Advance to the Rear

Director: George Marshall George Marshall

Overview

In this slapstick Civil War comedy, a tough commanding officer and his second-in-command are assigned to lead a misanthropic, bumbling band of Yankee soldiers. At one point they take on enemy troupes with only rocks to defend themselves. More trouble ensues when a tart and her madam get involved with the men who do not realize that they are southern spies.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/24/2011
UPC:	0883316316993
Original Release:	1964
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[B&W, Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:37:00
Sales rank:	22,923

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Glenn Ford	Capt. Jared Heath,Townsman
Stella Stevens	Martha Lou Williams
Melvyn Douglas	Col. Claude Brackenbury
Jim Backus	Gen. Willoughby
Joan Blondell	Jenny
Andrew Prine	Pvt. Owen Selous
Jesse Pearson	Cpl. Silas Geary
Alan Hale Jr.	Sgt. Beauregard Davis
James Griffith	Hugo Zattig
Whit Bissell	Capt. Queeg
Michael Pate	Thin Elk
Yvonne Craig	Ora
Chuck Roberson	Monk
Bill Troy	Fulton
Frank Mitchell	Belmont
J. Lewis Smith	Slasher O'Toole,Lieutenant
Preston Foster	Gen. Bateman,Gen. Bateman
Harlan Warde	Maj. Hayward
Allen Pinson	Pvt. Long
Sugar Geise	Mamie
Linda Jones	Junie
Britt Ekland	Greta
Paul Langton	Maj. Forsythe
Charles Horvath	Jones
Mary LeBow	Mary
Joe Brooks	Bannerman
Richard Adams	Courier
Eddie Quillan	Smitty
Barnaby Hale	Lieutenant,Sgt. Beauregard Davis
Harvey Stephens	Gen. Dunlap
Robert Carson	Col. Holbert
Janos Phohaska	Flag Pole Sitter
Clegg Hoyt	Loafer
John Day	Loafer
Towyna Thomas	Law and Order League
Sailor Vincent	Deckhand
Robert Anderson	Steamer Captain
Gregg Palmer	Gambler
Reginald Denny	Actor
Kathryn Hart	League Lady
Ann Blake	League Lady
Ken Wales	Lieutenant's Aide

Technical Credits

Ted Richmond	Producer
George Marshall	Director

Editorial Reviews

Advance to the Rear is a very funny, surprisingly overlooked comedy that deserves to be better known. It's not a classic, not in the same league as Bringing Up Baby or similar films, but it's the kind of engaging, humorous film that hooks the viewer early on and keeps him happily involved throughout. Credit goes to its trio of screenwriters (and to Jack Schaefer, author of the book upon which the film is based) for concocting a script that tells its story economically and clearly, provides ample opportunity for gags, includes some nifty jokes and presents some well defined characters. Director George Marshall is perfectly in tune with the writers, playing up the tongue-in-cheek nature of the script without overplaying it, and providing shots of visual interest that don't go out of their way to call attention to themselves. And Rear makes the most of its very able cast, putting star Glenn Ford into the kind of comedy role that suits his deadpan style, allowing Melvyn Douglas to have a field day as the pompous colonel, letting Stella Stevens undulate appealingly and throwing Joan Blondell the chance to zing a few in her inimitable style. Throw in the likes of Jim Backus and Alan hale, Jr., and the result is a fine and funny flick.