Imitation General

Imitation General is a 1958 American black-and-white comedy war film in CinemaScope, directed by George Marshall, produced by William B. Hawks, and starring Glenn Ford, Red Buttons, and Taina Elg. The film, distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, is based on a short story of the same name by William Chamberlain.
==Plot==
In the aftermath of a big battle during World War II, Americans Brigadier General Charles Lane, Master Sergeant Murphy "Murph" Savage, and Corporal Chan Derby are cut off behind enemy lines. The general takes over a farmhouse belonging to annoyed Frenchwoman Simone. Lane determines that there is a gap in the American 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 to show up, Corporal Terry Sellers, mistakes Murph for Lane, as Murph is holding the general's helmet. This gives Murph an idea. Recalling 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 attacks spearheaded by German tanks, all the while avoiding Private Orville Hutchmeyer, who knows Murph and holds a grudge against him.
At the end of the engagement, Murph is knocked out by shrapnel, allowing him to "die" and resume his real identity.
==Cast==
* Glenn Ford as MSgt. Murphy Savage
* Red Buttons as Cpl. Chan Derby
* Taina Elg as Simone
* Dean Jones as Cpl. Terry Sellers
* Kent Smith as Brig. Gen. Charles Lane
* Tige Andrews as Pvt. Orville Hutchmeyer
* John Wilder as Lt. Jeff Clayton
* Ralph Votrian as American Pfc.
==Box office==
According to MGM records, the film earned $1,915,000 in the US and Canada Please note figures are for US and Canada only and are domestic rentals accruing to distributors as opposed to theatre gross and $1,250,000 elsewhere, resulting in a profit of $1,095,000.
==References==
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Category:1958 films
Category:1950s war comedy films
Category:American black-and-white films
Category:Films directed by George Marshall
Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
Category:CinemaScope films
Category:Military humor in film
Category:Western Front of World War II films
Category:American World War II films
Category:Films based on short fiction
Category:American war comedy films
Category:1958 comedy films
Category:1950s English-language films
Category:1950s American films
Category:English-language war comedy films
Category:Films
Category:1950's films
Category:MGM films