Copyright 29 December 1963 by Belmont Productions/Pennebaker, Inc. Released through 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. New York opening at the Paramount, the Tower East and other cinemas: 4 March 1964. U.S. release: 29 January 1964. U.K. release: 22 June 1964. Australian release: 12 November 1964. 98 minutes. Cut to 94 minutes in the U.K., 93 minutes in U.K., 93 minutes in Australia.
SYNOPSIS: Towards the end of World War II, there is considerable tension and friction between the British and American Commands stationed in India. It is essential for the Allied cause that this be resolved.
REVIEW: There seems to be an unusual unanimity among the critics that this is a static, unconvincing, flatly-played and actionless courtroom drama, but I didn't find the film half as non-entertaining as the critics suggest. Admittedly, I'm a sucker for courtroom exchanges and I especially like a court martial.
I thought that the scriptwriter fashioned some interesting interplay between the various characters and I thought those characters were vividly brought to life by such able players as Barry Sullivan, Alexander Knox and Russell Napier. Even Mitchum is quite convincing here. Only France Nuyen's part — the obligatory romantic interest — strikes a false note but fortunately it is skilfully worked into the main plot and it is not allowed to become the central focus of attention and reduce the courtroom drama to a sub-plot, as happens in so many films.
Miss Nuyen herself is a charming actress and this helps too. Keenan Wynn has a difficult role and is not wholly successful, especially when you consider how much more impressive Bogart was as a somewhat similar character in "The Caine Mutiny".
I also like the realistic way the author works politics into his script from high-level diplomacy to army ranking ("Look, gentlemen, I'm a career army man. Can you imagine me challenging a superior officer on the grounds that he is a bird-brain?"). The only really unconvincing aspect of the whole film is the last-minute face- saving.
Real Indian backgrounds have been skilfully integrated with studio footage. Direction and editing are taut and other credits smoothly professional. The director is perhaps a little inclined to over-use close-ups but the production's budget is otherwise fairly expansive.
SYNOPSIS: Towards the end of World War II, there is considerable tension and friction between the British and American Commands stationed in India. It is essential for the Allied cause that this be resolved.
REVIEW: There seems to be an unusual unanimity among the critics that this is a static, unconvincing, flatly-played and actionless courtroom drama, but I didn't find the film half as non-entertaining as the critics suggest. Admittedly, I'm a sucker for courtroom exchanges and I especially like a court martial.
I thought that the scriptwriter fashioned some interesting interplay between the various characters and I thought those characters were vividly brought to life by such able players as Barry Sullivan, Alexander Knox and Russell Napier. Even Mitchum is quite convincing here. Only France Nuyen's part — the obligatory romantic interest — strikes a false note but fortunately it is skilfully worked into the main plot and it is not allowed to become the central focus of attention and reduce the courtroom drama to a sub-plot, as happens in so many films.
Miss Nuyen herself is a charming actress and this helps too. Keenan Wynn has a difficult role and is not wholly successful, especially when you consider how much more impressive Bogart was as a somewhat similar character in "The Caine Mutiny".
I also like the realistic way the author works politics into his script from high-level diplomacy to army ranking ("Look, gentlemen, I'm a career army man. Can you imagine me challenging a superior officer on the grounds that he is a bird-brain?"). The only really unconvincing aspect of the whole film is the last-minute face- saving.
Real Indian backgrounds have been skilfully integrated with studio footage. Direction and editing are taut and other credits smoothly professional. The director is perhaps a little inclined to over-use close-ups but the production's budget is otherwise fairly expansive.