This comedy could easily have slipped into a Kelly's Heroes-style parody of the US military, and it's climactic chase scene teeters on the edge at times. But there's no discounting the intelligence at work here: the screenplay is unusually well written, making subtle points about the Vietnam War, racism, and sexism without alienating the audience with dogma. There are especially fine performances by Brian Keith and Ivan Dixon here, a restrained turn from Tony Curtis, and a reminder of the untapped talents of Suzanne Pleshette. A pleasant surprise.
15 Reviews
Soldiers vs. townfolk in late 60's Arizona with a fabulous cast
Wuchakk25 February 2019
"Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came" (1970) is a comedy/drama that details events in remote southern Arizona when militarists at an Army base (Tony Curtis, Brian Keith, Bradford Dillman & Ivan Dixon) conflict with the authorities of the nearby town (e.g. Earnest Borgnine) eventually leading to all hell breaking loose when a couple of disenchanted soldiers steal a tank.
This is a dialogue-driven dramedy stuffed with understated witticisms hidden within the verbiage; so I suggest using the subtitles to catch 'em all. The highlight is the great cast, but curvy cutie Suzanne Pleshette isn't used enough. An additional attraction is that this is a great way to go back in time and observe American society in 1969 (when the film was shot).
The producers were shooting for the tone of the contemporaneous "Kelly's Heroes" transplanted to late 60's America. Unfortunately, the script needed a rewrite to flesh out more entertaining prospects. It's a flat viewing experience as is. Eastwood's "Heartbreak Ridge" took elements of it and made a better flick. Not that "Heartbreak" is great or anything, but it's superior to this.
The film runs 1 hour, 53 minutes and was shot at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, with some scenes done at Warner Brothers Studios, S. Cal. Don Amech and John Fiedler also appear.
GRADE: C
This is a dialogue-driven dramedy stuffed with understated witticisms hidden within the verbiage; so I suggest using the subtitles to catch 'em all. The highlight is the great cast, but curvy cutie Suzanne Pleshette isn't used enough. An additional attraction is that this is a great way to go back in time and observe American society in 1969 (when the film was shot).
The producers were shooting for the tone of the contemporaneous "Kelly's Heroes" transplanted to late 60's America. Unfortunately, the script needed a rewrite to flesh out more entertaining prospects. It's a flat viewing experience as is. Eastwood's "Heartbreak Ridge" took elements of it and made a better flick. Not that "Heartbreak" is great or anything, but it's superior to this.
The film runs 1 hour, 53 minutes and was shot at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, with some scenes done at Warner Brothers Studios, S. Cal. Don Amech and John Fiedler also appear.
GRADE: C
Just okay.
planktonrules25 September 2023
For some reason, the town next to an Army base REALLY hates the military and they are mighty unfriendly. Now, you might think it's because the soldiers are ill-behaved jerks, which is occasionally the case, but the core of the problem seems to be that the sheriff and local government just hate the guys...and you can't help but think that sooner or later this is all going to come to a head After all, again and again, the sheriff keeps rousting the soldiers and a few of them (Tony Curtis) are hot-heads and likely to take the bait. But what two sergeants end up doing...well, that certainly IS memorable...and reminiscent of the James Garner film, "Tank".
I think this film is okay....just okay. Had they emphasized comedy or drama exclusively, I think it would have worked better.
I think this film is okay....just okay. Had they emphasized comedy or drama exclusively, I think it would have worked better.
Actually quite enjoyable!
imdb-237817 November 2004
Bought this in a discount store so had low expectations from it. Actually really good - a simple and enjoyable film. Easy to watch and fun. Some of the characters (esp Nace and Ramona) were good to watch - nicely scripted and acted. Apart from that the story is great if taken with a relaxed view.
I recommend it and am glad to have it in the collection. The tank chase scene is comical and almost up there in Smokey and the Bandit or even comic James Bond style. The film is almost in Kelly's Heroes territory but is its own story.
