The Girl He Left Behind (1956)

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

I'll tell you why so serious

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The title of this film was probably designed to draw in teens who might want to see another romance starring Natalie Wood and Tab Hunter. The film has two taglines. One of them is "A couple of teenagers and their kiss-and-run battle!" However, the other tagline is more appropriate: "It's the Big Happy Look at the New-Look Peace-Time Army!" In truth, this is another of those "recruiting ad" films that were made with the blessings of the U.S. military.The story does start with the relationship between Andy Shaeffer (Hunter) and Susan Daniels (Wood)--a strikingly good-looking college couple. He sponges off his mother and she holds down a job while attending school. He picks her up at her answering service job, then they go to the local burger drive-in and "inspiration point", where she berates him for his lack of ambition.All the while, a voice-over narrates the action. You can tell it's meant to be a comedy by his tone. In fact, the narrator is Daws Butler, the voice of Huckleberry Hound and countless other cartoon characters.Before you know it, Andy is drafted (in peacetime) because of the various flaws in his nature, and the army makes a responsible citizen of him.There are many notable actors in this film, some who are rather new to the big screen. Although Natalie was a veteran, Tab was a relative newcomer, but ready for the studio's star treatment. The two of them had just filmed "The Burning Hills" and demonstrated some chemistry, but they probably would have been paired in this film regardless.James Garner--a newcomer--plays one of Andy's fellow soldiers. So does veteran actor Henry Jones, who had just filmed his amazing performance in "The Bad Seed", which had probably not yet made its impact. Newcomer Alan King also shares the same barracks. Veterans David Jansen and Jim Backus play superior officers. Backus had just starred with Natalie in "Rebel Without a Cause" the previous year. Andy's stint in the army is troubled, but the army in this film is kinder and gentler, and this is a comedy, right? So one scene is adequate to tame Andy's inner demons and he transforms (by the good graces of Army training) into a believer.If you can tolerate the message of this film, it is worth watching just to see the two stars and the others who will have very successful careers of their own.

Referred to by both its leading players as The Girl With The Left Behind this is by no means a great movie but one certainly better than its sullied reputation would lead you to believe. A large part of that bad rep comes via its two stars, Tab Hunter and Natalie Wood. A large portion of their distaste for this and several of their other co-starring pictures is surely attributable to the fact that they were contract players at the time and handed one indifferent script after another until Natalie graduated to A level stardom and Tab left the studio. The film itself is an innocuous trifle about a selfish spoiled young man who has a problem with authority and the pains he and the officers over him suffer when he's drafted. Hardly a new plot or revolutionarily enacted this is stuffed with excellent character actors all contributing fun performances. A few standouts are Jessie Royce Landis as Tab's addled mother, Murray Hamilton as his exasperated direct superior and Henry Jones as an amiable cohort. Natalie's disregard for the film is understandable though since she's handed one of the nothing girl parts she had to endure while toiling her way to the top.An unremarkable studio product this is still an enjoyable picture.

This movie can't seem to decide if it is a comedy or drama. Tab Hunter's role though well acted is strange. It seems Hunter can join the Army & tell the Army what he wants. At least the script is consistent here as his mother comes to visit him & does the same thing.Natalie Wood is 18 years old when she does this movie & looks great even in the frumpy dresses she gets to wear in some sequences. You can not hide a hot 18 year old babe unless you keep her off camera. The rest of the script is a veritable who's who of character actors.James Garner has a small role in his 3rd career film. David Jansen has a small before Fugitive role as an officer. Norman Fell (Stanley Roper) though I can't find him credited is in quite a few sequences. Raymond Bailey (Milburn Drysdale on Beverly Hillbillies) is here as well as Jim Bakus (Thurston Howell on Gilligan's Island) is here too. The interesting thing here more than the plot is seeing all this talent on screen trying to bring off a weak script.At times, the script tries to be funny & at times like when kids almost get blasted when they wander on to the artillery range, the film gets a little dramatic. I think if the film had headed more for comedy, especially with this support cast, it would have been better.

A lot of fine character actors make up quite an entertaining film about army life during peace time. Tab Hunter gives a plausible performance as Andy Sheaffer, jilted boyfriend of Natalie wood's character Susan, who joins the army after flunking out of college. He has commitment issues with his girl friend as well as the army. Although he shows some promise, he feels disdain toward authority of any kind. Fans of Bill Murray's Stripes may see some similarities in this film. Particularly the fight scene between Shaeffer and his platoon Sgt. played by great character actor Murray Hamilton. Look for an early performance by James Garner as a bunkmate along with Jim Backus,Alan King and David Janssen. Directed by David Butler.