I stumbled on this movie on youtube. This is not your typical WWII movie, however, I do think it presents a view of the American spirit during WWII. An interesting movie and not a typical character for Mr. Robinson.
Here's the movie description:
Edward G. Robinson stars as Wilbert Winkle in this clever, insightful comedy. Mr. Winkle is timid, henpecked, physically unfit and past forty. He soon finds himself in uniform, survives basic training, and is sent into combat against the Japanese when he is drafted into WWII.
Review from 1944, copied from wikipedia:
" New York Times critic Bosley Crowther described it as "sure-fire and timeless humor, a non-violent form of slapstick, and it fulfills the basic requirements of the entertainment film. It does, that is, if you can reckon Mr. Robinson as a meek and modest man — a wishful characterization which this writer finds most hard to take. ... it stuck unconvincingly in our craw." "
Mr. Robinson was a popular actor of the 1930's and '40's typically playing tough guy gangster characters. During WWII, the Office of War Information took advantage of his multilingual skills and he delivered radio addresses in over six languages to European countries that had fallen under Nazi domination. So, he contributed to the war effort and acted at the same time! Hope you enjoy it!
One hour nineteen minutes running time:
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