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Films with theme "Military humor in film", sorted by revenue
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, 1h46Directed by Jack Smight
Origin USA
Genres War, Comedy
Themes Military humor in film, Prison films, Political films
Actors Paul Newman, Sylva Koscina, Andrew Duggan, Tom Bosley, John Williams, Charles Gray
Several brigadier generals (American, British, and French) are unexpectedly taken prisoner by the Italians while arguing military tactics in a sauna - which is a public relations disaster. They are held in an Italian villa run as a top level prison camp by benevolent Italian Colonel Ferrucci. Being all of the same rank, none is in command and they are forced to plan escapes by committee, with predictably ineffective results.
At War with the Army (1951)
, 1h33Directed by Hal Walker, Alvin Ganzer
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Musical
Themes Military humor in film, Films about music and musicians, Musical films, Political films, Films based on plays
Actors Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Mike Kellin, Polly Bergen, Tommy Farrell, Danny Dayton
The film is set at a United States Army base in Kentucky at the end of 1944, during World War II.
The Geisha Boy (1958)
, 1h30Directed by Frank Tashlin
Origin USA
Genres Comedy
Themes Military humor in film, Films about magic and magicians, Seafaring films, Transport films
Actors Jerry Lewis, Sessue Hayakawa, Marie McDonald, Suzanne Pleshette, Barton MacLane, Nobu McCarthy
The Great Wooley (Jerry Lewis) is a magician who is entertaining GIs in Japan. Upon their arrival, he causes a series of unfortunate mishaps for the headliner, actress Lola Livingston (Marie McDonald), including tearing her dress, knocking her down a flight of stairs, and rolling her up in the red carpet. An orphan, Mitsuo Watanabe (Robert Hirano) witnesses the spectacle and laughs for the first time since his parents died. When his aunt Kimi Sikita (Nobu McCarthy) brings the boy to Wooley to thank him, he and the boy become close, which irritates the aunt's boyfriend, a Japanese baseball player, as well as a USO liaison (Suzanne Pleshette) who has fallen for Wooley.
Imitation General (1958)
, 1h28Directed by George Marshall
Origin USA
Genres War, Comedy
Themes Military humor in film, Political films
Actors Glenn Ford, Red Buttons, Taina Elg, Dean Jones, Kent Smith, Tige Andrews
In the aftermath of a big battle during World War II, Brigadier General Charles Lane (Kent Smith), Master Sergeant Murphy "Murph" Savage (Glenn Ford) and Corporal Chan Derby (Red Buttons) find themselves cut off. The general takes over a farmhouse belonging to annoyed Frenchwoman Simone (Taina Elg). Lane determines that there is a gap in the lines and decides to organize a defense from whatever stragglers he can gather together. Shortly afterwards however, he is killed saving Murph's life.
Francis (1950)
, 1h31Directed by Arthur Lubin
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Comedy, Fantasy
Themes Military humor in film, Seafaring films, Transport films, Political films
Actors Donald O'Connor, Patricia Medina, Chill Wills, Zasu Pitts, Ray Collins, John McIntire
Second Lieutenant Peter Stirling (Donald O'Connor) is caught behind Japanese lines in Burma during World War II. Francis, a talking Army mule (voiced by Chill Wills), carries him to safety. When Stirling insists that the animal rescued him, he is placed in a psychiatric ward. Each time Stirling is released, he accomplishes something noteworthy (at the instigation of Francis), and each time he is sent back to the psych ward when he insists on crediting the talking mule. Finally, Stirling is able to convince General Stevens (John McIntire) that he is not crazy, and he and the general become the only ones aware of Francis' secret. In an effort to get himself released from the psych ward, Stirling asks Stevens to order Francis to speak, but the mule will not obey until it becomes clear that Stirling will be arrested for treason if he remains silent.
The Cock-Eyed World (1929)
, 1h55Directed by Raoul Walsh
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Comedy-drama, Musical
Themes Military humor in film, Films about music and musicians, Théâtre, Musical films, Films based on plays, Children's films
Actors Victor McLaglen, Edmund Lowe, Lili Damita, El Brendel, Joe E. Brown, Stuart Erwin
Flagg (Victor McLaglen) and Quirt (Edmund Lowe) find themselves transferred from Russia to Brooklyn to South America, in each place squaring off over a local beauty.
, 1h56Directed by Blake Edwards
Origin USA
Genres War, Comedy
Themes Military humor in film, Political films
Actors James Coburn, Aldo Ray, Dick Shawn, Sergio Fantoni, Giovanna Ralli, Carroll O'Connor
A wartime outfit of U.S. soldiers is assigned to capture a village in Sicily, but upon arrival, they discover that the town has been expecting them and will willingly turn itself over to the Americans' rule, provided they are permitted to complete a soccer match and a wine festival.
The Major and the Minor (1942)
, 1h40Directed by Billy Wilder
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Romance
Themes Military humor in film, Political films, Films based on plays
Actors Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland, Rita Johnson, Robert Benchley, Diana Lynn, Edward Fielding
After her client Albert Osborne (Robert Benchley) makes a pass at her, Susan Applegate (Ginger Rogers) quits her job as a scalp massager for the Revigorous System and decides to leave New York City and return home to Stevenson, Iowa. Upon arriving at the train station, she discovers she has only enough money to cover a child's fare, so she disguises herself as a twelve-year-old girl named Su-Su. When a suspicious conductor catches her smoking, Su-Su takes refuge in the compartment of Major Philip Kirby (Ray Milland) who, believing she is a frightened child, agrees to let her stay with him until they reach his stop.
