A Walk in the Sun ***** (1945, Dana Andrews, Richard Conte, John Ireland, Lloyd Bridges) – Classic Movie Review 3504

The 1945 classic A Walk in the Sun about one American platoon in the 1943 invasion of Italy is another magnificent milestone war film from producer-director Lewis Milestone, the director of All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), Halls of Montezuma (1950) and Pork Chop Hill (1959). Milestone again makes his movie seem so immediate and real as though his cameras are documenting an actual event.

Milestone concentrates on the personal stories rather than the battle action in his World War Two story of one American unit of GIs landing in 1943 on the coast at Salerno in south west Italy, where they must battle Nazi forces for control of a fortified strategic farmhouse.

On the acting front, Dana Andrews, Richard Conte, John Ireland and Lloyd Bridges are outstanding among a fine ensemble cast that also includes George Tyne, Herbert Rudley, Norman Lloyd, Huntz Hall, Richard Benedict, James Cardwell and George Offerman Jr, Steve Brodie, Matt Willis, Chris Drake, Alvin Hammer, Victor Cutler, Jay Norris, John Kellogg and Robert Horton.

Screen-writer Robert Rossen painstakingly adapts Harry Brown’s novel in a model screenplay of literacy, poignancy and intelligence. Cameraman Russell Harlan provides the striking black and white cinematography, the score is by Fredric Efrem Rich and there are songs by Millard Lampell and Earl Robinson.

On the other hand, Milestone next directed the classic comedy The Front Page (1931), proving his versatility.

Robert Horton, known as scout Flint McCullough in the long-running Emmy-nominated TV series Wagon Train, died on 9 March 2016, aged 91.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3504

Link to home page for more reviews derekwinnert.com