I recommend it and am glad to have it in the collection. The tank chase scene is comical and almost up there in Smokey and the Bandit or even comic James Bond style. The film is almost in Kelly's Heroes territory but is its own story.
Horrible!
nemman15 June 2001
All you need to do is listen to the dreadful theme song at the end of the movie to realize what a complete, moronic, hack job this movie was. Free isn't enough. Someone pay me for the time this movie consumed!!
Cartoonish military stereotypes vs. Cartoonish small town stereotypes. Poor Brian Keith seemed to really want to do something with his role, but with this script that was just about impossible. I will give him an A for his effort, though wasted it was.
Cartoonish military stereotypes vs. Cartoonish small town stereotypes. Poor Brian Keith seemed to really want to do something with his role, but with this script that was just about impossible. I will give him an A for his effort, though wasted it was.
We Shall Undercome
ecapital461 May 2006
As a 20 year Military veteran, I was attracted to the intriguing question that is the title of this movie. Deciding whether or not to watch it becomes a no-brainer when you see the list of names that make up the ensemble of the cast: Ernie Borgnine, Ivan Dixon, Don Ameche, Art O'Connell and the great John Fiedler are all solid actors and have appeared in some of the best films in the history of American cinema. (check out their collective credits if you doubt it.)
This film is an underrated one in the canon of films dealing with the U. S. Military. The script, although not perfect, is well written, with subtle and witty commentary on the military hierarchy, prevailing social attitudes, and the precarious relationship between our Vietnam-era military and the civilian community (i.e. "community relations"). No heavy military rigidness here; the flow is free and easy as in 'Catch-22' to provide a frame of reference. Or, as Stephen Sondheim wrote around the same period in "Anyone Can Whistle," the 'laugh at the Kings, or they'll make you cry' approach.
As would be expected, Brian Keith is solid, but surprisingly even Tony Curtis manages to turn in a relatively piped-down performance from his usual fare which, to quote America's best known homemaker Martha Stewart, 'is a good thing.'
This film is an underrated one in the canon of films dealing with the U. S. Military. The script, although not perfect, is well written, with subtle and witty commentary on the military hierarchy, prevailing social attitudes, and the precarious relationship between our Vietnam-era military and the civilian community (i.e. "community relations"). No heavy military rigidness here; the flow is free and easy as in 'Catch-22' to provide a frame of reference. Or, as Stephen Sondheim wrote around the same period in "Anyone Can Whistle," the 'laugh at the Kings, or they'll make you cry' approach.
As would be expected, Brian Keith is solid, but surprisingly even Tony Curtis manages to turn in a relatively piped-down performance from his usual fare which, to quote America's best known homemaker Martha Stewart, 'is a good thing.'
I was an extra in this movie.
lcbrownz18 May 2022
Most of this movie was shot at Fort Huachuca, AZ and Tuscon. I was in the parade scene. It took almost 4 hours to film. When the movie was released, the parade (itself) was cut to 20 seconds of film time. Tony Curtis was wasted on this film. It reminded me of his role in the movie "Operation Petticoat". If this movie came today, it would swiftly be sent to a streaming channel.
Very funny-the Civil War fought all over again
roblanious5 August 2007
I remember watching this as a child at the theater and then on TV (called "War Games") and have not seen it since the mid 70s and miss it. What appealed to me most was the recreation of the Civil War, where again, the American Yankees are forced into war and have to confront bigoted anti-American Southerners. The movie seems to poke fun at the sore losers of a war fought in the 1860s. You cannot help but cheer as a few Yankees take on a half-witted army of a Southern Sheriff as they plow into town riding an old World War 2 M-7 self-propelled artillery gun to liberate a friend from the jail. Compusive actions, however, must not go without consequences. What a funny movie with a good cast.
