1950s Comedy: At War with the Army (4K Colorized)
Channel: Enhanced Public Domain
Date: 2024-01-13

At War with the Army is a 1950 American musical comedy film directed by Hal Walker, released by Paramount, starring the comedy team of Martin and Lewis and introducing Polly Bergen. Filmed from July through August 1949, the film premiered in San Francisco on New Year's Eve 1950, before opening nationwide on January 17, 1951. It was re-released in 1958 by OMAT Pictures.

Although filmed before My Friend Irma Goes West (1950), it was held back until the sequel to Martin and Lewis' smash film debut My Friend Irma (1949) was released.

The film is based on a play by James B. Allardice that ran for 151 performances from 1948 to 1949 with Mike Kellin and Kenneth Forbes repeating their roles.

The producers opened up the play by adding a sequence of an absent without leave Lewis in drag fending off the amorous advances of his drunken platoon sergeant, a sequence on an obstacle course and the addition of several songs written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans.