Had this movie been made during the height of WWII, it probably would have been one of the biggest hits of the year. It has a very inspiring message that borders on being corny - except when you remember the subject matter. There's a blend of fact and fiction, blind optimism and harrowing drama, but in 1951, audiences didn't care. They were living the Golden Fifties, and they didn't want to be reminded that a few short years earlier, they were afraid everyone would either be killed or conquered by Nazis.
The first half of the war drama features a bunch of flashbacks as a group of Marines await a dangerous beach landing. Richard Widmark is a schoolteacher in the same unit as one of his young students, Richard Hylton. Karl Malden is a doctor who knows Widmark has debilitating migraines, but in balancing professional integrity and friendship, he covers for him. Skip Homeier had a terrible relationship with his mother before shipping off. Three other youngsters include Walter "Jack" Palance, Robert Wagner, and Martin Milner. There's Reginald Gardiner, Jack Webb, Neville Brand, Bert Freed, Philip Ahn (as a POW) and Richard Boone in his film debut. Several of these brave men have huge dramatic scenes where they either die or watch a friend die, and since the film was directed by Lewis Milestone, it's no surprise that he wanted to show audiences the darker side to war. He also mixed in real footage with Hollywood scenes, not only adding realism but saving the world needless explosions and ruined vessels. If you like this type of war drama, with hope persevering amidst terrible death, check out Hell Is for Heroes, Edge of Darkness, and Men in War.
The first half of the war drama features a bunch of flashbacks as a group of Marines await a dangerous beach landing. Richard Widmark is a schoolteacher in the same unit as one of his young students, Richard Hylton. Karl Malden is a doctor who knows Widmark has debilitating migraines, but in balancing professional integrity and friendship, he covers for him. Skip Homeier had a terrible relationship with his mother before shipping off. Three other youngsters include Walter "Jack" Palance, Robert Wagner, and Martin Milner. There's Reginald Gardiner, Jack Webb, Neville Brand, Bert Freed, Philip Ahn (as a POW) and Richard Boone in his film debut. Several of these brave men have huge dramatic scenes where they either die or watch a friend die, and since the film was directed by Lewis Milestone, it's no surprise that he wanted to show audiences the darker side to war. He also mixed in real footage with Hollywood scenes, not only adding realism but saving the world needless explosions and ruined vessels. If you like this type of war drama, with hope persevering amidst terrible death, check out Hell Is for Heroes, Edge of Darkness, and Men in War.