Put this one in the tank and forget about it
SimonJack25 February 2015
Over the years, Hollywood has made some very good comedies about the military or set in military service. But, this is not one of them. It has to be near the bottom of the heap. What there is of a plot seems to be a few days in the lives of three career GI buddies, who are together again in a stateside base around 1970. That's when the movie was made, and when the U.S. was in the height of the war in Vietnam. Other reviewers have noted the absence of any awareness of a war going on among the characters of this film. One of the three leads in this film, Sergeant Shannon Gambroni, is a major foul-up. None of the roles are very good, so Tony Curtis can't be blamed too much for his poor portrayal of an unbelievable character. Oh, we had people like Gambroni in the Army, but they never made sergeant – or, if they did, they didn't keep their stripes very long.
This isn't a satire, and it's not a slapstick comedy. There is little more than a few clichés for humorous lines – nothing really witty about the film. The climax is the theft of some kind of a vehicle they call a tank. The feuding between the military and the local sheriff just doesn't come off as genuine, or comic. It reminded me of another film, the 1984 movie 'Tank" that starred James Garner. It wasn't a comedy, but had the best tank chase ever put on film. By the end of that movie, everyone was rooting for Garner and his tank.
So, in scratching "Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came," I can recommend a number of very funny and very good military comedies. Before and during WW II, But Abbott and Lou Costello donned various service uniforms for some laughs. Other actors got in the act, parodying military life. In 1958, Andy Griffith and Nick Adams starred in "No Time for Sergeants," and introduced foul balls who couldn't do anything right. Two Navy comedies were made about service in the backwaters during the war. "Mr. Roberts" in 1955 starred Henry Fonda, James Cagney and Jack Lemmon. Cary Grant and Tony Curtis starred in the 1959 Navy comedy, "Operation Petticoat."
Well into the Cold War, and U.S. involvement in Vietnam, American comedies about the military took on a different look. The slapstick and buffoonery were mostly replaced by satire and military irreverence. This led to some excellent films. "Dr. Strangelove," in 1964 starred Peter Sellers and a stellar cast. "MASH" in 1970 mixed the satire with drama and some crazy antics in a look back on the Korean War (then called a "conflict"). It starred Donald Sutherland and Elliott Gould. "Kelly's Heroes" in 1970 had GIs in WW II going after gold in a German bank. The leaders were Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Don Rickles and Donald Sutherland. A 1999 film would reprise that theme at the end of the Persian Gulf War. George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg starred in "Three Kings."
In 1981, a hilarious satire reintroduced some antics. "Stripes" had Bill Murray, John Candy and Harold Raimis as Army misfits with brains. "Good Morning, Vietnam" came out in 1987. It was a powerful comedy satire and drama about that war, starring Robin Williams. There are many more military comedies, but these are some of the best that will give movie buffs some excellent entertainment in place of duds like "Suppose They Gave a War."
This isn't a satire, and it's not a slapstick comedy. There is little more than a few clichés for humorous lines – nothing really witty about the film. The climax is the theft of some kind of a vehicle they call a tank. The feuding between the military and the local sheriff just doesn't come off as genuine, or comic. It reminded me of another film, the 1984 movie 'Tank" that starred James Garner. It wasn't a comedy, but had the best tank chase ever put on film. By the end of that movie, everyone was rooting for Garner and his tank.
So, in scratching "Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came," I can recommend a number of very funny and very good military comedies. Before and during WW II, But Abbott and Lou Costello donned various service uniforms for some laughs. Other actors got in the act, parodying military life. In 1958, Andy Griffith and Nick Adams starred in "No Time for Sergeants," and introduced foul balls who couldn't do anything right. Two Navy comedies were made about service in the backwaters during the war. "Mr. Roberts" in 1955 starred Henry Fonda, James Cagney and Jack Lemmon. Cary Grant and Tony Curtis starred in the 1959 Navy comedy, "Operation Petticoat."
