''Army Girl'' (also released as ''The Last of the Cavalry'') is a 1938 American

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

film directed by George Nicholls Jr. and starring Madge Evans and

Preston Foster Preston Stratton Foster (August 24, 1900 – July 14, 1970), was an American actor of stage, film, radio, and television, whose career spanned nearly four decades. He also had a career as a vocalist. Early life Born in Ocean City, New Jersey ...

. It was a high budget film by

Republic Pictures Republic Pictures Corporation (currently held under Melange Pictures, LLC) was an American motion picture production-distribution corporation in operation from 1935 to 1967, that was based in Los Angeles. It had studio facilities in Studio City a ...

Plot

Captain Dike Conger, an officer with the Thirty-first Cavalry Regiment is instructed to determine whether the unit should use tanks instead of horses. Along with his mechanic, Master Sergeant “Three Star” Hennessy, Conger is opposed by those who want to continue using horses. Meanwhile, Conger agrees to go on a blind date arranged by his friend Captain Bob Marvin on the condition that his date be a civilian, not an "army girl", i.e., the daughter of an officer or soldier. Due to a misunderstanding, his date turns out to be Julie Armstrong, daughter of camp commander Colonel Armstrong who is among those not wanting to convert the unit from horses to tanks. Despite his misgivings about "army girls", Conger falls in love with Julie. Subsequently, a contest shows that tanks are more effective thank horses. As the regiment awaits a final decision from Washington, Conger and Julie decide to marry, but as Conger is about to tell Colonel Armstrong, the colonel reveals the decision and then tell Congers he will replace him as post commander. Julie, angered by the decision, breaks the engagement. Upset at the decision to replace horses, Sergeant Ross, a rival of Three Star, sabotages the tank which is to carry Conger and Three Star at the transition ceremony. On the day of the ceremony, the colonel decides to drive to the ceremony with Three Star instead of Conger and both are killed in the wreck caused by Ross’s actions. Captain Joe Schuyler, a rival for Julie's affections, reaches the tank, and hears Three Star's dying words implicating Ross, but he decides not to tell anyone. Instead, Conger is court martialed for negligence and held responsible for the accident. Schuyler then proposes to Julie. When she refuses him, he realizes that she never will love him. He then forces Ross to confess before military judges, exonerating Conger who reconciles with Julie.

Cast

* Madge Evans as Julie Armstrong *

as Captain Dike Conger *

James Gleason James Austin Gleason (May 23, 1882 – April 12, 1959) was an American actor, playwright and screenwriter born in New York City. Gleason often portrayed "tough-talking, world-weary guys with a secret heart-of-gold." Life and career Gleason w ...

as Master Sergeant "Three Star" Hennessy * H.B. Warner as Colonel Armstrong *

Ruth Donnelly Ruth Donnelly (May 17, 1896 – November 17, 1982) was an American film and stage actress. Early years and family Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Donnelly was the daughter of Harry Augustus and Bessie B. Donnelly. Her uncle, Freder ...

as Leila Kennett * Neil Hamilton as Captain Joe Schuyler * Heather Angel as Mrs. Gwen Bradley *

Billy Gilbert William Gilbert Barron (September 12, 1894 – September 23, 1971), known professionally as Billy Gilbert, was an American actor and comedian. He was known for his comic sneeze routines. He appeared in over 200 feature films, short subjects ...

as Cantina Pete * Ralph Morgan as Major Hal Kennett *

Barbara Pepper Barbara Pepper (born Marion Pepper; May 31, 1915 – July 18, 1969) was an American stage, television, radio, and film actress. She is best known as the first Doris Ziffel on the sitcom '' Green Acres''. Early life and career Marion Pepper ...

as Riki Thomas *

Ralph Byrd Ralph Byrd (April 22, 1909 – August 18, 1952) was an American actor. He was most famous for playing the comic strip character Dick Tracy on screen, in serials, films and television. Early life and career The son of George and Edna ...

as Captain Bob Marvin *

Guinn "Big Boy" Williams Guinn Terrell Williams Jr. (April 26, 1899 – June 6, 1962) was an American actor who appeared in memorable westerns such as '' Dodge City'' (1939), ''Santa Fe Trail'' (1940), and '' The Comancheros'' (1961). He was nicknamed "Big Boy" ...

as First Sergeant Ross *

Robert Warwick Robert Warwick (born Robert Taylor Bien, October 9, 1878 – June 6, 1964) was an American stage, film and television actor with over 200 film appearances. A matinee idol during the silent film era, he also prospered after the introduction ...

as Brigadier General Matthews

Accolades

The film was nominated for three

Academy Awards The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

: *

Cinematography Cinematography (from ancient Greek κίνημα, ''kìnema'' "movement" and γράφειν, ''gràphein'' "to write") is the art of motion picture (and more recently, electronic video camera) photography. Cinematographers use a lens to focu ...

(

Ernest Miller Ernest Clifford Miller (born January 14, 1964) is an American actor and former professional wrestler who worked for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) better known by his ring name, Ernest "The Cat" Miller. ...

, Harry Wild) * Original Score (

Victor Young Albert Victor Young (August 8, 1899– November 10, 1956)"Victor Young, Composer, Dies of Heart Attack", ''Oakland Tribune'', November 12, 1956. was an American composer, arranger, violinist and conductor. Biography Young is commonly said to ...

) *

Sound Recording Sound recording and reproduction is the electrical, mechanical, electronic, or digital inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording ...

( Charles L. Lootens)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Army Girl 1938 films 1938 comedy films American comedy films American black-and-white films Films scored by Victor Young Films directed by George Nicholls Jr. Films produced by Sol C. Siegel Republic Pictures films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films