Wounded veterans struggle as they must survive in post-war America, faced with the everyday difficulties of being handicapped as well as the prejudice they face due to their condition. Read more
| Starring | Marlon Brando, Teresa Wright |
|---|---|
| Director | Fred Zinnemann |
| Genres | Drama |
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Wounded veterans struggle as they must survive in post-war America, faced with the everyday difficulties of being handicapped as well as the prejudice they face due to their condition.
| Starring | Marlon Brando, Teresa Wright |
|---|---|
| Director | Fred Zinnemann |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 25 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: 06 Jun 2006 Production year: 1950 |
| Format | DVD |
Vivid semi-documentary melodrama, at the time rather shocking in its no-holds-barred treatment of sexual problems.
Amazing debut for Marlon Brando delivering a high powered and emotive performance, emergence of a superstar.
Marlon Brando makes his big screen debut in this engaging look at US soldiers of the second world war as they and their loved ones come to terms with their paraplegia in Birmingham Veterans Administration Hospital. Forty-nine men from the hospital appear in the film and perhaps it is this that imbues the film with such a great and sober level of respect. Brando performs the role of 'Bud' Wilcheck admirably as he struggles to reintegrate himself with the other men on the ward, and to rebuild his relationship with his pre-war fiancee. The film sensitively portrays the difficulties that servicemen who are injured physically or psychologically in wartime have in re-establishing relationships with their civilian friends and family.
However, I've only awarded this film 3 stars out of 5 as I felt that although it was thought-provoking and featured a good solid supporting cast (particularly in Jack Webb, better know for his role as Sgt. Joe Friday in the original Dragnet TV series), the film lack that bite which keeps you pondering the issues raised for days afterwards. The characters probably aren't quite strong enough and the plot a little too one-dimensional to elevate this film from good to great.
Stanley Kramer, who later worked with Brando in 'The Wild One', produces.