Well into the Cold War, and U.S. involvement in Vietnam, American comedies about the military took on a different look. The slapstick and buffoonery were mostly replaced by satire and military irreverence. This led to some excellent films. "Dr. Strangelove," in 1964 starred Peter Sellers and a stellar cast. "MASH" in 1970 mixed the satire with drama and some crazy antics in a look back on the Korean War (then called a "conflict"). It starred Donald Sutherland and Elliott Gould. "Kelly's Heroes" in 1970 had GIs in WW II going after gold in a German bank. The leaders were Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Don Rickles and Donald Sutherland. A 1999 film would reprise that theme at the end of the Persian Gulf War. George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg starred in "Three Kings."
In 1981, a hilarious satire reintroduced some antics. "Stripes" had Bill Murray, John Candy and Harold Raimis as Army misfits with brains. "Good Morning, Vietnam" came out in 1987. It was a powerful comedy satire and drama about that war, starring Robin Williams. There are many more military comedies, but these are some of the best that will give movie buffs some excellent entertainment in place of duds like "Suppose They Gave a War."
Suppose They Made This Movie and Nobody Came
angelsunchained15 February 2024
I saw this film in 1970 as a sneak preview at the Shores Theater in Miami Shores, Florida. My dad had been an infantry sergeant and was awarded a Silver Star Medal in World War II. He liked the film only because it had some of the actors he liked, Tony Curtis and Brian Keith among others. We both agreed the movie couldn't figure out what it wanted to be, a comedy or a serious film. We assumed it was not only an anti-war film, but an anti everything film. Most of the main characters were far from likeable and it seemed everyone was angry, embittered, sarcastic, anti social and bigoted. Only interesting if you're a big enough fan of the cast, not much else.
Cheap, Exploitive and Shallow. Fake Antiwar Message Title & All
Jakealope27 February 2011
It's hard to sink low in Hollywood, but one way is to lead people on that you are making some sort of "profound" anti-war, anti-racism message movie, only to produce a really shallow, laughable at, not with, military comedy. Since they used a then popular antiwar slogan as the title and had a "long haired" soldier walk down the road with a peace sign painted on his duffel bag, it is really insulting that this movie, made during the height of the Vietnam War and protests, DIDN'T EVEN mention the war. OK, they DID, sort of, when Brian Keith told a story about one his men who got shot their in 1956??(Did he transfer from the French Army?) It acted like this was just a peacetime military base with a minor social, public relations problem with their local redneck civilian community. It was set in the South, but the architecture and landscape suggested, guess, Southern California.
It also tried to play up the racial angle, which it did a tad more successfully than the anti-war angle, only to submerge it into the townies versus the garrison plot element. It had a pretty good cast, except for some sloppy brat pack boozy acting by Tony Curtis. Even some of the dialog was good. But when you add the childish mash up scene at the end along with the cheap pseudo messaging in the movie's theme, it is a real dud. It is like an (almost) adult version of McHale's Navy, except McHale is playing one of Captain Binghampton's enforcers; the stock redneck Southern sheriff.
It also tried to play up the racial angle, which it did a tad more successfully than the anti-war angle, only to submerge it into the townies versus the garrison plot element. It had a pretty good cast, except for some sloppy brat pack boozy acting by Tony Curtis. Even some of the dialog was good. But when you add the childish mash up scene at the end along with the cheap pseudo messaging in the movie's theme, it is a real dud. It is like an (almost) adult version of McHale's Navy, except McHale is playing one of Captain Binghampton's enforcers; the stock redneck Southern sheriff.
Overlooked black comedy of the Vietnam Era
michaeldouglas14 May 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Released around the same time as other "black" comedies like "MASH" and "Catch 22", this one was largely overlooked at the time. It's actually quite a good movie, which explores some of the problems of peace-time garrison life for soldiers during the Vietnam War. It's a comedy, but always with a dark side, shown through the eyes of three old Army buddies, Brian Keith, Tony Curtis, and Ivan Dixon.
