Directed by John Ford and released by 20th Century Fox, What Price Glory is a Technicolor war comedy-drama based on the 1924 play by Maxwell Anderson and Laurence Stallings. Though it shares its title and characters with earlier versions—including the 1926 silent film—it diverges significantly in tone and content, opting for a lighter, more romantic approach to World War I military life.
Plot Summary
Set during the U.S. entry into World War I, the film follows Captain Flagg (James Cagney), a seasoned Marine officer, and his longtime rival Sergeant Quirt (Dan Dailey). Their battalion is stationed in a French village, where Flagg rekindles a romance with Charmaine (Corinne Calvet), the innkeeper’s daughter. But Quirt, ever the opportunist, begins courting her as well, reigniting their personal feud.
As new recruits arrive and discipline falters, Flagg and Quirt must balance their romantic rivalry with the demands of leadership. When orders come to return to the front, Flagg schemes to have Quirt marry Charmaine—only to send him into battle immediately after the ceremony. The film mixes slapstick humor with moments of genuine pathos, reflecting Ford’s interest in the human side of military service.
Cast Highlights
- James Cagney as Captain Flagg
- Dan Dailey as Sergeant Quirt
- Corinne Calvet as Charmaine
- Robert Wagner as Private Lewisohn
- William Demarest, James Gleason, and Tommy Rettig in supporting roles
- Barry Norton, who played Lewisohn in the 1926 version, appears here as a priest
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- The screenplay by Phoebe and Henry Ephron uses almost none of the original play’s dialogue
- The film was initially conceived as a musical, but was reworked into a straight comedy-drama during production
- Jack Pennick, a military expert and Ford regular, likely served as an uncredited technical advisor
- The melody “Charmaine,” originally written for the 1928 version, was reused in the soundtrack following its chart success in 1951
- Released on August 22, 1952, the film earned approximately $2 million in U.S. rentals
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