This begins as a nice stage play war drama, with mostly good characters, although a few are too Hollywood, even for its day.
The attempts at comic relief are snippets that aren't much, but seem realistic, with the best comic relief coming from James Griffith, one of those actors you always recognize, but never know the name of. He's the one with the "sleepy, roguish, comical look" you see in films and TV shows.
Lee Marvin, Arthur Franz, and Richard Kiley are the big names here, but we also have an invader from Venus (at least according to a Twilight Zone episode) as an officer. All the actors do a very good job.
You've probably read the scenario. It's about a squad of eight men, and one of them is pinned down by the enemy, while the other seven stew about saving him somehow.
The last 20 minutes or so bring this down, when the totally Hollywood character meant to appease a certain portion of the audience, becomes a superman. That brings it down two stars, because it was way overplayed.
The attempts at comic relief are snippets that aren't much, but seem realistic, with the best comic relief coming from James Griffith, one of those actors you always recognize, but never know the name of. He's the one with the "sleepy, roguish, comical look" you see in films and TV shows.
Lee Marvin, Arthur Franz, and Richard Kiley are the big names here, but we also have an invader from Venus (at least according to a Twilight Zone episode) as an officer. All the actors do a very good job.
You've probably read the scenario. It's about a squad of eight men, and one of them is pinned down by the enemy, while the other seven stew about saving him somehow.
The last 20 minutes or so bring this down, when the totally Hollywood character meant to appease a certain portion of the audience, becomes a superman. That brings it down two stars, because it was way overplayed.