Thursday, December 10, 2015

 

Greatness in Film.

From the iconic image of Burt & Deb on the beach to Frank's career changing role as Maggio, it was simply an unforgettable film.

 
I was very young when it came out, but I'll always remember seeing it being promoted on the #Today Show. They showed us the aerial shot of the army base being attacked by Japanese planes while soldiers scattered about, looking like dots on the ground.
 
It was on TV the other night and, although I've seen it several times, I got sucked in again and was glad. It's a love story for the ages, on several counts: a love of two men and two women, as well as the love of those men and Army life.  It all takes place against the backdrop of the worst moment in America's twentieth century.
 
The characters are unforgettable: Ernest Borgnine as Fatso Judson, the fearsome, knife weilding Captain of the Guard at the stockade; Lancaster, as the tall, strong, straight as an arrow "TopKick" who not even Fatso dares to mess with; Sinatra as the feisty and loveable Maggio, who takes a beating in the stockade but spits in Fatso's eye each time; and Montgomery Clift, the handsome, talented boxer who won't join the boxing team even if it means getting the "Treatment."
 
At the risk of sounding sexist, this is a man's movie. Deborah Kerr and Donna Reed were fine actresses, but I think any actress could have done their roles well. They didn't create icons like the men.
 
And there were supporting actors that we all know, by face if not name: Jack Warden, George Reeves (Superman), Claude Akins, and Robert Wilke.
 
Just when you think you're out of #WWII, they pull you back in.

Comments: Post a Comment



<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?