How I Won the War (1967)

Director:

Richard Lester

Writers:

Patrick Ryan (novel)
Charles Wood (screenplay)

Release Date:

23 October 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | War

Tagline:

If You Think Richard Lester's 'How I Won The War' Is Just Another War Film, Forget It...

Plot:

An inept British WWII commander leads his troops to a series of misadventures in North Africa and Europe.

Plot Keywords:

John Lennon | Troop | Flashback | Army | WWII

Cast

Michael Crawford	...	Goodbody
John Lennon	...	Gripweed
Roy Kinnear	...	Clapper
Lee Montague	...	Transom
Jack MacGowran	...	Juniper
Michael Hordern	...	Grapple
Jack Hedley	...	Melancholy Musketeer
Karl Michael Vogler	...	Odlebog
Ronald Lacey	...	Spool
James Cossins	...	Drogue
Ewan Hooper	...	Dooley
Alexander Knox	...	American General
Robert Hardy	...	British General
Sheila Hancock	...	Mrs. Clapper's Friend
Charles Dyer	...	Happy-Trousered Man

Runtime:

USA:109 min | Argentina:109 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | Australia:M | UK:X (original rating) | UK:12 (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company:

Petersham Pictures

Trivia:

John Lennon found the Spanish location quite boring, so Ringo Starr flew out to keep him company.

Quotes:

Juniper: [enters scene dressed as a clown, pulling a hobby horse, as if acting a scene] Will you take my horse, sir?
Transom: [to Goodbody] Take no large notice, sir. He is working what is known as ticket, sir. Keeps the lads amused.
[Clapper, Drouge, and Spool join Juniper, dressed normally]
Transom: Pick those bits up, Gripweed!
[joining the scene]
Transom: Where's your tin hat gone, Juniper?
Juniper: Losing by neglect, sir!
Transom: If I catch you without your tin hat in a battle zone again, I'll ram it down your throat!
Clapper: Losing by neglect, one mess tin.
Juniper: One mess tin!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

sheep in wolf's clothing

An anti-war film in disguise... As a "fan" of war films but also a "peacenik" I love this movie. Aside from the fact that i am an overtly biased Beatles' fan this film is an intellectual riot. John Lennon co-stars with the star of Hello Dolly as members of a British military unit saddled with the ridiculous duty of building a cricket pitch during the invasion of North Africa! Filled with ironic black war humor, it suffers a little from the predictable muddle of most 60's films.

Something interesting to note is that John Lennon is first seen wearing his trademark round spectacles in this movie. Having been asked (for some reason) to wear the glasses for the film he continued to wear them for the rest of his life!

This movie is a must for all Lennon fans.