The Sergeant

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.

With the close of World War Two, there were many unanswered questions for anyone who lived and worked in Europe. Life as the European faced it was difficult enough and that included the American Soldier. His military role went from active combat to stagnate occupation and that meant dealing with the drudgery of day to day life. It is easy to see the slackness and disorder which follows an occupying army when the main reason for being is removed. Thus viewers are not surprised when veteran Master Sargent Albert Callan (Rod Steiger) arrives at his station and finds a lack-luster supply company in complete disarray. The company commander is a less than inspirational officer who's a mealy mouth alcoholic with no leadership experience. He thus let's the Sargent handle the running of the camp. Soon, the company is brought into disciplinary order with the expertise of the Sargent. But the Sargent himself is troubled as he encounter a handsome young soldier (John Phillip Law) Pfc. Tom Swanson, whom he is attracted to. For Callan, the struggle begins between his repressed desires and the constant need to remain a 'straight' and stalwart military non-commissioned officer. For Steiger, this 1980's vehicle was seen as a scandalous, bold, and provocative movie. Yet for todays more sophisticated audiences, this film lacks direct confrontation between actors, content and message. Still for it's time, this was one surprising milestone in the history of filmdom. ***

I'm a Viet Nam vet who spent 6½ years in the Army, 5 years as sergeant or staff sergeant. This movie is the best and most accurate portrayal of army life I've ever seen. It's accuracy and correctness is uncanny. It makes me wonder how they did it. Most audiences would not be interested in the real McCoy, but this is it. It is also a top notch war film! The bleakness, emptiness, alienation, and devastating isolation, meanness, poverty, ugliness, and frightful brutality of army life are there in spades. The wreckage both of war and of the unnatural regimentation and peculiar dual hierarchy (that of commissioned officers and of non-commissioned officers) of the military are portrayed with accuracy and near perfect verisimilitude. Steiger is 110% convincing as a seasoned, career, First Sergeant in the regular army. I didn't bother with the theme of repressed homosexuality. It's the loneliness and debilitating harshness (often self-imposed by those who opt, or more likely fall into the trap of rootless expediency, of military life) that count here. Is it any wonder that soldiers commit atrocities in war? Watch this movie and see for yourself.

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.

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!