Privates Progress

Director John Boulting made this war comedy in reaction to the staid military dramas that had been coming out of England since the end of WWII, and its desire to explode the conventions of the war film are evident in the film's infectious giddiness. Ian Carmichael stars as Stanley Windrush, a young student who is drafted, enters officer's school, and is promptly busted down to the rank of private. However, he soon runs into Pvt. Cox (Attenborough), a savvy soldier who shows him how to scam his way through the war. Soon, the two are leading a platoon into Nazi Germany to liberate some stolen art. With a cast largely populated by great comedians (Terry-Thomas, Dennis Price), PRIVATE'S PROGRESS ranks among the best war comedies ever made. Followed by the sequel I'M ALL RIGHT, JACK.