Terminally dull war movie that is only livened in fits and starts by Poitier's incensed portrayal. His obvious reluctance in the role adds a greater edge to the part of sergeant who doesn't want to be sergeant. The photo backdrops are unusually obvious, while the hour-and-a-half duration plays out with the singular plot thread of eleven marines on a suicide mission to protect a strategic farmhouse. This is punctuated by attempted rapes, bigotry and mutilation, those these elements seem to be inserted merely to keep the film going, rather than any natural dynamic growing out of the picture. Interestingly, whenever the Chinese are about to launch another attack, the marines are in the process of playing "When The Saints Go Marching In". Whether or not this is an indication the invading forces are saints, the main cast devils, is never really touched upon. The film's frequent lapses towards gung-ho miIitarism seem to suggest this is not the case. There are also scattered references to Buddhist mythology, though these seem to be undeveloped trivialities rather than any intentional commentary.
Review of All the Young Men
