FILMIGImitation General1958

Movie

How Long Is “Imitation General”?

Name: Imitation General
Genre: military, action/adventure, comedy, adaptation, War
Released: 1958-08-20
Duration: 88 min
Cast: Glenn Ford, Red Buttons, Taina Elg, Dean Jones, Kent Smith

1h 28m runtime

19581h 28mmilitary • action/adventure • comedy • adaptation

Military film with a runtime of 88 minutes, released in 1958. Presented in English.

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Movie Runtime for Imitation General

Exact length so you know if it fits tonight.

Runtime1h 28m

Minutes88

One SittingYes

With Break1h 40m

Spoiler-Free Synopsis

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Based on a novel by William Chamberlain, Imitation General has a bit more story depth and character development than the average WWII service comedy. Glenn Ford stars as M/Sgt. Murphy Savage, who is forced to take drastic action when Brigadier General Charles Lane (Kent Smith) is killed in action. To assure the success of the General's mission, and to sustain morale within the ranks, Sgt. Savage poses as the deceased Lane. Standing on the sidelines to kvetch and moan is Red Buttons as Cpl. Chan Derby, who's certain that both he and Savage will be shot at sunrise for the sergeant's deception. Finnish actress Taina Elg is somewhat incongruously cast as a French farm girl. Given the fact that the story of Imitation General is motivated by the "passing of a torch", it's ironic that the film's first network showing in November of 1963 was postponed by the JFK assassination.

Runtime Card

Runtime1h 28m

Can Finish TonightYes

One SittingYes

With Break1h 40m

Movie Facts

Release DateAugust 20, 1958

Runtime1h 28m

LanguageEnglish

Genresmilitary, action/adventure, comedy, adaptation

DirectorGeorge Marshall

ProducerWilliam B. Hawks

About This Guide

This page focuses on the exact runtime, cast, release details, and synopsis for Imitation General (1958). It is designed to answer the practical question of how long the movie is while still giving enough context to decide whether it matches what you want to watch.

Editorial Take

Imitation General (1958) is positioned on OnlySynopsis as a practical viewing decision page built around its 1h 28m runtime. The page leans into military, action/adventure expectations so readers can quickly tell whether the film matches the mood they are trying to fill. Because it is relatively compact, this title fits the kind of single-session watch many searchers are explicitly looking for.

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