Introduction

The Girl He Left Behind is a 1956 romantic comedy film starring Tab Hunter and Natalie Wood. The supporting cast includes Jim Backus, Alan King, James Garner, and David Janssen.

The film was written by Guy Trosper and directed by David Butler, and was filmed at Fort Ord, California. For both Garner and King, it was just their third movie.

Outline

Andy Schaeffer is a spoiled mama’s boy who usually gets his way. He breezes through college while girlfriend Susan Daniels studies hard while also working at a job to pay for her education. She is not sure where their relationship is going. Where it is going for Andy is the Army, because his grades have become so poor at school, he is being drafted. Andy reports for basic training at Fort Ord, making it clear to everybody there that he would rather be anyplace else.

Cast

• Tab Hunter as Private/Corporal Andy Schaeffer.
• Natalie Wood as Susan.
• Jessie Royce Landis as Mrs. Schaeffer.
• Jim Backus as Sgt. Hanna.
• Murray Hamilton as Sgt. Clyde.
• Henry Jones as Hanson.
• Alan King as Majors.
• James Garner as Preston.
• David Janssen as Capt. Genaro.

Production

Marion Hargrove had a huge success with his book See Here Private Hargrove which sold 3,500,000 copies. Warner Bros approached him to see if he would be interested writing a story about a draftee in the army in peacetime.

Hargrove agreed but wanted the story to be accurate, and he had left the army in 1945. He arranged through Warners to undertake enlistment and some basic training at Fort Ord. Hargrove told Warners he had enough material for the book. The studio paid him to write the novel and retained only the screen rights.

The novel was published in 1956. Hargrove wanted to call it All Quiet in the Third Platoon but Warners preferred The Girl He Left Behind.

Tab Hunter and Natalie Wood had just appeared in The Burning Hills together and Warner Bros were keen to build them into an on screen team.

Filming started June 1956.

Trivia

• Much of the film was shot at Fort Ord and used real soldiers.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s): David Butler.
• Producer(s):
• Writer(s): Guy Trosper.
• Music: Roy Webb.
• Cinematography: Ted D. McCord.
• Editor(s): Irene Morra.
• Production: Warner Bros.
• Distributor(s): Warner Bros.
• Release Date: 26 October 1956.
• Running Time: 103 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

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