The Men
Encyclopedia
The Men is a 1950 film directed by Fred Zinnemann
. It tells the story of a World War II
Lieutenant
, who is seriously injured in combat, and the struggles he faces as he attempts to re-enter society. It stars Marlon Brando
, Teresa Wright
, and Everett Sloane
. The movie was written by Carl Foreman
who had previously scripted Champion
and Home of the Brave
.
Although not a commercial success, this film was notable for being Marlon Brando’s film debut.
), and Leo, (Richard Erdman
), who plays a happy go lucky patient who smokes cigars and bets on horses.) His reluctance to respond to treatment begins to diminish through the persistence of his fiancée (Teresa Wright
) who refuses to give him up, despite his wish that she do so. With the support too, of a sympathetic doctor (Everett Sloane
), he begins to tackle the programme of adjustment. He decides to go through with the wedding, determined to take the vows standing up at the altar. The wedding night however is painful for Ken and he returns to the hospital. Later he is involved in a drunk driving accident and is disciplined by his fellow patients. Eventually he comes to appreciate that he has responsibilities, especially to his wife who is also faced with the problems of being married to a paraplegic, a course she has accepted with full knowledge and considerable courage.
had spent much time at Birmingham Army Hospital Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California
. Brando spent two weeks there also, living in a ward, undergoing therapy, using a wheelchair to move himself around and going with the men on their social and recreational activities. Much of the film was shot at the hospital in Van Nuys, and forty-five of the patients agreed to appear in it. Despite Brando's dedication, the producer, Stanley Kramer
, and director, Fred Zinnemann
, were at first worried about Brando's performance in rehearsals because he mumbled his lines and gave little response to his fellow actors. Yet with the actual filming of his first scene he reduced co-star Teresa Wright
to tears and won a minute of applause from the cast and crew. This was Brando's first film, and with no prior film experience he had employed the stage technique of holding back in rehearsals and saving the projection for the performance. It was the first evidence that Brando was not only a capable film actor but an exceptional one.
reports that 70% critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 7/10. Bosley Crowther
of The New York Times
gave the film a positive review and wrote: "Stern in its intimations of the terrible consequences of war, this film is a haunting and affecting, as well as a rewarding, drama to have at this time." Variety
also gave a favorable review, and noted: "Producer Stanley Kramer turns to the difficult cinematic subject of paraplegics, so expertly treated as to be sensitive, moving and yet, withal, entertaining and earthy-humored."
Fred Zinnemann
Fred Zinnemann was an Austrian-American film director. He won four Academy Awards and directed films like High Noon, From Here to Eternity and A Man for All Seasons.-Life and career:...
. It tells the story of a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, who is seriously injured in combat, and the struggles he faces as he attempts to re-enter society. It stars Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando, Jr. was an American movie star and political activist. "Unchallenged as the most important actor in modern American Cinema" according to the St...
, Teresa Wright
Teresa Wright
Teresa Wright was an American actress. She received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1942 for her performance in Mrs. Miniver. That same year, she received an Academy Award for Best Actress nomination for her performance in Pride of the Yankees opposite Gary Cooper...
, and Everett Sloane
Everett Sloane
Everett Sloane was an American stage, film and television actor, songwriter, and theatre director.-Early life:...
. The movie was written by Carl Foreman
Carl Foreman
Carl Foreman, CBE was an American screenwriter and film producer who wrote the notable film High Noon. He was blacklisted by the Hollywood movie studio bosses in the 1950s.-Biography:...
who had previously scripted Champion
Champion (1949 film)
Champion is an American film noir drama based on a short story by Ring Lardner. Filmed in black-and-white, it recounts the struggles of boxer "Midge" Kelly fighting his own demons while working to achieve success in the boxing ring. The drama was directed by Mark Robson, with cinematography by...
and Home of the Brave
Home of the Brave (1949 film)
Home of the Brave is a 1949 film based on a 1946 play by Arthur Laurents. It was directed by Mark Robson and stars Douglas Dick, Jeff Corey, Lloyd Bridges, Frank Lovejoy, James Edwards, and Steve Brodie...
