Back at the Front

Back at the Front (titled Willie and Joe in Tokyo in the UK) is a 1952 American comedy film directed by George Sherman and starring Tom Ewell, Harvey Lembeck and Mari Blanchard, very loosely based on the characters Willie and Joe by Bill Mauldin. It is a sequel to Up Front (1951). Mauldin repudiated both films, and refused his advising fee.

Plot

Willie (Ewell) and Joe (Lembeck) are two U.S. Army veterans of World War II who got through the war by Goldbricking. After returning to civilian life they are recalled to active duty and end up part of the post war occupation forces in Japan. Chaos ensues as they attempt one con job after another in order to avoid work details and get leave to spend time in Tokyo.

Cast

Tom Ewell as Willie

Harvey Lembeck as Joe

Mari Blanchard as Nina

Richard Long as T/Sgt. Rose

Gregg Palmer as Capt. White

Barry Kelley as Brig. Gen. Dixon

Russell Johnson as Johnny Redondo

Vaughn Taylor as Maj. Lester Ormsby

Aram Katcher as Ben

Aen-Ling Chow as Sameko

Benson Fong as Rickshaw boy

Lane Bradford as Military Policeman

Dee Carroll as Night Curse

David Janssen as Soldier

References

External links

1952 films

Universal Pictures films

Military humor in film

American black-and-white films

Films directed by George Sherman

Films based on American comics

Films set in Tokyo

Japan in non-Japanese culture

American comedy films

1952 comedy films

1950s English-language films

1950s American films