If you’ve ever gone down a rabbit hole of 1960s slapstick, you probably stumbled upon Blake Edwards’ bizarre, colorful, and wildly expensive military comedy. It’s a weird one. Honestly, it's the kind of movie that feels like it shouldn't exist today, especially with the way it handles World War II. But it does. And the reason people still hunt for the What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? cast list is because the chemistry between the leads was—for lack of a better word—electric.
The film follows a group of American soldiers during the invasion of Sicily. They are tasked with capturing a small town called Valerno, but there’s a catch. The Italians are totally willing to surrender, provided they can have a wine festival first. What follows is a drunken, chaotic, cross-dressing mess of a mission that somehow manages to be both a biting satire and a goofy farce.
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The Men Behind the Chaos: James Coburn and Dick Shawn
At the heart of the What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? cast is the legendary James Coburn. He plays Lieutenant Christian, a guy who is basically the "cool head" in a room full of lunatics. Coburn had this incredible ability to look like the smartest person in the room while everything around him fell apart. This was 1966. Coburn was hitting his stride as a leading man, coming off Our Man Flint. He brought a certain swagger to the role of Christian that grounded the movie's more ridiculous elements.
Then you have Dick Shawn.
If you know Shawn, you likely know him as Lorenzo St. DuBois (L.S.D.) from The Producers. In this film, he plays Captain Lionel Cash. Cash is the polar opposite of Christian. He’s high-strung, obsessed with regulations, and eventually, he’s the one who has to dress up as a woman to navigate the absurd logistics of the "fake" war they’ve started. Shawn’s physical comedy is top-tier here. He doesn't just play the role; he inhabits the frantic energy of a man watching his career (and sanity) dissolve in a vat of Italian wine.
Sergio Fantoni and the Italian Contingent
You can’t talk about this movie without mentioning Sergio Fantoni. He plays Captain Oppo, the leader of the Italian forces. It would have been very easy for this movie to lapse into lazy, offensive stereotypes—and to be fair, 1960s cinema wasn't exactly known for its cultural sensitivity—but Fantoni brings a genuine charm to Oppo. He’s not a coward; he’s just a guy who realizes that a festival is significantly more productive than getting shot.
The interplay between Fantoni, Coburn, and Shawn creates a triangular dynamic that keeps the plot moving. While the Americans are worried about their superiors finding out they aren't actually fighting, Oppo is just trying to make sure the party doesn't end.
Supporting Players Who Stole the Show
- Aldo Ray as Sergeant Pott: Ray was a real-life veteran who saw actual combat in the Pacific during WWII. Seeing him in a comedy like this adds a layer of irony. He plays the tough-as-nails sergeant who eventually gives in to the madness.
- Harry Morgan as Major Pott: Before he was Colonel Potter on MASH*, Harry Morgan was playing high-ranking officers who were often the butt of the joke. His timing is impeccable.
- Giovanna Ralli as Gina Romano: The primary female lead, Ralli provided the necessary romantic tension and a bit of "straight man" energy to the surrounding chaos.
Why the Production Was a Legend in Its Own Right
Blake Edwards didn't do anything small. This movie cost a fortune for the time—somewhere in the neighborhood of $5 million to $7 million. They built an entire Italian village on a ranch in California because Edwards wanted total control over the environment.
The set was reportedly as chaotic as the film itself. According to various Hollywood lore, the cast and crew were basically living the plot of the movie. There was plenty of actual wine, long nights, and a sense that they were making something truly subversive. You can see it in the performances. There's a looseness to the What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? cast that you don't get in more rigid studio comedies. They look like they're having the time of their lives, which makes the audience feel like they're in on the joke.
A Script That Refused to Play Fair
William Peter Blatty wrote the screenplay. Yes, that William Peter Blatty—the man who would later write The Exorcist.
It’s a strange pedigree for a war comedy, right? But Blatty had a wicked sense of humor. He and Edwards shared a love for "the gag." The movie is structured as a series of escalating misunderstandings. The Americans have to fake a battle to convince an observation plane that they are actually conquering the town. This leads to a choreographed "war" that is essentially a massive piece of performance art.
The complexity of the script required actors who could handle rapid-fire dialogue while also performing complex physical stunts. It's basically a silent movie with sound. If the cast hadn't been as talented as they were, the whole thing would have collapsed under the weight of its own premise.
The Visual Language of Blake Edwards
Edwards used a lot of wide shots. He wanted you to see the scale of the absurdity. When the town is in full festival mode, the screen is packed with people, colors, and movement. This put a lot of pressure on the supporting What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? cast and extras. Everyone had to be "on" because you never knew where the camera would land.
It’s also worth noting the score by Henry Mancini. Mancini and Edwards were the ultimate duo. The music in this film acts like another character, punctuating the jokes and driving the frantic energy of the chase scenes. It’s impossible to imagine the film without that bouncy, rhythmic backdrop.
Critical Reception vs. Cult Legacy
When the film came out in 1966, it didn't exactly set the world on fire. Critics were a bit baffled by it. Was it an anti-war film? Was it just a slapstick comedy? Was it a waste of a massive budget?
Over the decades, however, the film has found a dedicated following. People appreciate it now for what it is: a cynical, hilarious look at the bureaucracy of war. It predates MASH* (the film) by four years, and in many ways, it paved the way for that kind of "military-absurdism" genre. The What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? cast is a huge part of why it holds up. You have these heavy hitters like Coburn and Shawn giving it their all in a movie that essentially says the only sane response to war is to throw a party and put on a dress.
Realism in the Midst of Farce
Interestingly, despite the over-the-top comedy, the film captures a very specific "soldier's perspective." That feeling of being stuck in a situation that makes no sense, governed by people who aren't there, trying to make the best of a bad hand.
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The cast members who had served in the military themselves, like Aldo Ray, brought a certain "done with this" energy that feels very authentic to anyone who has ever been caught in a bureaucratic nightmare. It’s that blend of high-concept silliness and grounded, weary performances that gives the movie its unique flavor.
How to Appreciate the Film Today
If you're planning on watching it for the first time, don't expect a gritty war drama. Don't even expect a standard romantic comedy. Expect a fever dream.
- Watch the background: Blake Edwards loved putting little jokes in the corners of the frame.
- Pay attention to Dick Shawn's face: His expressions of pure horror as things go wrong are masterclasses in comedic acting.
- Listen to the score: Mancini’s work here is some of his most playful.
The What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? cast delivered something that was perhaps ahead of its time. It’s a movie about the refusal to fight, the joy of survival, and the ridiculousness of the human condition. In a world that often takes itself way too seriously, a movie about a wine festival in the middle of an invasion feels almost necessary.
Taking Action: Where to Find More
If you enjoyed the performances in this film, your next step should be exploring the deeper filmographies of the leads. James Coburn's work in The President's Analyst offers a similar satirical bite, while Dick Shawn's performance in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World shows him at the height of his physical comedy powers. For those interested in the directorial style, watching this back-to-back with The Party (starring Peter Sellers) will give you a complete picture of how Blake Edwards redefined the big-budget comedy in the 60s. Hunting down the original 1966 press kits or behind-the-scenes photography can also provide a fascinating look at the massive Valerno set built on the Crags Road area of Malibu Creek State Park—much of which still has recognizable terrain today for hikers and film buffs.