What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966)

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.

I remember watching Blake Edward's (always beware of this word) zany service comedy on NBC 35 years ago and laughing out loud for two thirds of the film.Then, everything changed. I recollect the basic story--and the army officer losing his mind in the catacombs underneath an Italian town--but all of a sudden, the film got serious and brutal. The whole thing came to a screeching halt when, I think, the Germans arrive to spoil the on-screen party. What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? was such a disappointment. It wasn't until I got quite a bit older that I realized that Edwards was trying to make a statement of some sort with this thing, and his delivery was so heavy-handed, the movie just collapsed.Skip it.

This is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen -- one part social commentary, three parts random chaos. If you like your movies to make sense, you won't enjoy this one; if you like "Paris When it Sizzles," _Catch-22_, or any Tom Stoppard novels, this will be right up your alley. It's very hard to find, though; I saw it on television in London back in 1994 and haven't been able to find any video rental store that carries it.

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.