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The Sergeant

  • 1968
  • R
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
744
YOUR RATING
The Sergeant (1968)
Drama

A story of a brilliant master sergeant with a great career behind him and transferred to yet another post, his attraction to a younger man eventually overrides him, to a point where his late... Read allA story of a brilliant master sergeant with a great career behind him and transferred to yet another post, his attraction to a younger man eventually overrides him, to a point where his latent homosexuality, finally emerges.A story of a brilliant master sergeant with a great career behind him and transferred to yet another post, his attraction to a younger man eventually overrides him, to a point where his latent homosexuality, finally emerges.

  • Director
    • John Flynn
  • Writer
    • Dennis Murphy
  • Stars
    • Rod Steiger
    • John Phillip Law
    • Ludmila Mikaël
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    744
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Flynn
    • Writer
      • Dennis Murphy
    • Stars
      • Rod Steiger
      • John Phillip Law
      • Ludmila Mikaël
    • 22User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos14

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    Top cast12

    Edit
    Rod Steiger
    Rod Steiger
    • MSgt. Albert Callan
    John Phillip Law
    John Phillip Law
    • Pfc. Tom Swanson
    Ludmila Mikaël
    Ludmila Mikaël
    • Solange Gérard
    Frank Latimore
    Frank Latimore
    • Capt. Loring
    Elliott Sullivan
    • Pop Henneken
    Ronald Rubin
    • Cpl. Cowley
    Philip Roye
    • Aldous Brown
    Jerry Brouer
    • Sgt. Komski
    Memphis Slim
    • Night Club Singer
    Nadine Alari
    Nadine Alari
    • Mrs. Gérard, Solange's Mother
    • (uncredited)
    Gabriel Gascon
    Gabriel Gascon
    • Paul - Solange's Brother-in-Law
    • (uncredited)
    Dan Gregory
    Dan Gregory
    • Young Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Flynn
    • Writer
      • Dennis Murphy
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews22

    6.6744
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    Featured reviews

    8MrOllie

    Steiger on top form.

    I saw this film upon it's release and it has registered in my memory ever since. I was greatly impressed by Rod Steiger's performance as a closet homosexual Sergeant in the US army who strongly desires a young Private played by John Philip Law. I was fascinated watching how this obsession destroys this rough, tough sergeant. I particularly remember the scene where Steiger grabs hold of Philip Law and kisses him full on the lips. I must confess that I was greatly shocked at the time as I had never seen a man kiss another man before. (Now it happens on British TV regularly - how times have changed!!) All in all, I think this an excellent movie!
    8xreslr

    A simmering study of repressed homosexuality.

    A real tour de force for Steiger, whose riveting portrayal of an Army sergeant wrestling with his own repressed desires is both realistic and compelling. Another top-notch Steiger character study.
    tarmcgator

    A dated but eyeopening film

    I haven't seen "The Sergeant" since its first release more than 30 years ago, and I've been disappointed that it hasn't been made available on VHS or recycled on cable TV. The ending of the movie is a cliche, and an unfortunate one, that likely would anger certain gay interest groups today. Yet I recall this film as one that opened the mind of a young heterosexual male who, until then, had been extremely homophobic. Rod Steiger's performance, as a supermacho soldier who is horrified of his own feelings of attraction to another man, is riveting. The outcome of the film, while dated, reflects the conflict and repression that gay men and women often experienced in our society prior to the advent of enlightenment in the 1970s (and, in the case of gay people in today's U.S. armed forces, still do). For my teenaged mind, it aroused the prospect that ALL human beings have the capacity to be sexually attracted to another person of the same sex, and that such attraction should be accepted and understood, rather than dreaded or shunned. Nothing in my subsequent experience has altered that perception. Despite the cliched ending, this is a film that displays empathy for its tormented lead character and demands that he be understood. It deserves revival.
    AnotherCineFan

    An important film that needs to come OUT of the closet

    Cliché? No more than a thousand other films that make melodrama of the agony of unrequited love. What makes the film unique is not just that The Sargeant was "secretly" homosexual, what makes it unique is that he was TOO OLD (and fat!) for Swanson, who was obviously a "hottie", and more likely just plain heterosexual anyway.

    It's impossible to watch this film and not be somewhat awed by the performance of Rod Steiger, who doesn't speak a word until ten minutes into the film, but his silent performance at the end still screams in your gut as the closing credits roll.

    Did Swanson feel guilty for not helping out the old guy, or just pity because The Sargeant was a pervert? This question is left unanswered at the end of the film. It is as vital and important today as it was when released. It tells a story not only of general attitudes toward homosexuality at the time, but the never-ending story of young men's indifference to the attentions of fat old supervisors.

    Seriously, the WB Archive DVD looks very good, but it's easy to see how a full restoration of the film could look exceptionally good. The important thing is that the film not be overlooked because the gay man doesn't get his guy.
    johns_malebox

    Brilliant film!!

    I believe this is one of the most sensitive films about hiding your gayness in the military. Even though it takes place many years prior to the 'don't ask don't tell' motto, it speaks of the difficulties a gay man must cope with.

    Now that the industry has lost one of its more brilliant character actors, I hope this movie will find its way to DVD, along with "The Loved One" which has been on moritorium for some time.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Simon Oakland campaigned hard to play the lead role and even told director John Flynn that he would do it for no salary. However, Rod Steiger was ultimately cast instead because he was a bigger name at the time.
    • Goofs
      The story takes place in 1952, but all the women's fashions and hair styles are strictly 1967-1968.
    • Connections
      Featured in Homo Promo (1991)

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    FAQ15

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 25, 1968 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Sergeant
    • Filming locations
      • France
    • Production company
      • Robert Wise Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 48m(108 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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