Directed by:
Richard LesterScreenplay:
Charles WoodCinematography:
David WatkinComposer:
Ken ThorneCast:
Michael Crawford, John Lennon, Jack MacGowran, Lee Montague, Michael Hordern, Jack Hedley, Karl Michael Vogler, Ronald Lacey, Alexander Knox, Robert Hardy (more)Plots(1)
Hapless British commander Lieutenant Goodbody (Michael Crawford) enthusiastically leads his troops on a series of debacles on the battlefields of World War Two including the calamitous installation of a cricket pitch behind enemy lines. Featuring John Lennon in his only non-musical screen performance, How I Won the War is a biting satire not just on war, but also the concept of the war movie. A surreal farce fantastically brought to life by Richard Lester's stylised direction, it remains a unique and innovative cult comedy. (British Film Institute (BFI))
(more)Cast
Michael Crawford
UK
Best movies:
The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (2011) (theatrical recording)
Hello, Dolly! (1969)
The War Lover (1962)
![John Lennon](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/270/270684_27b846.jpg)
John Lennon
UK
Best movies:
Forrest Gump (1994) - a.f.
Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon (2003) (music video)
A Hard Day's Night (1964)
![Jack MacGowran](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/926/166926494_e8aa01.jpg)
Jack MacGowran
Ireland
Best movies:
Doctor Zhivago (1965)
The Exorcist (1973)
The Quiet Man (1952)
![Lee Montague](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/104/160104965_92b374.jpg)
Lee Montague
UK
Best movies:
Much Ado About Nothing (1984) (TV movie)
Jesus of Nazareth (1977) (TV movie)
Holocaust (1978) (series)
![Michael Hordern](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/527/161527020_25ef13.jpg)
Michael Hordern
UK
Best movies:
Gandhi (1982)
Shogun (1980) (series)
Barry Lyndon (1975)
![Jack Hedley](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/612/162612078_824a16.jpg)
Jack Hedley
UK
Best movies:
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
The Longest Day (1962)
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969)
![Karl Michael Vogler](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/382/160382042_53e0e8.jpg)
Karl Michael Vogler
German Empire
Best movies:
![Ronald Lacey](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/416/416804_a36f8f.jpg)
Ronald Lacey
UK
Best movies:
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1983) (TV movie)
![Alexander Knox](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/441/164441529_babe8a.jpg)
Alexander Knox
Canada
Best movies:
The Last Place on Earth (1985) (series)
The Longest Day (1962)
Reach for the Sky (1956)
![Robert Hardy](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/042/871/42871820_03d947.jpg)
Robert Hardy
UK
Best movies:
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
The Far Pavilions (1984) (series)
Sheila Hancock
UK
Best movies:
Endeavour (2012) (series)
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
After Thomas (2006) (TV movie)
![Jack May](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/363/161363581_022894.jpg)
Jack May
UK
Best movies:
The Last Place on Earth (1985) (series)
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969)
Brief Encounter (1945)
![Richard Pearson](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/407/158407024_4d60f2.jpg)
Richard Pearson
UK
Best movies:
It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet (1975)
Columbo (1971) (series)
A Christmas Carol (1951)
![Kenneth Colley](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/272/272439_4df90a.jpg)
Kenneth Colley
UK
Best movies:
![Roy Kinnear](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/125/158125872_70caf0.jpg)
Roy Kinnear
UK
Best movies:
The Hill (1965)
Pavlova: A Woman for All Time (1983)
The Three Musketeers (1973)
Neil Aspinall
UK
Best movies:
How I Won the War (1967)
![Peter Graves](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/193/160193923_bdae72.jpg)
Peter Graves
UK
Best movies:
I Hired a Contract Killer (1990)
I'll Never Forget What's'isname (1967)
The Assassination Bureau (1969)
![Paul Daneman](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/162/160162119_fe2bf2.jpg)
Paul Daneman
UK
Best movies:
Till We Meet Again (1989) (series)
Zulu (1964)
Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)
James Cossins
UK
Best movies:
Gandhi (1982)
The Great Train Robbery (1978)
The Public Eye (1972)
Dandy Nichols
UK
Best movies:
The Plague Dogs (1982)
O Lucky Man! (1973)
The Early Bird (1965)