The underrated Brian Keith is very good as a hard-bitten old combat vet struggling to master "community relations" with a town that clearly resents the presence of an army base nearby (and all the trouble the off-duty soldiers bring). Ivan Dixon (from the "Hogans Heros" TV show) also solid as a sergeant nearing retirement who just wants to own a gas station in the town; only to find the local bank won't lend him the money, considering army personnel "bad risks". And Tony Curtis is also good as the scheming hustler of the three (probably because he's fairly restrained for a change!). Suzanne Pleshette is wonderful as always; the only shame is that she disappears from the plot about half-way through the movie! Don Ameche and Bradford Dillman, among others, lend very competent support.
The movie holds it's own quite well, even when Brian Keith and Ivan Dixon "borrow" an old M-7 Priest self-propelled gun (tank) to spring Curtis from the local jail (run by sadistic sheriff Ernest Borgnine). Unfortunately, as with so many comedies of the era, it just can't seem to sustain itself to the end. The movie sinks into silliness in the last reel, when the local "patriotic" militia (led by a very hammy Tom Ewell) tries to stop the tank. Just one look at Ewell's ridiculous uniform and you know the filmmakers have gone for the "cop out" of slapstick humor. Jarringly out of place in a black comedy. It was for this reason I couldn't justify a "10" rating. Still, it IS enjoyable watching the tank crush various old junker cars used by the militia ("I think I'll eat some more cars!" Brian Keith says as he drives the tank). The 1984 James Garner movie "Tank" was loosely inspired by this movie, but wasn't half as good!
The underrated Brian Keith is very good as a hard-bitten old combat vet struggling to master "community relations" with a town that clearly resents the presence of an army base nearby (and all the trouble the off-duty soldiers bring). Ivan Dixon (from the "Hogans Heros" TV show) also solid as a sergeant nearing retirement who just wants to own a gas station in the town; only to find the local bank won't lend him the money, considering army personnel "bad risks". And Tony Curtis is also good as the scheming hustler of the three (probably because he's fairly restrained for a change!). Suzanne Pleshette is wonderful as always; the only shame is that she disappears from the plot about half-way through the movie! Don Ameche and Bradford Dillman, among others, lend very competent support.
The movie holds it's own quite well, even when Brian Keith and Ivan Dixon "borrow" an old M-7 Priest self-propelled gun (tank) to spring Curtis from the local jail (run by sadistic sheriff Ernest Borgnine). Unfortunately, as with so many comedies of the era, it just can't seem to sustain itself to the end. The movie sinks into silliness in the last reel, when the local "patriotic" militia (led by a very hammy Tom Ewell) tries to stop the tank. Just one look at Ewell's ridiculous uniform and you know the filmmakers have gone for the "cop out" of slapstick humor. Jarringly out of place in a black comedy. It was for this reason I couldn't justify a "10" rating. Still, it IS enjoyable watching the tank crush various old junker cars used by the militia ("I think I'll eat some more cars!" Brian Keith says as he drives the tank). The 1984 James Garner movie "Tank" was loosely inspired by this movie, but wasn't half as good!
Is there a point?
HotToastyRag23 September 2021
Everything out of Don Ameche's mouth in this 1970 anti-war flick is very funny, but I'm not quite sure what the point of the film is. Perhaps that is the point, though. Perhaps it's supposed to show a bunch of undisciplined soldiers who don't really care about serving their country, which answers the titular question. If soldiers suddenly decided going to a party or getting a bank loan were more important than being a strong defensive unit, would there really be a war? Is war necessary when the country is just full of a bunch of hippies?
