This one emerges as Cornel Wilde’s second-best directorial effort after THE NAKED PREY (1966; still bafflingly M.I.A. on DVD). It’s an unflinching depiction of warfare – with a surprising amount of gore for the time, punctuated by touches of dark humor – which must have influenced Steven Spielberg’s SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998), even down to having the first third of it consisting of one seemingly endless battle.
The film, however, also anticipates Terrence Malick’s THE THIN RED LINE (1998) by 30 years in its pre-occupation with the soldiers’ domestic lives (via multi-character narration and flashbacks) – but, commendably, takes care to show that of the enemy as well. Plot-wise, it doesn’t really lead anywhere; then again, that’s probably in order to show the futility of war itself and often resorts to creative i.e. showy, but now dated, Oscar-nominated editing to make its points. There’s also the occasional symbolism – for instance, a crushed beetle standing in for the decimation of untrained U.S. troops at the hands of the wily Japanese (at one point, disguising themselves en masse in American uniforms!).
Featuring a largely anonymous cast, the film tries to be contemporary by focusing on the exploits of two youthful soldiers – their sexual hang-ups and fear of dying. The only familiar names are Wilde himself (as the platoon leader – appropriately war-weary yet staunchly dedicated to his men), Rip Torn (as his tough-as-nails lieutenant) and “guest star” Jean Wallace (Wilde’s real-life spouse playing his on-screen wife as well in a few flashback instances and singing the film’s melancholy title song). Torn’s bloodthirsty character personifies the dehumanizing effect of war throughout the film: in the long run, cynicism gets the upper hand – brushing away even a poignant plea for tolerance at the finale!
The film, however, also anticipates Terrence Malick’s THE THIN RED LINE (1998) by 30 years in its pre-occupation with the soldiers’ domestic lives (via multi-character narration and flashbacks) – but, commendably, takes care to show that of the enemy as well. Plot-wise, it doesn’t really lead anywhere; then again, that’s probably in order to show the futility of war itself and often resorts to creative i.e. showy, but now dated, Oscar-nominated editing to make its points. There’s also the occasional symbolism – for instance, a crushed beetle standing in for the decimation of untrained U.S. troops at the hands of the wily Japanese (at one point, disguising themselves en masse in American uniforms!).
Featuring a largely anonymous cast, the film tries to be contemporary by focusing on the exploits of two youthful soldiers – their sexual hang-ups and fear of dying. The only familiar names are Wilde himself (as the platoon leader – appropriately war-weary yet staunchly dedicated to his men), Rip Torn (as his tough-as-nails lieutenant) and “guest star” Jean Wallace (Wilde’s real-life spouse playing his on-screen wife as well in a few flashback instances and singing the film’s melancholy title song). Torn’s bloodthirsty character personifies the dehumanizing effect of war throughout the film: in the long run, cynicism gets the upper hand – brushing away even a poignant plea for tolerance at the finale!