''Mr. Winkle Goes to War'' is a 1944

war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

starring Edward G. Robinson and

Ruth Warrick Ruth Elizabeth Warrick (June 29, 1916 – January 15, 2005) was an American singer, actress and political activist, best known for her role as Phoebe Tyler Wallingford on '' All My Children'', which she played regularly from 1970 until her ...

, based on a novel by

Theodore Pratt Theodore Pratt (1901–1969) was an American writer who is best known for his novels set in Florida. He wrote more than 30 novels, which were adapted into films five times. Biography Pratt was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1901 to Thomas A. ...

Plot

On June 1, 1942, after fourteen years working in a bank, mild-mannered 44-year-old Wilbert G. Winkle suddenly quits his boring bank job to follow his dream, to open a repair shop. Everyone is shocked, particularly his status-conscious wife Amy, who demands he choose between her and his new career. The only exception is Barry, a young orphan Mr. Winkle has befriended. However, before the situation with Amy can be resolved, Winkle is drafted into the army. His fellow soldiers inevitably nickname him "Rip". He becomes friends with another older recruit, Joe Tinker, who is looking to avenge his younger brother. Winkle is reassigned to help the supply sergeant keep the books, as he did in civilian life, but he rebels and, with persistence and quiet determination, becomes a mechanic, something that gives him great satisfaction. To the surprise of his sergeant, he makes it through

basic training Military recruit training, commonly known as basic training or boot camp, refers to the initial instruction of new military personnel. It is a physically and psychologically intensive process, which resocializes its subjects for the unique dema ...

. A new regulation allows men over 38 to get an

honorable discharge A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve. Each country's military has different types of discharge. They are generally based on whether the persons completed their training and th ...

, but Winkle refuses to quit. When Winkle's furlough at the end of training is cancelled, Barry runs away to try to see him. Amy and the head of the orphanage, Mr. McDavid, find him hitchhiking and bring him back. On the way, Amy learns from Barry that there is more to her husband than she thought, causing her to reconsider. Winkle and his unit are shipped out to fight the Japanese Army in the Pacific. When he and Tinker are sent to repair a

bulldozer A bulldozer or dozer (also called a crawler) is a large, motorized machine equipped with a metal blade to the front for pushing material: soil, sand, snow, rubble, or rock during construction work. It travels most commonly on continuous track ...

, the Japanese attack his unit. While Winkle fixes the bulldozer, Tinker looks for revenge. After shooting an enemy soldier, Tinker starts celebrating, only to be killed himself. Winkle then uses the bulldozer to knock out a machine-gun nest. He is discharged and sent home to recuperate from his wounds. The war hero returns to an enthusiastic welcome from his entire hometown and in particular from Amy and Barry, who show him a new shortcut they have made together to his repair shop.

Cast

* Edward G. Robinson as Wilbert G. Winkle *

as Amy Winkle *

Ted Donaldson Ted Donaldson (born August 20, 1933 in New York City) is an American former child actor. Early years Born in Brooklyn, New York, Donaldson was the son of singer-composer Will Donaldson and Will's wife, Jo. His mother died when he was years old. ...

as Barry * Robert Armstrong as Joe Tinker * Richard Lane as Sergeant "Alphabet" Czeidrowski *

Bob Haymes Robert William Haymes (March 29, 1923 – January 27, 1989), also known by the stage names Robert Stanton and Bob Stanton, was an American singer, songwriter, actor and radio and television host. He is best remembered for co-writing the song " Th ...

as Jack Pettigrew, another, younger bank employee also drafted *

Richard Gaines Richard Houston Gaines (July 23, 1904 – July 20, 1975) was an American actor. He appeared in over 75 film and television productions between 1940 and 1962. Early years Gaines was born in Indian Territory and grew up in Texas, learning "to h ...

as Ralph Westcott * Art Smith as Mr. McDavid

Robert Mitchum Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an American actor. He rose to prominence with an Academy Award nomination for the Best Supporting Actor for ''The Story of G.I. Joe'' (1945), followed by his starring in ...

and

Hugh Beaumont Eugene Hugh Beaumont (February 16, 1909 – May 14, 1982) was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal of Ward Cleaver on the television series '' Leave It to Beaver'', originally broadcast from 1957 to 1963; and as private detec ...

have uncredited roles.

External links

* * * * * Review of
Mr. Winkle Goes to War
' at Family Friendly Movies {{Alfred E. Green 1944 films 1940s war comedy films American war comedy films American black-and-white films Columbia Pictures films Films based on American novels Films directed by Alfred E. Green Films scored by Carmen Dragon Military humor in film World War II films made in wartime Pacific War films Films with screenplays by Waldo Salt 1944 comedy films Films scored by Paul Sawtell 1940s English-language films