Reaching back for his character from The Whole Town's Talking, or at least one of them, Edward G. Robinson plays Wilbert Winkle who at 44 wants a change in life. He gets far more than he bargained for when he's drafted during World War II.
That actually happened. I had a great uncle who was 44 in 1942 and had served in the first World War. That made no difference, because along with my father who was 23 at the time, my great uncle like Wilbert Winkle found himself drafted, though fortunately he didn't get another trip overseas courtesy of Uncle Sam.
Winkle's a meek little clerk in a bank in what has proved to be a dead end job. He's decided to quit and turn a hobby into a business. He likes to work with his hands and opens up a fix it shop. That doesn't sit well with wife Ruth Warrick. In fact the only one who approves is a kid from a nearby group home, Ted Donaldson, who's devoted to Winkle.
Of course everything changes when Winkle of all people pulls a Sergeant York act out in the Pacific Theater. It's interesting to see how people treat him then.
Mr. Winkle Goes To War is a pleasant and whimsical film with a nice restrained performance by Edward G. Robinson. A far cry from Little Caesar indeed. His scenes with Ted Donaldson are quite poignant.
It's a film I'm sure could be remade today and maybe should.
That actually happened. I had a great uncle who was 44 in 1942 and had served in the first World War. That made no difference, because along with my father who was 23 at the time, my great uncle like Wilbert Winkle found himself drafted, though fortunately he didn't get another trip overseas courtesy of Uncle Sam.
Winkle's a meek little clerk in a bank in what has proved to be a dead end job. He's decided to quit and turn a hobby into a business. He likes to work with his hands and opens up a fix it shop. That doesn't sit well with wife Ruth Warrick. In fact the only one who approves is a kid from a nearby group home, Ted Donaldson, who's devoted to Winkle.
Of course everything changes when Winkle of all people pulls a Sergeant York act out in the Pacific Theater. It's interesting to see how people treat him then.
Mr. Winkle Goes To War is a pleasant and whimsical film with a nice restrained performance by Edward G. Robinson. A far cry from Little Caesar indeed. His scenes with Ted Donaldson are quite poignant.
It's a film I'm sure could be remade today and maybe should.