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Natalie Wood & Tab Hunter
The title role of The Girl He Left Behind is none other than Natalie Wood. But it is Tab Hunter who is doing the leaving because he's gotten a greetings letter from President Eisenhower inviting him to join the US Army. Those draft notices can ruin the plans of many a young man.
In this case the young man Hunter is playing is quite rich and really acts to the manor born. If he's got the right stuff it will take all the people above him in his training company from captain David Janssen to First Sergeant Jim Backus to platoon sergeant Murray Hamilton to bring it out of him.
Fifteen years after this film was made I was doing basic training at a lovely garden spot of the earth called Fort Polk, Louisiana. It would never have occurred to me to mouth off the way Tab Hunter was doing to those above him. I've also never seen a basic training film that didn't have one trainee doing a single pushup. Hunter should have been down in a prone position on all fours pushing the good earth of Fort Ord away from him.
The Girl He Left Behind was filmed at Ford Ord and that certainly made it look authentic if it wasn't quite. In the cast as Hunter's fellow trainees are Alan King, Henry Jones and James Garner in what was his second film appearance.
Both Hunter's memoirs and a recent biography of Natalie Wood mention that at this time the two of them were linked romantically in a series of studio arranged dates. We know now just how far from the truth that was, but at least from Hunter's point of view, Natalie Wood was a good scout about it all. One of the lines I remember best from his autobiography was that he (Tab) could have qualified for veteran's benefits with all the military movies he was cast in. He certainly did have that all American military look about him.
The Girl He Left Behind is one of the most unrealistic of army films I've ever seen, still it has a great cast and I'm a fan of a whole lot of the people in this film.
In this case the young man Hunter is playing is quite rich and really acts to the manor born. If he's got the right stuff it will take all the people above him in his training company from captain David Janssen to First Sergeant Jim Backus to platoon sergeant Murray Hamilton to bring it out of him.
Fifteen years after this film was made I was doing basic training at a lovely garden spot of the earth called Fort Polk, Louisiana. It would never have occurred to me to mouth off the way Tab Hunter was doing to those above him. I've also never seen a basic training film that didn't have one trainee doing a single pushup. Hunter should have been down in a prone position on all fours pushing the good earth of Fort Ord away from him.
The Girl He Left Behind was filmed at Ford Ord and that certainly made it look authentic if it wasn't quite. In the cast as Hunter's fellow trainees are Alan King, Henry Jones and James Garner in what was his second film appearance.
Both Hunter's memoirs and a recent biography of Natalie Wood mention that at this time the two of them were linked romantically in a series of studio arranged dates. We know now just how far from the truth that was, but at least from Hunter's point of view, Natalie Wood was a good scout about it all. One of the lines I remember best from his autobiography was that he (Tab) could have qualified for veteran's benefits with all the military movies he was cast in. He certainly did have that all American military look about him.
The Girl He Left Behind is one of the most unrealistic of army films I've ever seen, still it has a great cast and I'm a fan of a whole lot of the people in this film.
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Sour Comedy
Spoiled rich kid (Hunter) is drafted into the army where he creates problems.
For about a ten-year period from the smash-hit Mr. Roberts (1955) to the deepening involvement in Vietnam, Hollywood produced a spate of service comedies, including this one. These were movies trading on the lighter side of military service. They existed in what might be called the triumphant after-glow of WWII, and perhaps as a way of further forgetting that awkward war in Korea. Of course, Hollywood being Hollywood, liberties with real military service were taken, sometimes in wholesale lots. Nonetheless, comedies like Mr. Roberts, Operation Mad Ball (1957), Operation Petticoat (1959) were genuinely funny and harmless entertainment unless taken seriously.
Few people, I expect, remember this entry and for good reason—it's not even amusing, let alone funny. Which means for one thing that folks familiar with Basic Training are not apt to overlook the many liberties taken, as other reviewers detail. Clearly, Warner Bros. intended the movie as a vehicle for its younger players, probably hoping for chemistry between Hunter and Wood. And that's the trouble. Hunter simply lacks the skills for what's actually a rather difficult role. Shaeffer needs to be not just arrogant, but also likable at some level. Unfortunately, Hunter's Pvt. Shaeffer is just obnoxious without the redeeming qualities that a Jack Lemmon or a Tony Curtis, for example, could have managed. And since Hunter's miscasting is in about every scene, the movie is more unpleasant than anything else.
