The threat of World War II hangs heavy and British civilians are called to basic military training in preparation for combat. Here we follow a very mixed bunch of men indeed, coming from all walks of life and divided by the class system, these men refuse to embrace the army way of life. As the training moves on and the men start to learn their craft, it becomes apparent that they are soon to see action, and sure enough these odd assortment of soldiers are called to finally prove their worth, not only as soldiers, but also as men of equal stature.
Essentially a story of how war doesn't discriminate against the classes, Carol Reed's The Way Ahead boasts a fine cast on form and a script of character driven intelligence. Acting as a sort of call to arms to a country under pressure, the picture however now looks incredibly dated unless one can comprehend the time frame the picture deals with. It's well crafted {to be expected with Carol Reed in the directors chair}, and the last quarter, where the walls literally do come tumbling down, is octane effective and closes the film with triumphant might.
Enjoyable picture for sure, but really not one to seek out at regular intervals. 6.5/10
Essentially a story of how war doesn't discriminate against the classes, Carol Reed's The Way Ahead boasts a fine cast on form and a script of character driven intelligence. Acting as a sort of call to arms to a country under pressure, the picture however now looks incredibly dated unless one can comprehend the time frame the picture deals with. It's well crafted {to be expected with Carol Reed in the directors chair}, and the last quarter, where the walls literally do come tumbling down, is octane effective and closes the film with triumphant might.
Enjoyable picture for sure, but really not one to seek out at regular intervals. 6.5/10