It was a little much to expect Hollywood to come up with an overly accurate version of the Red Ball Express - the predominantly African American soldiers who made up the famous trucking run have been reduced to only a few - but at least they are there, and they all get to play different characters. In particular Sidney Poiter gets to glower in an early role - his fellow blacks are more amiable, but Sidney is angry. (Only until he learns the valuable lesson that he shouldn't be prejudice - yep, the prejudice in this comes from the black character. So no NAACP awards but at least it's something.) There's some weird scenes of a black soldier leading the others in a spiritual as they unload trucks - the whites join in which has to be some sort of first.
Jeff Chandler has the lead role although this is more of an ensemble piece. He's stuck with the worst plot - his sergeant hates Chandler for causing his brother's death in civvie street. It's boring because you know the sergeant is going to realise that Chandler isn't really responsible and Chandler will redeem himself in the guy's eyes some way. There's also a lot of dud conflict e.g. Chandler being a task master (it's war time what do they expect), soldiers acting stupidly. And Charles Drake is irritating as a soldier who wants to write a novel and romances a French girl.
Those criticisms aside, I quite enjoyed it. It's briskly handled by the director, the subject matter and presence of black soldiers ensures that it's different, there's also some tough but sexy Red Cross workers who are dab hands with a wrench, and Chandler suits his role.
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