Mr. Winkle Goes to War

Mr. Winkle Goes to War
Mr. Winkle Goes to War
Directed by	Alfred E. Green
Written by	George Corey; Waldo Salt; Louis Solomon
Based on	Mr. Winkle Goes to War; 1943 novel; by Theodore Pratt
Produced by	Jack Moss
Starring	Edward G. Robinson; Ruth Warrick
Cinematography	Joseph Walker
Edited by	Richard Fantl
Music by	Carmen Dragon; Paul Sawtell
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	July 19, 1944
Running time	80 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Mr. Winkle Goes to War is a 1944 war comedy film starring Edward G. Robinson and Ruth Warrick, based on a novel by Theodore Pratt.

Plot

On June 1, 1942, after fourteen years working in a bank, mild-mannered 44-year-old Wilbert G. Winkle (Edward G. Robinson) suddenly quits his boring bank job to follow his dream, to open a repair shop. Everyone is shocked, particularly his status-conscious wife Amy (Ruth Warrick), who demands he choose between her and his new career. The only exception is Barry (Ted Donaldson), a young orphan Mr. Winkle has befriended.

However, before the situation with Amy can be resolved, Winkle is drafted into the army. They inevitably nickname him "Rip".

He becomes friends with another older recruit, Joe Tinker (Robert Armstrong), who is looking for revenge for his younger brother. Winkle is reassigned to help the supply sergeant keep the books, as he did in civilian life, but he rebels and, with persistence and quiet determination, becomes a mechanic, something that gives him great satisfaction. To the surprise of his sergeant (Richard Lane), he makes it through basic training. A new regulation men over 38 to get honorably discharged, but Winkle refuses to quit.

When Winkle's furlough at the end of training is cancelled, Barry runs away to try to see him. Amy and the head of the orphanage, Mr. McDavid (Art Smith), find him hitchhiking and bring him back. On the way, Amy learns from Barry that there is more to her husband than she thought, causing her to reconsider.

Winkle and his unit are shipped out to the fighting the Japanese Army in the Pacific. He and Tinker are sent to repair a bulldozer. Suddenly, the Japanese attack his unit. While Winkle fixes the bulldozer, Tinker looks for revenge. After shooting an enemy soldier, Tinker starts celebrating, only to be killed himself. Winkle then uses the bulldozer to knock out a machine gun nest.

He is discharged and sent home to recuperate from his wounds. The war hero returns to an enthusiastic welcome from his entire hometown and in particular from Amy and Barry, who show him a new shortcut they have made together to his repair shop.

Cast

Edward G. Robinson as Wilbert G. Winkle
Ruth Warrick as Amy Winkle
Ted Donaldson as Barry
Robert Armstrong as Joe Tinker
Richard Lane as Sergeant "Alphabet" Czedrowski
Bob Haymes as Jack Pettigrew, another, younger bank employee also drafted
Richard Gaines as Ralph Westcott
Art Smith as Mr. McDavid

Robert Mitchum and Hugh Beaumont have uncredited roles.

External links

Mr. Winkle Goes to War at IMDb
Mr. Winkle Goes to War at the TCM Movie Database
Mr. Winkle Goes to War at AllMovie
Mr. Winkle Goes to War at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
Review of Mr. Winkle Goes to War at Family Friendly Movies