This movie, starring Brian Keith, Tony Curtis, Ivan Dixon, Ernest Borgnine, Arthur O'Connell, Suzanne Pleshette, Bradford Dillman, John Fiedler, and Don Ameche, wasn't really my cup of tea. It's too 1970s for my taste, but I know there are plenty of people who will find the humor and irony in it. All I found was Tony Curtis having an enormous chip on his shoulder and getting into fights all the time, and Brian Keith and Ivan Dixon coming up with a very silly way to protest racism at the bank.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. At the dance party, the camera angles swerve and tilt with no warning. Also, during the car chase in the last twenty minutes of the movie, the camera frequently turns and shakes with the cars, and it will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
This movie, starring Brian Keith, Tony Curtis, Ivan Dixon, Ernest Borgnine, Arthur O'Connell, Suzanne Pleshette, Bradford Dillman, John Fiedler, and Don Ameche, wasn't really my cup of tea. It's too 1970s for my taste, but I know there are plenty of people who will find the humor and irony in it. All I found was Tony Curtis having an enormous chip on his shoulder and getting into fights all the time, and Brian Keith and Ivan Dixon coming up with a very silly way to protest racism at the bank.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. At the dance party, the camera angles swerve and tilt with no warning. Also, during the car chase in the last twenty minutes of the movie, the camera frequently turns and shakes with the cars, and it will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
Waste of talent
den_quixote7 November 2022
By talent, I mean, specifically Suzanne Pleshette, who was as wonderful as humanly possible with the material she had to work with and the same holds true for Don Ameche. All of the other cast members made the effort but there were just no goods to deliver. Hy Averback did not direct another theatrical release for 14 years and that one, Where The Boys Are, was also disappointing and understandably, his last one. If you have said to yourself once or twice in the past, "what a great title" I should probably give it a chance, do not do it. The title was all there was. In an effort to see my warning in print I must add a few more words to it. The basic thrust of the movie seems to indicate some bad feeling between the right wing heirarchy of a small southwestern town and the soldiers at the nearby base, so Brian Keith who has no experience in community relations is brought in to help. There he runs into old comrades, Tony Curtis and Ivan Dixon, who, being Black, must endure a slew of poorly written and mostly tasteless ethnic jokes at his expense. It's not worth the effort.
What did you do in the war, daddy?
mark.waltz27 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
That earlier comedy is actually used as a plot related quote in this movie, a very funny film about an army base near a small town that the locals don't really like. Sheriff Ernest Borgnine warns the bus load of officers and recruits to behave themselves or else, but for Tony Curtis, he's not about to listen to him, especially when he meets the fun and feisty Suzanne Pleshette, playing hard to get at first but obviously amused by Curtis's efforts to get her attention.
A fantastic ensemble includes Brian Keith as a top officer, legend Don Ameche as his commanding officer, John Fieldler as his frigid assistant and Ivan Dixon of "Hogan's Heroes" as Curtis's often partner in pranks. Pamela Britton is a total scene stealer as Keith's secretary, and smaller roles are filled with such familiar faces as Grady Sutton, Arthur O'Connell, Tom Ewell and Bradford Dillman.
A very good-natured comedy that was surprisingly much better than I expected to be, this goes down similar territories as "McHale's Navy" (although Borgnine is the heavy in this, a far cry from that TV series and movie spinoff), and this definitely has a sitcom feel to it even though this was made for the big screen rather than television. Pleshette is absolutely delightful in everything she does, and even with the top notch cast, she walks off with this although everybody has great material. This is definitely an ensemble piece, and of the men, Keith gets the best material although Ameche is hysterically funny as well. They may not go to war here, but for me, there was nothing to battle. This film is just pure entertainment.
A fantastic ensemble includes Brian Keith as a top officer, legend Don Ameche as his commanding officer, John Fieldler as his frigid assistant and Ivan Dixon of "Hogan's Heroes" as Curtis's often partner in pranks. Pamela Britton is a total scene stealer as Keith's secretary, and smaller roles are filled with such familiar faces as Grady Sutton, Arthur O'Connell, Tom Ewell and Bradford Dillman.
A very good-natured comedy that was surprisingly much better than I expected to be, this goes down similar territories as "McHale's Navy" (although Borgnine is the heavy in this, a far cry from that TV series and movie spinoff), and this definitely has a sitcom feel to it even though this was made for the big screen rather than television. Pleshette is absolutely delightful in everything she does, and even with the top notch cast, she walks off with this although everybody has great material. This is definitely an ensemble piece, and of the men, Keith gets the best material although Ameche is hysterically funny as well. They may not go to war here, but for me, there was nothing to battle. This film is just pure entertainment.
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