bellino-angelo2014
This is one of my favourite war movies of the '50s, and it's based on a true story.The movie begins in a US Army command where Colonel William Orlando Bardy is assigned as the chief of the first ranger Battalion in 1942 (formed in Scotland), and while the Rangers have tough training, they get along with some lassies. Then they fight successfully in North Africa, Sicily, and Anzio in the Battle of Cisterna (with only 7 men, out of 767, left alive). And, in the end, we see bits of the remaining rangers after war (Darby leaves Anzio boarding a landing craft, and two of the central characters get married to their girlfriends).I loved the cast; James Garner (in his first leading man role) is excellent as Colonel William Orlando Darby, and also Jack Warden as his sidekick, top Sergeant Saul Rosen (who also narrates the movie). And there are some up-and-coming actors; Murray Hamilton as Sims Delancey; Stuart Whitman as Sergeant Hank Bishop, that gets along with proper Wendy Hollister; Corey Allen as the sleazy lover boy that falls for the older Sheila Andrews, the wife of an Archeology professor; Edd Byrnes is good as Lt. Arnold Dittman, and goes to struggle with his girlfriend (Angeline de Lotta)'s illness; and Peter Brown (in one of his first movies) gives his best role to date, especially in the scene when he is conflicted after killing a German sniper.By the way, it's a nice and entertaining World War II movie, and maybe one of the best made in the 1950s! Recommended to all movie buffs like me!
David_Brown
This is an above average War Film with an impressive cast (James Garner (Col. Darby), Jack Warden (The narrator Mst Sgt. Saul Rosen), Stuart Whitman (All of whom would do better things later on)), and Director (William Wellman), in his next to last film. The main reason to watch is Edd Bynes (Lt. Arnold Dittman), who comes straight from West Point with no knowledge of the real world, either on the battlefield or in dealing with people. Spoilers: There is one scene where he kills an Itallian Soldier and feels incredible guilt about it, and Darby, has to explain why he had to do it. Later on, he and his men are ordered to disinfect some Itallians, and one woman, Angelina De Lotta (Etchika Choureau), objects because it is degrading, and will only allow herself to be disinfected if he does it. He gets himself involved with her, and she is essentially using him, because she is extremely desperate, and very sick. When she tells things about her he is disgusted and leaves. He gets drunk and is complaining about her (Including the statement "Do you think you were the first?"). Darby goes to investigate, and finds out that she slept with an Itallian Partician (Someone fighting Mussolini), and was killed. The problem is she got pregnant, and although she fell in love with Dittman, was ashamed to say it it to him, and is dying. Darby wakes up Dittman and explains what happened and said: "This woman has been through hell, I am not saying what she did is right, but compassion does not come out of an Army Manual, this is a big mess, and it takes a big man to clean it up." He goes to a Doctor and and the Doctor explains that sulfur will not help, she needs penicillin and when he tried to get some from the Army, it was explained that "It is only for soldiers and in rare cases, for their Dependants." Basically, the options are, marry her or let her die. He decides to get a local Priest, who could not speak English, but the Doctor translates and explains why they must be married. She is able to be saved but the baby inside her died. After the final military scene, where the Rangers meet up with a German Panzer (Tank) Division), and the conditions were summed up well by Rosen. "This was the low, clinging kind of fog I used to see when I was hunting duck out on Long Island... Now I know how the duck felt." Dittman is one of the few Rangers to survive, and comes back to her and is sad that the baby died, but as she pointed out that "We can have lots of babies together." What I like is not only did he love her enough to marry her, but she really loved him as well, and was elated he came back to her. You can tell they will have a fresh start, and spend a lifetime together. Byrnes performance, and the relationship with Angelina is what makes it a good film. 7/10 stars.
bux
Veteran Director Wellman guides the capable cast through all the usual war movie cliches and still manages to keep our interest. Scattered throughout the action are some nice cameos by then "up and coming" stars, and an especially nice bit done by Edd "Kooky" Brynes. This one is still fun.
