Men in War (1957): Surprisingly Good “Lost Platoon” Movie

Aldo Ray and Robert Ryan, Men in War

One more step and I’ll fill your guts with lead. That’s the tagline on one of “Men in War’s” posters, with Aldo Ray’s character Montana leveling his gun at Robert Ryan. If you’re a battle-hardened veteran of World War II movies made in the 1950s, you’ll like this one. For one, it’s Korea, not WWII.… Continue reading Men in War (1957): Surprisingly Good “Lost Platoon” Movie

Go for Broke! (1951): a Film Out of Its Time

Judging by Go for Broke‘s posters and related promotional material, you’d think that this Robert Pirosh picture is yet another post-WWII jingoistic war film. We see strapping blonde Van Johnson hoisting a rifle and chasing the Italian ladies. The title, too, evokes visions of Battleground (1949)–also starring Van Johnson and directed by Robert Pirosh–and the… Continue reading Go for Broke! (1951): a Film Out of Its Time

“The Mob” (1951): Unsung Film Noir With Stellar Cast

In some kind of dream classic film world, you would watch a movie with Broderick Crawford, Ernest Borgnine, Richard Kiley, Neville Brand, with a brief walk-on from Charles Bronson. It’s no dream, it’s reality, but you have to claw back to 1951 for that one–well before most of those names had achieved star status. Crawford… Continue reading “The Mob” (1951): Unsung Film Noir With Stellar Cast

Brute Force (1947): Hume Cronyn’s Sadistic Prison Boss Makes the Movie

I came to Brute Force (1947) for Burt Lancaster but left with Hume Cronyn. Having seen Lancaster in Sweet Smell of Success many years ago, I got on a Burt Lancaster kick and never quite left it. Because Sweet Smell… is just so damn good. It’s tough, cynical, it’s mean, it’s all New York-y. That movie,… Continue reading Brute Force (1947): Hume Cronyn’s Sadistic Prison Boss Makes the Movie

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