''Never Wave at a WAC'' is a 1953 American comedy film directed by

Norman Z. McLeod Norman Zenos McLeod (September 20, 1898 – January 27, 1964) was an American film director, screenwriter and cartoonist. McLeod's most acclaimed work was made in collaboration with major comic performers of the 1930s, and included such films as ...

, and starring Rosalind Russell, Paul Douglas and Marie Wilson.

Plot

Divorced socialite Jo McBain, daughter of United States Senator Reynolds, would like to join her boyfriend in Paris where he has been transferred with two other military comrades. She speaks with her father, who has the idea of her joining the army and getting her an officer's commission in the Women's Army Corps so she can be transferred to Paris. He sells her this idea, telling her that she would start as a general. Her wealthy and spoiled manners are crushed immediately, when she arrives at basic training camp she discovers that she is to start at the bottom. Her father is involved in the telephone chain of people making the decision. Her ex-husband Andrew McBain is working as an Army uniforms designer and he uses his position to disrupt her romantic plans by making her join a group of girls who are testing polar equipment. After she has had enough of her ex-husband's silly pranks, she blows up at her commanding officers and is to be dismissed from the Army. Her contrite ex-husband admits his faults to the disciplinary hearing, but Jo confesses that she was faking being a good soldier so she could go to Paris and be with her boyfriend. She leaves the Army, but she makes a lifelong friend in Clara, who tells Jo she will ask her boyfriend to marry her. When she leaves the Army, Jo watches as new recruits are brought in. She realizes that she's still in love with her ex-husband (and he with her). She decides to reenlist back into the Army, a genuine attempt at being a good soldier this time, willing to do what the Army asks her to do. She says that later, after her graduation, she may be stationed near Andrew, her ex-husband.

Cast

* Rosalind Russell as Jo McBain * Paul Douglas as Andrew McBain * Marie Wilson as Clara Schneiderman / Danger O'Dowd * William Ching as Lt. Col. Schuyler 'Sky' Fairchild * Arleen Whelan as Sgt. Toni Wayne *

Leif Erickson Leif Erikson, Leiv Eiriksson, or Leif Ericson, ; Modern Icelandic: ; Norwegian language, Norwegian: ''Leiv Eiriksson'' also known as Leif the Lucky (), was a Norsemen, Norse explorer who is thought to have been the first European to have s ...

as Sgt. Norbert 'Noisy' Jackson * Hillary Brooke as First Lt. Phyllis Turnbull * Charles Dingle as Sen. Tom Reynolds *

Lurene Tuttle Lurene Tuttle (August 29, 1907 – May 28, 1986) was an American actress and acting coach, who made the transition from vaudeville to radio, and later films and television. Her most enduring impact was as one of network radio's more versatile a ...

as Capt. Murchinson * Regis Toomey as Gen. Ned Prager * Frieda Inescort as Lily Mae Gorham * Louise Beavers as Artamesa *

Omar N. Bradley Omar Nelson Bradley (February 12, 1893April 8, 1981) was a senior officer of the United States Army during and after World War II, rising to the rank of General of the Army. Bradley was the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and over ...

as Himself * Vince Townsend Jr. as Henry * Helen Foster as Capt. Finch * Marjorie Bennett as Mrs. Martha Pratt * Louise Lorimer as Col. Fullbright * Lucia Carroll as Lt. Kohler * Barbara Woodell as Capt. Smith * Virginia Christine as Lt. Myles

References

External links

* * {{Norman Z. McLeod 1953 films Films directed by Norman Z. McLeod Military humor in film 1953 comedy films American comedy films American black-and-white films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films Women's Army Corps

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links