• A fringe recommendation—but it is a John Sturges film—action, a rag-tag crew of men from different backgrounds (like Magnificent Seven, Great Escape), masculine
  • I wish there were more- but there is one stunning composition at the 17 minute mark. It is just staggered men throughout the frame—carefully arranged and different spots and depths. The influence of Kurosawa (and remember Sturges would remake Seven Samurai the next year). Sturges’ Bad Day at Black Rock has a few of these compositions. There are 8-9 bodies in the frame (the very wide Cinemascope frame) posing solemnly after a mercy killing from the leader (Sinatra). Visconti would be proud of this shot- a painting. Sturges tracks out of the posed shot and follows Sinatra.

pretty mediocre copy of it– but the best shot in the film by a long shot is this stunner of a composition at the 17 minute mark– bodies arranged in the frame– held

  • Shot in Burma- on location most of it
  • I might have missed the reason but Sinatra is sporting a terrible goatee that goes away after the first 10 minutes- haha
  • McQueen won the role (and he would go on to become a star under Sturges in Magnificent Seven and Great Escape) apparently after Sinatra axed Sammy Davis Jr. – McQueen shows up at 20 minutes and breathes much needed life into the film. It doesn’t sustain (and the last 30 minutes are the worst of the film) but still- a compliment to him as an actor—even this early on in his career his has screen presence
  • Again- like other ensemble platoon films or even Hawks’ Hatari – each character has a background, a Brit, a Navajo (played by Charles Bronson here)
  • Great night action scene- there’s lots of action here
  • Turns into this weak morality play about lines drawn in war in the last act
  • Would be better with another actor in the role of the General— maybe Dean Jagger or Walter Pidgeon instead
  • Recommend but not in the top 10 of 1959 or terribly close