C'étaient des hommes!

Marlon Brando's screen debut is a strong one and the film is very hard hitting for 1950's cinema. But the real pleasure is watching Jack Webb, especially in his scenes with Brando. Webb was a much better actor than he is given credit for, (he's in several good movies of the period and is consistently good), before allowing himself to be typecast as the no-nonsense Sgt. Friday. I love watching films from early in actor's careers before their careers took different paths. It's fun seeing "Joe Friday" interact with Hollywood's bad boy. The TV guy more than holds his own.

I saw this movie when I was 12 in England. After years of glorious positive movies about WW2 this was quite an eyeopener for me. I thought it was going to be a war combat picture. That ended real fast when Squad-leader Brando gets hit. You see Brando leading his infantry squad through devastated country side of war-torn Europe. Brando moves around the corner of a dilapidated farm house when suddenly a machine gun hits him and down he goes. The story then begins with the wounded soldier joining other bitter vets in a VA hospital. I was very impressed with this story. A great portrayal of what ordinary people who become war heroes have to live through when their minds and bodies are shattered. One scene that stands out in my mind is the one where Jack Webb quotes from Shakespeare's "perchance to dream" speech.

So much of me truly admired what 'The Men' set out to do when seeing for the first time, having loved a lot of other films of lead actor Marlon Brando ('The Godfather', 'On the Waterfront', 'Apocalypse Now') and director Fred Zinnemann ('High Noon', 'From Here to Eternity', 'The Day of the Jackal'). Its intentions are truly admirable and that cannot really be denied. The subject really resonated with me too, being disabled myself. Not paraplegic though, my problems are neurological and psychological, but it still resonated.

Having also paraplegic friends and seeing how much of an everyday struggle it is for them, like with me with my struggles, but admiring how it doesn't stop them living life to the full. The subject was very daring at the time to portray on film and in a way still is, and it actually within the context of the time does a great job with it. Some will say it has dated, but taking into account that portrayals of disabilities and attitudes towards them on film has changed significantly overtime (with more awareness now) and the timing 'The Men' does incredibly well here.

'The Men' is not perfect sure. Usually am an admirer of Dmitri Tiomkin, but am going to have to concur with those that found his score too intrusive, both too loud and used too much.

Also found that it started off a little on the slow side.

On the other hand, Brando, here in his film debut, is pretty mesmerising throughout in an intensely moving turn. Jack Webb also excels in a role atypical to the type of roles he is better known for. Teresa Wright is suitably alluring and sympathetic. The characters may not be complex but are too stereotypical either and are interesting, did root for them. The film is also confidently directed by Zinnemann and sensitively scripted by Carl Foreman (had no problem with the opening address).

Furthermore, 'The Men' is beautifully shot, without being heavy in spectacle. The editing didn't seem rough to me. The subject was very daring to portray at the time and at the time even the portrayal of paraplegia here was ground-breaking. Really admired the film's unflinching take on the daring subject, it certainly does not sugarcoat and parts are quite moving. Some may find it outdated if in my view taking it out of context, to me actually the subject and themes and the bold approach the film takes to them are still very daring and relevant today.

All in all, very good. 8/10

"The Men" probably seemed very daring at the time of its release, and indeed Brando's performance and some of the supporting ones have lasted well and hardly dated at all. The film gives some idea of the horrific aftermath of war and its effects on the 'heroes' it disfigures. Teresa Wright plays Brando's girlfriend with some sensitivity and Everett Sloane gives a good performance as the doctor. Of the other actors playing paraplegics, Jack Webb deserves a mention. This is an interesting film which raises a lot of issues not previously faced that much on screen.

This little-known film surprised me with the depth of its emotional involvement with its characters. Conflict, pain, tragedy, suffering, doubt, and triumph are all present in generous and convincing doses, as we witness the travails of wartime paraplegics. Marlon Brando is excellent in a very auspicious beginning to his film career. We are really drawn into Ken and Ellen's tortuously conflicted relationship. Jack Webb is also very good here, which surprised me in light of his storied woodenness as Joe Friday (I guess that was just part of his characterization of the detective). Another round of kudos to American Movie Classics for bringing us this gem.