Wake Me When It’s Over

Wake Me When It’s Over

Year: 1960

Runtime: 126 mins

Language: English

Director: Mervyn LeRoy

Comedy

Even after the war ends, the hapless Gus Brubaker cannot escape military service and is assigned to a tiny, forgotten Japanese island, where his blundering antics kick off a wildly funny Air Force escapade filled with mishaps, eccentric characters, and chaotic adventure.

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Timeline & Setting – Wake Me When It’s Over (1960)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Wake Me When It’s Over (1960). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 1950s

The story unfolds shortly after the Korean War, a time of demobilization and bureaucratic bungles. Veterans adjust to peacetime life while continuing to operate under limited resources. The period frames the men’s attempt to reclaim purpose through humor, camaraderie, and a risky business venture.

Location

Shima Island, Japan

An isolated radar station sits on a ramshackle backwater island near Shima, Japan, where a small Air Force unit operates with outdated gear. The men transform the derelict base into the Hotel Shima around natural hot springs, hoping to lift morale and draw attention. The village and its customs intertwine with the base, shaping the project and the relationships that unfold.

🏝️ Island setting 🧭 Post-war base 🏨 Hotel Shima

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:48

Main Characters – Wake Me When It’s Over (1960)

Meet the key characters of Wake Me When It’s Over (1960), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Gus Brubaker (Dick Shawn)

A self-described schnook and war veteran who returns to service after a bureaucratic error. He channels his frustration into the Hotel Shima project, seeking purpose and redemption through hard work and leadership. His resilience and stubborn optimism drive the island venture, even as he faces public scrutiny and the risk of being scapegoated.

🎭 Ambition 🧭 Veteran resilience 🏨 Project leadership

Captain Charlie Stark (Ernie Kovacs)

A free-wheeling, nonconformist Air Force pilot who leads the base with humor and audacity. He becomes deeply involved in the hotel project and develops a complicated romance with Nora. His actions during the trial—testifying and buzzing the trial—show his willingness to challenge authority for a cause and for his friends.

🎯 Charismatic leader ❤️ Romantic 🛩️ Maverick

Captain Dave 'Doc' Farrington (Jack Warden)

The unit's schemes mastermind who uses the water’s supposed healing powers to gain free publicity for Hotel Shima. His opportunistic streak creates tension with others, while his influence illustrates how marketing and perception can sway public opinion. He becomes a controversial figure when the scheme collides with official investigations.

🕴️ Schemer 🗞️ Media savvy 🧪 Controversial

Lt. Nora McKay (Margo Moore)

A practical and capable officer who helps staff the hotel and oversees recruitment of village girls as workers. She becomes romantically involved with Charlie, balancing duty with personal feelings. Her role anchors the human side of the project and the emotional arc of the lovers within the military setting.

👩‍✈️ Capable leadership 💞 Romantic arc 🗣️ Moral center

Ume Tanaka (Nobu McCarthy)

Daughter of the village’s unfriendly mayor who befriends Gus and guides him to the hot springs pool. Her presence ties the local community to the project and her farewell wave at the end marks the island’s acceptance of the new order. She embodies the bridge between military intrusion and local life.

🌊 Local guide 🏯 Community liaison 💧 Cultural bridge

Col. Archie Hollingsworth (Parley Baer)

A reputation-conscious senior officer who becomes an adversary to the hotel project and to Gus during the trial. He is central to the political and disciplinary maneuvering surrounding Hotel Shima. His demotion to sergeant at the end signals a shift in power and accountability.

🏛️ Authority figure ⚖️ Trial involvement 🔄 Power dynamics

Joab Matinson (Robert Emhardt)

A journalist who becomes entangled with the hotel project, initially used by Doc Farrington for publicity. His drinking and reporting help drive the controversy surrounding Hotel Shima. His presence underscores the impact of media on military ventures and public perception.

📰 Media presence 🗺️ Investigative lens 🗣️ Public scrutiny

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:48

Major Themes – Wake Me When It’s Over (1960)

Explore the central themes of Wake Me When It’s Over (1960), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕊️ Redemption

Gus Brubaker seeks a second chance after being wrongfully kept in uniform. The Hotel Shima project gives him a concrete goal and a chance to prove himself beyond the label of a schnook. The trial and public scrutiny test his resolve, while the island’s community rallies around his reinvention. In the end, redemption comes through communal effort rather than individual blame.

🧾 Bureaucracy

A red-tape foulup lands Gus back in uniform and triggers a congressional investigation. The investigation exposes the fragility of decision-making processes and the thin line between accountability and scapegoating. Attempts at publicity for Hotel Shima collide with official scrutiny and political maneuvering. The episode highlights how institutions can both defend and derail personal ambitions.

🎯 Morale

The hotel project injects energy and purpose into a bored, slovenly unit, reconstituting a sense of military camaraderie. The men rally around a tangible goal, turning a run-down facility into a functioning resort. Humor, risk, and teamwork replace apathy as they rebuild the base and their own spirits. The revival culminates in a communal achievement that forces them to redefine what the unit stands for.

❤️ Love

Nora McKay and Captain Charlie Stark develop a romantic tension as they navigate duty, ambition, and affection. Their relationship adds emotional stakes to the trial and the hotel project, offering a personal counterpoint to the larger political drama. The romance helps soften the harsh realities of military life and test their readiness for commitment.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:48

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