| What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? | |
| Director: | Blake Edwards |
| Story: | Maurice Richlin Blake Edwards |
| Screenplay: | William Peter Blatty |
| Starring: | James Coburn Aldo Ray Dick Shawn Sergio Fantoni Giovanna Ralli Carroll O'Connor Harry Morgan |
| Producer: | Blake Edwards |
| Music: | Ray Evans Jay Livingston Henry Mancini |
| Cinematography: | Philip H. Lathrop |
| Editing: | Ralph E. Winters |
| Studio: | The Mirisch Company |
| Distributor: | United Artists |
| Country: | United States |
| Runtime: | 116 minutes |
| Language: | English Italian German |
| Budget: | $7,000,000 USD[1] |
| Gross: | $2,650,000 (est. US/ Canada rentals)[2] |
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? is a 1966 comedy DeLuxe Color film written by William Peter Blatty and directed by Blake Edwards for the Mirisch Company in Panavision. It stars James Coburn and Dick Shawn.
During the Allied invasion of Sicily, an outfit of U.S. soldiers is assigned to capture the small town of "Valerno", but upon arrival, they discover that the Italian Army garrison led by Captain Fausto Oppo (Sergio Fantoni) have been expecting them. They will willingly surrender, provided they are permitted to complete a soccer match and a wine festival.
Romance and frivolity ensue, as a reluctant, by-the-book Capt. Cash (Dick Shawn) is persuaded by easy-going Lt. Christian (James Coburn) to go along with the locals' wishes. Christian convinces Cash to send a message to headquarters that they have encountered resistance. During an aerial reconnaissance of the town, the Germans mistake the festival for an attack. A nearby German Panzer unit is ordered to come to the Italians' aid, but the Americans accidentally end up conquering all.
The title of the film came to Edwards when he was asked the question by his son Geoffrey. As Edwards was having marital problems at the time, he did not want to leave the United States, so Mirisch Productions agreed to film the movie in Lake Sherwood, California, for $5 million that included the construction of a large Italian village set.[3] In his study of Edwards, Myron Meisel stated that Coburn imitated Blake Edwards' mannerisms throughout the film.[4]
The film was the first of what was originally intended to be six Mirisch-Geoffrey Productions between Edwards and the Mirisch Company. Only one other film, The Party, was completed.
William Peter Blatty recalled that Edwards and he originally agreed to make the film grim and without comedy for the first 20 minutes. This idea was shelved when, during the scene where Captain Cash visits Charlie Company at their chow line, he holds out his hand and one of the GI mess orderlies ladles beans into the captain's hand.
The film grossed $2,650,000 at the box office.[5]
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 50% based on 12 reviews, with an average score of 5.80/10.
The score is by Henry Mancini. It includes "The Swing March" and "In the Arms of Love".