Wood's role as the girlfriend is clearly secondary to Hunter's, and one most any young actress less talented could have handled. But at least, the movie's a payday for such fine supporting players as Jones, Janssen, and especially the arch Murray Hamilton whose platoon sergeant is made to suffer indignities from a trainee no real sergeant would put up with. I'm just sorry Jim Garner wasn't young enough to bring his superb light-comedy skills to the lead role. Then the movie might have worked.
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A movie with an undeserved bad rep
Referred to by both its leading players as The Girl With The Left Behind this is by no means a great movie but one certainly better than its sullied reputation would lead you to believe.
Referred to by both its leading players as The Girl With The Left Behind this is by no means a great movie but one certainly better than its sullied reputation would lead you to believe.
A large part of that bad rep comes via its two stars, Tab Hunter and Natalie Wood. A large portion of their distaste for this and several of their other co-starring pictures is surely attributable to the fact that they were contract players at the time and handed one indifferent script after another until Natalie graduated to A level stardom and Tab left the studio.
The film itself is an innocuous trifle about a selfish spoiled young man who has a problem with authority and the pains he and the officers over him suffer when he's drafted. Hardly a new plot or revolutionarily enacted this is stuffed with excellent character actors all contributing fun performances. A few standouts are Jessie Royce Landis as Tab's addled mother, Murray Hamilton as his exasperated direct superior and Henry Jones as an amiable cohort. Natalie's disregard for the film is understandable though since she's handed one of the nothing girl parts she had to endure while toiling her way to the top.
An unremarkable studio product this is still an enjoyable picture.
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Excellent comedy
I saw this movie the week that I returned home from South Viet Nam. I have attempted to purchase a copy of the move; however, no one seems to have any knowledge of how I can get a copy of the movie. I can not find it in Cerritos, California. I would highly, recommend the movie to any movie buff who wishes to just enjoy a good movie without blood and violence. Tab Hunter is an excellent actor and he plays this role of a young man who does not desire to remain in the army perfectly. His immature love for his girlfriend is excellent for thought provoking material. The military life is portrayed in a realistic manner. This movie will aid any young man who is currently in the military in making the adjustment from civilian to military life.
I saw this movie the week that I returned home from South Viet Nam. I have attempted to purchase a copy of the move; however, no one seems to have any knowledge of how I can get a copy of the movie. I can not find it in Cerritos, California. I would highly, recommend the movie to any movie buff who wishes to just enjoy a good movie without blood and violence. Tab Hunter is an excellent actor and he plays this role of a young man who does not desire to remain in the army perfectly. His immature love for his girlfriend is excellent for thought provoking material. The military life is portrayed in a realistic manner. This movie will aid any young man who is currently in the military in making the adjustment from civilian to military life.
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Drama/comedy about a young man's Army experiences, away from his Mom and his girl.
This is a very entertaining drama/comedy about a young man who flunked out of college and ran his only remaining option - the Army. Andy Schaeffer had not yet cut the silver string to his mother, yet he pictured himself as the picture of independence. His most difficult transition into Army life is presented in alternating serious and highly humorous veins. Filmed at Fort Ord, California, this picture featured a number of future stars, such as James Garner, David Janssen, Jim Backus, Tab Hunter, Natalie Wood, Alan King, and others. This will really spark the interest - and nostalgia - of any man who ever went through basic training, in any service. Well worth watching, and owning!
This is a very entertaining drama/comedy about a young man who flunked out of college and ran his only remaining option - the Army. Andy Schaeffer had not yet cut the silver string to his mother, yet he pictured himself as the picture of independence. His most difficult transition into Army life is presented in alternating serious and highly humorous veins. Filmed at Fort Ord, California, this picture featured a number of future stars, such as James Garner, David Janssen, Jim Backus, Tab Hunter, Natalie Wood, Alan King, and others. This will really spark the interest - and nostalgia - of any man who ever went through basic training, in any service. Well worth watching, and owning!
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Are you tired of only wondering about this?.....
This winning military "dramedy" stars the never-lovelier Natalie Wood as the titular dish waiting back home for her college-flunkie boyfriend (and barracks brat) Tab Hunter to smarten up and get a life in the army. Among the many highlights are some meaty set-pieces pitting n'er-do-well Hunter against his superior officers, all played with gusto by Murray Hamilton, Jim Backus and David Janssen (while Henry Jones and Alan King deliver equally fine turns as Hunter's pals. Look for James Garner, too). Action, comedy and emotional resonance in equal measures in a true classic of its kind that unfortunately never got its due. Worth repeat viewings if only to behold Ms. Wood's unique incandescence at its peak.
