The Girl He Left Behind ***(1956, Tab Hunter, Natalie Wood, Jessie Royce Landis, Jim Backus, Henry Jones, Murray Hamilton, Alan King, James Garner, David Janssen) – Classic Movie Review 8131

Director David Butler’s 1956 The Girl He Left Behind is an over-familiar but pleasant and mildly amusing Fifties services comedy drama, with Tab Hunter as college student Andy Shaeffer, a military draftee knocked into shape by the US Army under Sgt Clyde (Murray Hamilton) during basic training at Camp Ord, California. Hunter is teamed with Natalie Wood as his cute, indulgent girlfriend, Susan Daniels, a hard worker putting herself through college.

Nice and adorable though Hunter and Wood are, giving sweet, appealing performances, the rest of the cast provide much of the film’s attraction, especially Jessie Royce Landis as Hunter’s doting mom, Mrs Shaeffer. Also in the cast are Jim Backus as Sgt Hanna, Henry Jones as Hanson, Alan King as Maguire, James Garner as Preston, David Janssen as Capt. Genaro, Wilfred Knapp, Les Johnson, Florenz Ames, Fredd Wayne, Ernestine Wade, Brett Halesy, Sid Melton and Vinton Hayworth as Arthur Shaeffer.

It is great to see all these players in their young primes, though the movie probably would mean most to fans of the stars, long-ago army conscripts and Fifties nostalgia seekers.

The screenplay by Guy Trosper is based on a novel by Marion Hargrove.

The Girl He Left Behind is directed by David Butler, runs 103 minutes, is made and released by Warner Bros, is written by Guy Trosper, based on a novel by Marion Hargrove, is shot in black and white by Ted D McCord, is produced by Frank P Rosenberg, is scored by Roy Webb and is designed by Stanley Fleischer.

Hunter actually served in the military. He joined the United States Coast Guard when he was only 15. But he was soon tired of Warner Bros type casting him in military roles.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8131

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