A Walk in the Sun (1945)
1h 57m | PG-13
In the 1943 invasion of Italy, one American platoon lands, digs in, then makes its way inland to attempt to take a fortified farmhouse, as tension and casualties mount.
Director: Lewis Milestone
Studio: Superior Pictures
Genre: War, Drama
Video: 720p
Cast
Dana Andrews
as Sgt. Bill Tyne
Richard Conte
as Pvt. Rivera
George Tyne
as Pvt. Jake Friedman
John Ireland
as Pfc. Windy Craven
Lloyd Bridges
as Sgt. Ward
Sterling Holloway
as McWilliams
Reviews
I found this a rather dry, dreary attempt to insert us into the heart of an American brigade charged with blowing up an Italian Bridge as WWII nears it close. Dana Andrews, Richard Conte and John Ireland contribute gritty, authentic performances as their tough, sanguine squad face trials and tribulations - but there are lengthy periods of dialogue that, whilst well written, can bog the story down in a surfeit of individual personalities. Ultimately, I think it is just too close to the bone for anyone but an experienced soldier to be able to extract any value because well made, as it is, it lacks humour or pathos and conveys just too effectively the weariness of all concerned. What rescues it, to some extent, is the POV style of direction - frequently we see/hear no more than the soldiers and that does have an evocative effect during the brief, but pretty hair-raising conflict scenes.