A Medal for Benny (1945)

This is a strange film.It is a sort of "Hail The Conquering Hero" without the same incisive satire.It highlights the hypocrisy surrounding heroism in WW2.Benny is an outcast in life but a hero in death.In reality his father lives in the slums.However the town want to be shown in a good light so put him in a new home.He subsequently comes to realise that it is just a sham.J.Carroll Naish was nominated for an Oscar.He must have played more types and nationalities than anyone in his era.He is always watchable.In some ways his style of acting is old fashioned as he is rather hammy.It is his performance which which is the highlight along with a larger than usual role for Frank McHugh.