The movie What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? is a 1966 comedy directed by Blake Edwards and starring James Coburn, Dick Shawn, and Sergio Fantoni. The film is set in Italy during World War II, where a by-the-book Captain Lionel Cash (Coburn) is ordered to capture a small strategic village that is held by Italian soldiers. The Italian soldiers, led by Captain Oppo (Fantoni), are willing to surrender, but only if they can have a festival first.
Captain Cash at first refuses the request, as it goes against his strict military code. However, his Lieutenant Christian (Shawn) convinces him that it is the only way to get the Italian soldiers to surrender peacefully, without any casualties on either side. They come up with a plan to pretend to fight the Italians, while at the same time allowing them to have a festival.
To sort out the logistics of the plan, an intelligence officer, Major Posa (Giovanni Ralli), is sent in. Meanwhile, the festival gets complicated when the Mayor's daughter, Gina (Carla Monti), takes a romantic interest in Lieutenant Christian, causing tension between him and Captain Cash.
As the festival takes place, things get even more complicated when German soldiers arrive, leading to a chaotic and hilarious series of events. In the end, both the Italian and German soldiers surrender to the Americans, thanks to Captain Cash's willingness to bend the rules and Lieutenant Christian's cleverness.
Overall, What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? is a satirical and lighthearted look at war, with sharp wit and great performances by its cast.
