When A Union Army outfit of misfits and rejects is sent to the Western territory, Southern spies try to figure out what they're doing there.When A Union Army outfit of misfits and rejects is sent to the Western territory, Southern spies try to figure out what they're doing there.When A Union Army outfit of misfits and rejects is sent to the Western territory, Southern spies try to figure out what they're doing there.
Alan Hale Jr.
- Sergeant Davis
- (as Alan Hale)
Richard Adams
- Courier
- (uncredited)
Leon Alton
- Waiter
- (uncredited)
Robert Anderson
- Steamboat Captain
- (uncredited)
Ann Blake
- Member of the Law & Order League
- (uncredited)
Danny Borzage
- Trooper
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe steamboat used in this movie was originally built and used as the Cotton Blossom, in MGM's Show Boat (1951). It was also used in Raintree County (1957) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960). In the 1970s, it was one of the props auctioned off by the studio.
- GoofsIn the scenes where the cannons fire 30 rounds, some of the cannons fire before their fuses are ignited.
- Quotes
Martha Lou: All right. Let's say, just for the moment, that I *am* a spy.
Heath: A very pretty one, too.
Martha Lou: That would make us enemies, Jared.
Heath: Yeah, of course it would. And, we'd be starting out at a point in marriage that takes some couples twenty or thirty years to achieve!
Featured review
A B-movie masterpiece
I saw this movie in the basement movie studio of Ytterboe Hall (my freshman college dorm -- alas now only a memory) when it came out 37 years ago. After I got married and settled down, I started scanning the television listings regularly for it. After 20 years, one of the channels started showing it in the wee hours so I managed to tape it. 'Advance To The Rear' is a rare gem.
This movie was made during the short but glorious window of cultural innocence (between R & B and the Rolling Stones) when folk music was as popular as rock. The music is by Randy Sparks and sung by his New Christy Minstrals. The song 'Today' is from this movie.
Stella Stevens, as the Confederate spy, is gorgeous beyond description. Glen Ford plays the bemused hero trying to do things by the book admidst a collection of misfits ('We're a company of cowards and we've come to save the day.'). Jim Backus ('Gilligan's Island' and the voice of Mr. Magoo) leads a familiar cast of veteran supporting actors and actresses of the era. Did I mention that Stella Stevens is good looking?
'Advance To The Rear' is a B-movie masterpiece. One of those rare examples of everything coming together perfectly. For those of us who remember the era, it is also very evocative -- perhaps more so than any other movie of its time. It would be nice if whoever has the rights would release it, my VHS tape is getting a little flaky. By the way, they made an LP of the sound track. Now that be a major garage sale find.
This movie was made during the short but glorious window of cultural innocence (between R & B and the Rolling Stones) when folk music was as popular as rock. The music is by Randy Sparks and sung by his New Christy Minstrals. The song 'Today' is from this movie.
Stella Stevens, as the Confederate spy, is gorgeous beyond description. Glen Ford plays the bemused hero trying to do things by the book admidst a collection of misfits ('We're a company of cowards and we've come to save the day.'). Jim Backus ('Gilligan's Island' and the voice of Mr. Magoo) leads a familiar cast of veteran supporting actors and actresses of the era. Did I mention that Stella Stevens is good looking?
'Advance To The Rear' is a B-movie masterpiece. One of those rare examples of everything coming together perfectly. For those of us who remember the era, it is also very evocative -- perhaps more so than any other movie of its time. It would be nice if whoever has the rights would release it, my VHS tape is getting a little flaky. By the way, they made an LP of the sound track. Now that be a major garage sale find.
helpful•381
- smprescott
- Mar 6, 2001
- How long is Advance to the Rear?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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