02 Jul See Here, Private Hargrove
Based on the book by Marion Hargrove, starring Robert Walker and Donna Reed
(1944) This comedy is based on the 1942 best-selling book by journalist Marion Hargrove as he described madcap experiences of Army boot camp. The lead role was played by Robert Walker, an actor I have written about before. In fact, this was one of first credited roles.
Walker was a popular member of the cast. I loved Walker in The Clock with Judy Garland. That movie was also made in 1944, and he was the same happy-go-lucky GI as we enjoy in See Here, Private Hargrove.
Walker had married a young aspiring actress in 1939, and soon they had two children. Just a few years later his wife met David O. Selznik and changed her name to “Jennifer Jones.” The actress and the famous producer were soon having an affair. It wasn’t much of a secret.
In 1945, Jennifer filed for divorce and Walker never got over it. He drank too much and eventually suffered a nervous breakdown. In his last major film, Strangers on a Train (1951) directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Walker played a psychopath. The comedic character was gone.
The following year when he was having an out of control emotional outburst his psychiatrist gave him a strong sedative. On top of the alcohol he had been drinking, it was too much. Robert Walker died at the age of 32. An actor with so much promise had the misfortune of falling in love with one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood.
I enjoyed watching him play this lighthearted role. There was even a sequel, What Next, Corporal Hargrove? The real life Marion Hargrove went on to become a successful screenwriter, working with some of the most popular television shows (such as Maverick, 77 Sunset Strip) and writing the script for the musical The Music Man.
See Here, Private Hargrove at amazon.com
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