There was a late 40s/ early 50s vogue in Hollywood to make movies about prejudice in the army - Jews (Crossfire), blacks (Home of the Brave), Japanese-Americans (Go for Broke!). This one was the Greek's turn. Not Greek-Americans but Greek soldiers themselves.
I didn't realise there was much prejudice against Greek soldiers - and the film kind of acknowledges that by having Greek-American officer Victor Mature keen to work with European Greeks, until a battle incident happens where Mature thinks they're cowards. Mature feels bad about sticking up for the Greeks and gives them a hard time. Of course, since the president of 20th Century Fox was a Greek, Spyros Skouros, the Greeks are actually innocent - they just wipe their bayonets clean.
That's not a bad idea for a film - the Greek angle gives it some freshness. Mature is solid in the lead role and has decent conflict with Alexander Scourby, who is the Greek officer. (The moustache is a bit distracting.) Lee Marvin and Richard Egan pop up in support roles. And New Zealanders will enjoy the fact that there's a small part involving a New Zealand soldier who gives them information - played by someone called Ray Harden who was also in The Desert Rats.
I dont know much about director Richard Webb but enjoyed his work here - gritty, accomplished use of visuals. It's not a classic but is a professional tough war film with the novelty of Greek characters and a focus on America's relationship with it's allies in the Korean War.
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