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" Is there somewhere else, you'd rather be private? , . .Yea!, Out of the Army! "
In 1956 when America was just back from the Korean War, this movie was made. It tells the story of Andy Sheaffer, (Tab Hunter) a rich, spoiled and pampered young man who is ready to accept a high society position among the elite, rich and privileged. Unfortunately his more mature girlfriend Susan Daniels (Natalie Wood) wants more out of her intended. She prefers her man to be an adult, self-sufficient and away from his over protective mother. To this end, he discovers he has been drafted and reluctantly inducted into the U.S. Army. Even though he can easily succeed in the military, Sheaffer prefers otherwise. Within the ranks are several men who try their best to convince him of his natural abilities. Relative Hollywood newcomers are among the names of those who try. Murray Hamilton (excellent part for him) plays his platoon Sargent, Jim Backus, Henry Jones, Alan King, James Garner and even David Janssen attempt to help him with the transformation. The movie is a little heavy on social responsibility, but just shy of military propaganda. Indeed, it was originally intended to help young men decide about life in the military. A good film which allowed Murray, Garner and Jansen to lay the foundations of their respective careers.
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Uncle Sam Wants Tab Hunter
In a typical American town, handsome healthy Tab Hunker (as Andrew "Andy" L. Sheaffer) plays college football during the day, and dates kissable Natalie Wood (as Susan Daniels) at night. For cash, Mr. Hunter charms fawning mother Jessie Royce Landis (as Madeline). Hunter remains in college to avoid the draft, which Ms. Wood tells him means he's "insolent." She is working her way through school. Wood feels Hunter has no sense of responsibility, getting through life on his charm and good looks. She loves him, but returns his pin. This separation causes Hunter to flunk out of college, and he is drafted. In US Army training at Fort Ord, California, the film's narrator says Hunter works on his muscle tone - which doesn't appear to need much refining...
Hunter turns his head and coughs, hops on one foot, and does sit-ups. After three days of training, Sgt. Murray Hamilton (as Clyde) shouts at Hunter, "Suck that fat civilian belly in!" But, Hunter never looked fat at all. He meets fellow recruits Henry Jones (as Hanson), Alan King (as Maguire), and James Garner (as Preston); they have a good attitude about the military, but Hunter remains cocky. Sgt. Jim Backus (as Hanna) wants Hunter to grown up; he lets him know Wood stopped by to visit, but was accosted by Captain David Janssen (as Genaro). Writer Guy Trosper fashioned a decades-old formula (the arrogant youth in the military) picture for Hunter and Warner Bros. He is helped by a fun supporting cast, especially the drilling and winking Mr. Hamilton.
****** The Girl He Left Behind (10/26/56) David Butler ~ Tab Hunter, Natalie Wood, Murray Hamilton, Jessie Royce Landis
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Comedy drama
A lot of fine character actors make up quite an entertaining film about army life during peace time. Tab Hunter gives a plausible performance as Andy Sheaffer, jilted boyfriend of Natalie wood's character Susan, who joins the army after flunking out of college. He has commitment issues with his girl friend as well as the army. Although he shows some promise, he feels disdain toward authority of any kind. Fans of Bill Murray's Stripes may see some similarities in this film. Particularly the fight scene between Shaeffer and his platoon Sgt. played by great character actor Murray Hamilton. Look for an early performance by James Garner as a bunkmate along with Jim Backus,Alan King and David Janssen. Directed by David Butler.
A lot of fine character actors make up quite an entertaining film about army life during peace time. Tab Hunter gives a plausible performance as Andy Sheaffer, jilted boyfriend of Natalie wood's character Susan, who joins the army after flunking out of college. He has commitment issues with his girl friend as well as the army. Although he shows some promise, he feels disdain toward authority of any kind. Fans of Bill Murray's Stripes may see some similarities in this film. Particularly the fight scene between Shaeffer and his platoon Sgt. played by great character actor Murray Hamilton. Look for an early performance by James Garner as a bunkmate along with Jim Backus,Alan King and David Janssen. Directed by David Butler.
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MY WEB PAGE TO NATALIE WOOD
