What Price Glory is a 1952 American Technicolor war film based on a 1924 play by Maxwell Anderson and Laurence Stallings, though it used virtually none of Anderson's dialogue. Originally intended as a musical, it was filmed as a straight comedy-drama, directed by John Ford and released by 20th Century Fox on August 22, 1952, in the U.S. The screenplay was written by Phoebe and Henry Ephron, and stars James Cagney and Dan Dailey as US Marines in World War I.

REAR COVER

AWAR-TIME CLASSIC BY LEGENDARY DIRECTOR

JOHN FORD.

Set in World War 1 France, this well-crafted drama also has entertaing moments as a romantic

- comedy. James Cagney stars as Captain Flagg, head of a company of Marines, with Dan Dailey co-starring as First Sergeant Quirt, Flagg's best buddy. Like all friends, the men have had their rivalries, but now they face their biggest conflict so far: their all-out competition for Charmaine, (Corinne Calver), the bedutiful daughtér of a local shopkeeper. Directed by John Ford and also Featuring Robert Wagner, William Demarest and Harry Morgan, WHAT PRICE GLORY is a classic you will want to see again and again.

JOHN FORD STAGE SHOW

Ford had directed the play on stage in Los Angeles in 1949, as a benefit for the Military Order of the Purple Heart, of which Ford was commander. The roles of Quint and Flagg were played by Pat O'Brien and Ward Bond respectively; Maureen O'Hara played Charmaine and Gregory Peck and John Wayne played Lt Aldrich and Lt Cunningham. Harry Carey Jnr and George O'Brien were also in the cast. It toured throughout California in February and March, with performances given in venues such as Pasadena, San Jose, San Francisco and Long Beach.

DEVELOPMENT

In June 1951 the Ephrons were reportedly working on a script, called Charmaine. It was originally slated to star Micheline Presle in the title role and Wayne reprising his role from the stage play. In September producer Sol C. Siegel said the film would be done as a musical. Dan Dailey had signed to star and James Cagney was being sought to play the other leading role. "The music won't be obtrusive", said Siegel. Corinne Calvet then signed to costar.

By October Cagney was set to star alongside Dailey and Calvet. Filming was to start December 10 at Camp Pendleton. At the end of that month John Ford signed to direct and the title changed from Charmaine back to What Price Glory. It was announced the film would have music in it but not be a musical. Cagney originally agreed to do the picture because it was supposed to be a musical. However, by the time he learned that Ford had decided to shoot it as a straight film, it was too late for him to back out.

Barry Norton played the role of Private Lewisohn in the 1926 original. He has an uncredited role as one of the priests in this remake. Marisa Pavan, the twin sister of Pier Angeli made her screen debut in this film as Nicole Bouchard. Paul Guilfoyle filmed an appearance but it was removed from the final cut.

Writer and film director Nora Ephron was the daughter of Henry and Phoebe Ephron, who wrote the screenplay for this film.

OTHER VERSIONS

The film is a remake of the 1926 film also titled What Price Glory?, directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Edmund Lowe, Victor McLaglen, and Dolores del Río. Walsh also made a musical version of the film three years later, when sound films emerged, The Cock-Eyed World, again with McLaglen and Lowe playing the same characters, but featuring Lili Damita. In 1929 and 1931, Walsh directed Lowe and McLaglen in the same roles in two sequels, titled The Cock-Eyed World and Women of All Nations, respectively. A third sequel, Hot Pepper, with McLaglen and Lowe again reprising their roles and involving a woman named "Pepper" portrayed by Lupe Vélez, was directed by John Blystone.

RECEPTION

The film premiered in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on July 25, 1952. It received lukewarm reviews upon its release, which can be summed up in this quote from A. H. Weiler's review in The New York Times, dated August 23, 1952: "...despite some heroics and the monumental rivalry of its principals, a swiftly moving but not an especially distinguished offering."