Review of The Thin Red Line

The film originally opened with Sam Fuller's The Naked Kiss, and thinking of those film son a double bill, both mixing sex with violence, makes one miss the era when two films could be seen for a single ticket. In fact, while Malick's film never explicitly reveals what the film's title means, Marton's film wastes little time in explaining, via Captain Stone, that the phrase is from an old Midwest saying, 'There's only a thin red line between sanity and madness.' The DVD, by Simitar Entertainment, has some interesting extras, such as bios on Dullea and Warden, but also six clips from genuine World War Two documentaries- the most interesting being a clip on the rescue of an American who evaded capture for 31 months, after the Japanese originally invaded Guam. That soldier, named George Tweed, had his tale told in a 1962 film, starring Jeffrey Hunter, called No Man Is An Island. There is also the original theatrical trailer, and a series of clickable features that has important historical facts about the Battle of Guadalcanal. There is no audio commentary track.

Overall, the DVD package is a solid one, but the film is merely mediocre, albeit with some good moments. It is best watched as a curio piece (especially for fans of Dullea's career), and a companion to the infinitely superior Terrence Malick film of 1998. That film is one of the more sublime expressions of cinema in American history. This film is a 'flick.' But flicks have their place, and this one's will be next to its cousin. Insert any 'strange bedfellows' comment at your leisure.