Imitation General

Imitation General is a 1958 CinemaScope war comedy film starring Glenn Ford, Red Buttons and Taina Elg. The film was based on a short story of the same name by William Chamberlain.

The first American soldier who shows up, Corporal Terry Sellers Dean Jones, mistakes Murph for Lane Murph is holding the generals helmet, giving him an idea. Recalling Lanes assessment that leadership is desperately needed to rally the disorganized troops, Murph masquerades as the general, with Derby and Simones reluctant help. Murph manages to repulse a couple of German attacks spearheaded by tanks, all the while avoiding Private Orville Hutchmeyer Tige Andrews, who knows Murph and has a grudge against him.At the end of the engagement, Murph is knocked out by shrapnel, allowing him to die and resume his real identity with no one the wiser. ........

Source: Wikipedia