This was the film that boosted Marlon Brando's career - his first screen role as a paraplegic war veteran who refuses to come to terms with his condition. Brando plays it out as well as one might expect: he shows his emotions more often than he says them, and even when he does say out loud what he is feeling, it is the tone of his voice rather than his words that convey what his character feels. Brando's performance is even more commendable when what he is working with is considered. The film's screenplay is not really great. Too much is explained to us by the characters talking (such as Sloane's lecture to the family members). The film has the atmosphere of a propaganda piece - the dialogue is generally hammy, with wooden delivery from the supporting actors and the style of having everything literal rather than subtle is very typical of wartime propaganda. There is a distance therefore to the film, however Brando does manage to overcome it and still bring in some sense of realism.
It is a melodramatic film, and probably too melodramatic to be really effective. The style of acting by the supporting cast - which for lack of a better word can be described as "unsubtle" - really doesn't suit the film. The music score does not help much either, nor does the lighting design, in which darkness often surrounds one or two aspects of the frame which are shot to stand out with bright white light. Zinnemann does not do a fantastic job directing, but that said, the opening sequence to the film is excellent - the camera pans across to see Brando who then signals and rises out of frame, behind him other men approach that before could not be seen... right up to the point when Brando is shot in a surprise attack. Zinnemann's style is evidently noir based, with a lot of shadows and the beginning narration by Brando is exactly the type one expects in noir. And there are good camera angles too. It is an adequately directed film, but not masterful in that regard. Overall it is certainly a worthwhile film. While the script might be wooden at times, it does address a lot of issues well, particularly the struggle to keep one's manhood, plus Brando's excellent performance is certainly worth seeing.
It is a melodramatic film, and probably too melodramatic to be really effective. The style of acting by the supporting cast - which for lack of a better word can be described as "unsubtle" - really doesn't suit the film. The music score does not help much either, nor does the lighting design, in which darkness often surrounds one or two aspects of the frame which are shot to stand out with bright white light. Zinnemann does not do a fantastic job directing, but that said, the opening sequence to the film is excellent - the camera pans across to see Brando who then signals and rises out of frame, behind him other men approach that before could not be seen... right up to the point when Brando is shot in a surprise attack. Zinnemann's style is evidently noir based, with a lot of shadows and the beginning narration by Brando is exactly the type one expects in noir. And there are good camera angles too. It is an adequately directed film, but not masterful in that regard. Overall it is certainly a worthwhile film. While the script might be wooden at times, it does address a lot of issues well, particularly the struggle to keep one's manhood, plus Brando's excellent performance is certainly worth seeing.