Advance to the Rear (1964)
Melvyn Douglas is hilarious in Advance to the Rear! He was primarily a comic actor in the silver screen, with very few dramatic roles under his belt, but in this ’60s flick in his later years, he ramps up his comedic talents and steals the show. He plays the commanding officer of a Union company during the Civil War, and he’s completely inept. He warns his troops not to harm the other side, lest it “make them mad” and lead to actual battles. He contradicts his own orders, and even crawls under a tent when the shooting starts. It’s no wonder Glenn Ford, one of his top soldiers, feels frustrated.
Glenn is pretty much the only competent soldier, and while watching this band of misfits, it’s hard to believe they won the war. As if they don’t have enough obstacles, Southern belle Stella Stevens joins them. She pretends to be a hooker cozying up to Glenn, but really she’s a Confederate spy! Stella is as cute as it gets, and Glenn Ford matches her banter with charm and smarts. In one fantastic scene, he calls her bluff and starts undressing in his bedroom, thinking she’ll admit she’s not really a prostitute.
With cute songs from The New Christy Minstrels, and a supporting cast including Jim Backus, Alan Hale Jr., Whit Bissell, and Joan Blondell, this movie is an adorable time capsule from the 1960s. It’s no easy to task to make a comedy out of the Civil War, but they managed to do it! I’ve already bought the original novel Company of Cowards, and I hope it’ll be just as charming and funny as the screenplay. Check this movie out if you haven’t seen it yet. Where else can you find Melvyn Douglas getting frisky and trying to climb into bed with Stella Stevens? That’s really a once-in-a-career opportunity for him.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Whit Bissell movies here!
Glenn is pretty much the only competent soldier, and while watching this band of misfits, it’s hard to believe they won the war. As if they don’t have enough obstacles, Southern belle Stella Stevens joins them. She pretends to be a hooker cozying up to Glenn, but really she’s a Confederate spy! Stella is as cute as it gets, and Glenn Ford matches her banter with charm and smarts. In one fantastic scene, he calls her bluff and starts undressing in his bedroom, thinking she’ll admit she’s not really a prostitute.
With cute songs from The New Christy Minstrels, and a supporting cast including Jim Backus, Alan Hale Jr., Whit Bissell, and Joan Blondell, this movie is an adorable time capsule from the 1960s. It’s no easy to task to make a comedy out of the Civil War, but they managed to do it! I’ve already bought the original novel Company of Cowards, and I hope it’ll be just as charming and funny as the screenplay. Check this movie out if you haven’t seen it yet. Where else can you find Melvyn Douglas getting frisky and trying to climb into bed with Stella Stevens? That’s really a once-in-a-career opportunity for him.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Whit Bissell movies here!
Hot Toasty Rag Nominations:
Best Supporting Actor of 1964: Melvyn Douglas
Best Comedic Screenplay
Best Original Song: "Today"