Main Cast: Glenn Ford, Red Buttons, Taina Elg, Dean Jones, Kent Smith
Release Year: 1958
Country: US
Run Time: 120 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
Based on a novel by William Chamberlain, Imitation General has a bit more story depth and character development than the average WWII service comedy. Glenn Ford stars as M/Sgt. Murphy Savage, who is forced to take drastic action when Brigadier General Charles Lane (Kent Smith) is killed in action. To assure the success of the General's mission, and to sustain morale within the ranks, Sgt. Savage poses as the deceased Lane. Standing on the sidelines to kvetch and moan is Red Buttons as Cpl. Chan Derby, who's certain that both he and Savage will be shot at sunrise for the sergeant's deception. Finnish actress Taina Elg is somewhat incongruously cast as a French farm girl. Given the fact that the story of Imitation General is motivated by the "passing of a torch", it's ironic that the film's first network showing in November of 1963 was postponed by the JFK assassination. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Tige Andrews - Pvt. Orville Hutchmeyer; John Wilder - Lt. Jeff Clayton; Ralph Votrian - Private First Class
Credit
Malcolm Brown - Art Director, William Horning - Art Director, George Marshall - Director, Harold Kress - Editor, George Folsey - Cinematographer, William Hawks - Producer, William Bowers - Screenwriter, William Chamberlain - Short Story Author
In the aftermath of a big battle, Brigadier General Charles Lane (Kent Smith), Master Sergeant Murphy "Murph" Savage (Glenn Ford) and Corporal Chan Derby (Red Buttons) find themselves cut off. The general takes over a farmhouse belonging to annoyed Frenchwoman Simone (Taina Elg). Lane determines that there is a gap in the lines and decides to organize a defense from whatever stragglers he can gather together. Shortly afterwards however, he is killed saving Murph's life.
The first American soldier who shows up, Corporal Terry Sellers (Dean Jones), mistakes Murph for Lane (Murph is holding the general's helmet), giving him an idea. Recallng Lane's assessment that leadership is desperately needed to rally the disorganized troops, Murph masquerades as the general, with Derby and Simone's reluctant help. Murph manages to repulse a couple of German attacks spearheaded by tanks, all the while avoiding Private Orville Hutchmeyer (Tige Andrews), who knows and has a grudge against Murph.
At the end of the engagement, Murph is knocked out by shrapnel, allowing him to "die" and resume his real identity with no one the wiser.
