura, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

During shooting, a rift occurred between Claudette Colbert and Paulette Goddard when Colbert overheard Goddard say that she and Veronica Lake were closer friends because they were the same age. Colbert was miffed because Goddard (38 at the time) was actually closer to Colbert's age (40) than Veronica Lake's (24).

Quotes:

Kansas: I never catch a cold.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Steambath (1973) (TV)

To appreciate this film you have to keep it in context of its time

I saw this film when it first came out. I liked it then and I like it now. Some argue that its a little too heavy on the patriotism. But if you remember it was made at a time when we weren't sure how the war would come out, the context keeps patriotism in perspective. Back then most everyone supported the war effort and the doubters kept their doubts to themselves. There were virtually no families without at least one member in the service and most of the non-service people worked in defense jobs. "So Proudly We Hail" was a timely film when it was made and 60+ years later its message is still relevant as an historical event.