This is one of my favourite war movies of the '50s, and it's based on a true story.The movie begins in a US Army command where Colonel William Orlando Bardy is assigned as the chief of the first ranger Battalion in 1942 (formed in Scotland), and while the Rangers have tough training, they get along with some lassies. Then they fight successfully in North Africa, Sicily, and Anzio in the Battle of Cisterna (with only 7 men, out of 767, left alive). And, in the end, we see bits of the remaining rangers after war (Darby leaves Anzio boarding a landing craft, and two of the central characters get married to their girlfriends).I loved the cast; James Garner (in his first leading man role) is excellent as Colonel William Orlando Darby, and also Jack Warden as his sidekick, top Sergeant Saul Rosen (who also narrates the movie). And there are some up-and-coming actors; Murray Hamilton as Sims Delancey; Stuart Whitman as Sergeant Hank Bishop, that gets along with proper Wendy Hollister; Corey Allen as the sleazy lover boy that falls for the older Sheila Andrews, the wife of an Archeology professor; Edd Byrnes is good as Lt. Arnold Dittman, and goes to struggle with his girlfriend (Angeline de Lotta)'s illness; and Peter Brown (in one of his first movies) gives his best role to date, especially in the scene when he is conflicted after killing a German sniper.By the way, it's a nice and entertaining World War II movie, and maybe one of the best made in the 1950s! Recommended to all movie buffs like me!

This may not be that historically accurate but it is still very entertaining. It is at least based on a real person and the actions did take place. James Garner passed away last week so TCM is running his movies. The ranger training by British commandos had some humorous spots and some sad ones. I really detested the hick American lover boy and it didn't bother me at all when he fell to his death. Nor when the husband where he had been staying left his wife because she was in love and had been screwing the lover boy. She goes to the camp only to find out lover boy was dead. I guess that could be called poetic justice, huh? The last action the Rangers go on will be their last as a unit. Two battalions are trying to infiltrate the German lines when they inadvertently run into a German offensive push. Only 7 of 767 men return from the two battalions, most of the others are captured. The movie ends with Darby going back to Washington. Darby returns to Italy and while planning the Trento assault is killed by an 88 shell.

Routine, by-the-numbers war film made on an off-day by the great William A. Wellman. It's no better, and somewhat worse, than other WW II films of that era, with some sappy and contrived love stories thrown in. Although Wellman hadn't made "B" pictures for years, that's just what this one comes across as--far too much of it is shot on sound stages (apparently to save money on location shooting) which makes it look cheap, as does the surfeit of poorly integrated newsreel stock footage, and what little action there is isn't particularly well done. The script is, to be honest, awful, and the acting--other than Garner, whose first major role this was and who's quite good and Edd "Kookie" Byrnes, who plays an arrogant young West Point officer on his first combat assignment--is for the most part pedestrian, with the tired stereotypes you see in pretty much every war picture: the slow-witted hillbilly, the fast-talking city slicker, the weary veteran sergeant, etc.Overall, it's slow and boring, with some unnecessary comedy relief thrown in and too much attention paid to the GIs' love interests. Not one of Wellman's better films, by a long shot.

Veteran Director Wellman guides the capable cast through all the usual war movie cliches and still manages to keep our interest. Scattered throughout the action are some nice cameos by then "up and coming" stars, and an especially nice bit done by Edd "Kooky" Brynes. This one is still fun.