Qu'as-tu fait à la guerre, papa?

The Sixties produced a slew of funny war comedies demonstrating that WWII was basically good fun for all concerned, rather than being peopled with the kind of angst-filled, hand-wringing adolescents you see nowadays in movies like Memphis Belle and Saving Private Ryan. Edwards would go on to fantastic success with the Pink Panther series and writer Blatty is notable for his later work, The Exorcist. Edwards draws on a solid cast, including veterans Carroll O'Connor, Harry Morgan and Aldo Ray, without whom no war movie is complete. Italian star Fantoni turns in a meatball performance as Oppo but Dick Shawn steals the show with the best role of his career. Although a little slow in spots, Blake Edwards nonetheless gets where he's going and the result is a fine, though underrated, entry in the genre. The interactions between Shawn and Fantoni are worth the price of admission alone.

Maybe this is not the Great American Movie, but certainly a worthy effort. It has been over 30 (maybe 40) years since I've seen it (and not for lack of trying to find it on TV or for rent) but I can still remember how hard I laughed at Harry Morgan's antics. That's funny stuff! Worth a watch and I do wish it was available on DVD. At that time I first saw this I had no idea who Blake Edwards was, but looking back I can see the influence and similarities with works like the Pink Panther series. If you liked the Pink Panther and the Return of the Pink Panther (the only two I really cared for) you probably will like this too.

Gen. Sherman said that war is hell, but if he had seen "What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?", he would have eaten his words. The movie focuses on an American platoon that captures an Italian village in WWII. The Italians are willing to surrender as long as they can have their festival. This creates a problem for the Americans, who have to look like they're fighting. Meanwhile, one of the commanding officers gets lost in the catacombs and goes crazy.

Dick Shawn displays the same type of wacky humor that he employed in "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World", and we even get to see Carroll O'Connor, pre-"All in the Family". Perfect.

Released in 1966 and directed by Blake Edwards, "What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?" chronicles amusing events at a strategic Italian hamlet during WWII. The village's citizens agree to surrender to an Allied platoon on the condition that they hold their traditional wine festival. Due to aerial reconnaissance, the platoon must look like they are fiercely fighting the Sicilians when that's hardly case; in fact, they're partying it up! Mistaking the festival for an attack, a platoon of Germans come to assist the Italians.

This is a fun mid-60's war comedy, the obvious inspiration for the superior "Kelly's Heroes," which came out four years later. Carroll O'Connor even plays the same basic character. There are some dull stretches and the entire last act is weak, almost ruining the movie. But the rest is quietly amusing with good laughs here and there highlighted by Dick Shawn, James Coburn, Sergio Fantoni and Harry Morgan, not to mention the jaw-dropping beauty of Giovanna Ralli. Shawn plays the by-the-books Allied captain offset by Coburn's easy-going lieutenant. Morgan's character getting lost in the catacombs and going mad is memorable.

Only watch this, however, if you have a taste for 60's war comedies in the mold of "Kelly's Heroes," 1970's "M*A*S*H" or Hogan's Heroes.

The movie is overlong at 116 minutes and was shot at Lake Sherwood, California, on a thoroughly convincing Italian village set.

GRADE: B-

If you've never seen "What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?", you owe it to yourself to pick it up (or at least ask Netflix to stock it!). Great, wacky fun, memorable characters/situations, heavy drinking, babes, and catacombs!! What's not to love???

Stars some of the greats: James Coburn (Magnificent Seven, Our Man Flint, etc.), Harry Morgan (who kept up the military theme as Colonel Potter on M*A*S*H), and Carroll O'Connor (whom you might better recognize as Archie Bunker). It's got all the energy and cleverness of "Animal House" without the "Porky's"-style humor - this is a movie you can watch with your kids!

I've been looking for it for years. Rent it. You'll be glad you did.