johngilbert-3 Review of Court Martial

Court Martial (1954)

Good film but a bit dry in places and certainly not Niven's best

[5/10 · 28 January 2007]

I'm not going to discuss plots here or spoilers but my concern is to the military correctness of the film. Carrington VC indicates that he was winner of the VC and on that basis alone the respect that should have been shown a VC holder clearly was missing throughout the whole of the film. For example when a VC holder enters the room, all military personnel (regardless of rank) stand in acknowledgement of the holder of that VC action regardless of whether it was a single VC followed by other medals or on its own, at no time during the film did I feel he was shown the respect for a VC holder and in all honesty a plot that included theft of money against such a holder would have provoked an outcry in the highest echelons of military ranks not to mention his colleagues. All in all good performances, bit dry as noted in places, I have seen Maurice Denham in several pictures of late and I must admit I like the chap, a commensurate actor who is sorely missed. Disappointingly unrealistic film given Carrington's VC honour and this spoiled it for me entirely.