"Home of the Brave" is a classic movie that is not seen often these days. Arthur Laurents' original play showed how anti-Semitism was pervasive in the America of those years. After all, Jews were not as accepted in the mainstream society like today and Laurents wanted to raise awareness about how he perceived the prejudice toward people that did not deserve it.
Carl Foreman adapted the basic premise of the stage work into a film that occurs during WWII in which a courageous man, Peter Moss, a black man, is made the object of derision and hatred among the white American soldiers that were kept segregated while combating the enemy. Marc Robson directed this black and white movie with his usual style and emphasizing the positive side of the friendship between a good man, Finch, a white GI, and his friend and neighbor, Peter Moss, as the two are selected for a delicate mission.
The casting of the wonderful James Edwards is what made this film work the way it did. Mr. Edwards was a handsome man who came to the movies before Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier, two actors that were tapped for bigger and more ambitious projects. Where Poitier is always made the extraordinary hero, James Edwards, was always shown as a normal man, more approachable than the ones that followed him.
The other surprise of the movie is Lloyd Bridges who made Finch human. Finch had known, and liked Moss back home, so when they are reunited, the friendship they had flourishes during a difficult period for both friends. Steve Brodie made T.J. the hateful creature he was. Frank Lovejoy also makes a good contribution. Jeff Corey plays the doctor that is instrumental in helping Moss.
It's inconceivable that a great actor like James Edwards didn't make it big in a medium that he understood and dominated with his magnetic presence.
Carl Foreman adapted the basic premise of the stage work into a film that occurs during WWII in which a courageous man, Peter Moss, a black man, is made the object of derision and hatred among the white American soldiers that were kept segregated while combating the enemy. Marc Robson directed this black and white movie with his usual style and emphasizing the positive side of the friendship between a good man, Finch, a white GI, and his friend and neighbor, Peter Moss, as the two are selected for a delicate mission.
The casting of the wonderful James Edwards is what made this film work the way it did. Mr. Edwards was a handsome man who came to the movies before Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier, two actors that were tapped for bigger and more ambitious projects. Where Poitier is always made the extraordinary hero, James Edwards, was always shown as a normal man, more approachable than the ones that followed him.
The other surprise of the movie is Lloyd Bridges who made Finch human. Finch had known, and liked Moss back home, so when they are reunited, the friendship they had flourishes during a difficult period for both friends. Steve Brodie made T.J. the hateful creature he was. Frank Lovejoy also makes a good contribution. Jeff Corey plays the doctor that is instrumental in helping Moss.
It's inconceivable that a great actor like James Edwards didn't make it big in a medium that he understood and dominated with his magnetic presence.