Off Limits (1952)
, 1h29Directed by George Marshall
Origin USA
Genres Comedy
Themes Military humor in film, Sports films, Martial arts films, Boxing films
Actors Bob Hope, Mickey Rooney, Marilyn Maxwell, Eddie Mayehoff, Stanley Clements, Marvin Miller
Wally Hogan (Hope) has things going his way. He is the manager-trainer of Bullet Bradley (Stanley Clements), a fighter who has just won the lightweight championship. Life suddenly takes a not-so-happy turn, however, when Bullet gets drafted. Hogan's gangster partners persuade him to enlist and keep an eye on the fighter, who is subsequently declared psychologically unfit for the Army. Enter Herbert Tuttle (Mickey Rooney), a draftee eager to have Hogan turn him into a fighter. Hogan reluctantly agrees only after he discovers Tuttle's aunt is the beautiful singer (Marilyn Maxwell) at a nightclub. From then on it's a case of stringing Tuttle along while trying to get close to his aunt. To further complicate Hogan's life there is a rulebook Military Police Officer who tries to squash the shenanigans.
Buck Privates Come Home (1947)
, 1h17Directed by Charles Barton
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Action, Romance
Themes Military humor in film, Sports films, Transport films, Films about automobiles, Auto racing films, Buddy films
Actors Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Tom Brown, Nat Pendleton, Joan Shawlee, Russell Hicks
After serving in Europe during World War II, Herbie Brown (Lou Costello) and Slicker Smith (Bud Abbott) return to the United States aboard a troop ship. Also onboard is their old nemesis, Sgt. Collins (Nat Pendleton). As the ship nears New York, Collins and his superiors search the men's belongings for contraband. A six-year-old French orphan, Evey (Beverly Simmons), whom Herbie and Slicker befriended, is found in Herbie's duffle bag. She is handed over to Lt. Sylvia Hunter (Joan Fulton), who delivers her to immigration officials in New York. However, during a shift change at the office, Evey is mistaken for a neighborhood kid and set free. Meanwhile, Herbie and Slicker are back to their pre-war occupation of peddling ties in Times Square. Collins is also back at his old job--a police officer assigned to the same beat. He is about to arrest the boys when Evey shows up and helps them escape.
Buffalo Soldiers (2002)
, 1h38Directed by Gregor Jordan
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, War, Thriller, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Action, Crime
Themes Military humor in film, Politique, Political films
Actors Joaquin Phoenix, Ed Harris, Anna Paquin, Scott Glenn, Haluk Bilginer, Elizabeth McGovern
Specialist Ray Elwood (Joaquin Phoenix) is a U.S. Army soldier stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1989. Bored with the lack of a war, he instead devotes his attention to black market deals, as well as cooking heroin for a gang of drug-dealing Military Police led by Sergeant Saad. As a supply specialist, Elwood poses as a model soldier and friendly confidant to his incompetent commanding officer, Colonel Berman (Ed Harris), who gives Elwood the opportunity to turn Army protocol to his advantage. Berman has no idea what supplies his subordinate is requisitioning or that Elwood is sleeping with his wife (Elizabeth McGovern).
The Lieutenant Wore Skirts (1956)
, 1h39Directed by Frank Tashlin
Origin USA
Genres Comedy
Themes Military humor in film, Children's films
Actors Tom Ewell, Sheree North, Rita Moreno, Rick Jason, Les Tremayne, Gregory Walcott
TV writer Greg Whitcomb did his military service heroically but now has settled into everyday life with a young wife, Katy. A letter from the war department arrives that Katy believes is calling Greg back to active duty from the Air Force reserve, but she hides it during a party celebrating their wedding anniversary.
What Price Glory (1926)
, 1h56Directed by John Ford, Raoul Walsh
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Comedy, Comedy-drama
Themes Military humor in film, Political films, Films based on plays, Children's films, United States Armed Forces in films
Actors Victor McLaglen, Edmund Lowe, Dolores del Río, Phyllis Haver, William V. Mong, Leslie Fenton
Flagg and Quirt are veteran United States Marines sergeants whose rivalry dates back a number of years. Flagg is commissioned a Captain, he is in command of a company on the front lines of France during World War I. Sergeant Quirt is assigned to Flagg's unit as the senior non-commissioned officer. Flagg and Quirt quickly resume their rivalry, which this time takes its form over the affections of Charmaine, the daughter of the local innkeeper. However, Charmaine's desire for a husband and the reality of war give the two men a common cause.
To the Shores of Tripoli (1942)
, 1h26Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Romance
Themes Military humor in film, Political films, Children's films, Le désert, Guerre du désert
Actors John Payne, Maureen O'Hara, Randolph Scott, Nancy Kelly, Minor Watson, William Tracy
Titled after a lyric in the Marines' Hymn, which contains the phrase "... to the shores of Tripoli" (which is, itself, a reference to the Battle of Derne) the film is one of the last of the pre-Pearl Harbor service films. When the film was in post-production the Pearl Harbor attack occurred having the studio shoot a new ending where Payne re-enlists.
In the Navy (1941)
, 1h25Directed by Arthur Lubin
Origin USA
Genres War, Comedy, Musical theatre, Musical, Romance
Themes Military humor in film, Seafaring films, Films about music and musicians, Transport films, Musical films, Buddy films, United States Armed Forces in films
Actors Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Dick Powell, Shemp Howard, Dick Foran, Claire Dodd
Popular crooner Russ Raymond (Dick Powell) abandons his career at its peak and joins the Navy using his real name, Tommy Halstead. However, Dorothy Roberts (Claire Dodd), a reporter, discovers his identity and follows him in the hopes of photographing him and revealing his identity to the world.