.
Although not a commercial success, this film was notable for being Marlon Brando’s film debut.
Synopsis
Brando appears at the start of the film as a young infantry Lieutenant leading his platoon through an embattled European town. He advances into an open square and a shot rings out. He is hit in the lower back and in an instant a robust young man is made paraplegic for the rest of his life. In the hospital he is a sullen and resentful patient and in feeling sorry for himself he finds no sympathy from his fellow paraplegics. (These include Norm, a bitter and caustic man, (Jack WebbJack Webb
John Randolph "Jack" Webb , also known by the pseudonym John Randolph, was an American actor, television producer, director and screenwriter, who is most famous for his role as Sergeant Joe Friday in the radio and television series Dragnet...
), and Leo, (Richard Erdman
Richard Erdman
Richard Erdman is an American film and television actor and director.-Notable roles:...
), who plays a happy go lucky patient who smokes cigars and bets on horses.) His reluctance to respond to treatment begins to diminish through the persistence of his fiancée (Teresa Wright
Teresa Wright
Teresa Wright was an American actress. She received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1942 for her performance in Mrs. Miniver. That same year, she received an Academy Award for Best Actress nomination for her performance in Pride of the Yankees opposite Gary Cooper...
) who refuses to give him up, despite his wish that she do so. With the support too, of a sympathetic doctor (Everett Sloane
Everett Sloane
Everett Sloane was an American stage, film and television actor, songwriter, and theatre director.-Early life:...
), he begins to tackle the programme of adjustment. He decides to go through with the wedding, determined to take the vows standing up at the altar. The wedding night however is painful for Ken and he returns to the hospital. Later he is involved in a drunk driving accident and is disciplined by his fellow patients. Eventually he comes to appreciate that he has responsibilities, especially to his wife who is also faced with the problems of being married to a paraplegic, a course she has accepted with full knowledge and considerable courage.
Production
For accuracy and feeling, the writer Carl ForemanCarl Foreman
Carl Foreman, CBE was an American screenwriter and film producer who wrote the notable film High Noon. He was blacklisted by the Hollywood movie studio bosses in the 1950s.-Biography:...
had spent much time at Birmingham Army Hospital Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California
Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California
Van Nuys is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California.-History:Look at the two photos of Van Nuys' first year—and then listen to what the Los Angeles Times wrote on February 23, 1911, the day after the Van Nuys town lot auction--"Between dawn and dusk, in the...
. Brando spent two weeks there also, living in a ward, undergoing therapy, using a wheelchair to move himself around and going with the men on their social and recreational activities. Much of the film was shot at the hospital in Van Nuys, and forty-five of the patients agreed to appear in it. Despite Brando's dedication, the producer, Stanley Kramer
Stanley Kramer
Stanley Earl Kramer was an American film director and producer. Kramer was responsible for some of Hollywood's most famous "message" movies...
, and director, Fred Zinnemann
Fred Zinnemann
Fred Zinnemann was an Austrian-American film director. He won four Academy Awards and directed films like High Noon, From Here to Eternity and A Man for All Seasons.-Life and career:...
, were at first worried about Brando's performance in rehearsals because he mumbled his lines and gave little response to his fellow actors. Yet with the actual filming of his first scene he reduced co-star Teresa Wright
Teresa Wright
Teresa Wright was an American actress. She received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1942 for her performance in Mrs. Miniver. That same year, she received an Academy Award for Best Actress nomination for her performance in Pride of the Yankees opposite Gary Cooper...
to tears and won a minute of applause from the cast and crew. This was Brando's first film, and with no prior film experience he had employed the stage technique of holding back in rehearsals and saving the projection for the performance. It was the first evidence that Brando was not only a capable film actor but an exceptional one.
Critical reception
Upon release, The Men received generally positive reviews. Review aggregator Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reports that 70% critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 7/10. Bosley Crowther
Bosley Crowther
Bosley Crowther was a journalist and author who was film critic for The New York Times for 27 years. His reviews and articles helped shape the careers of actors, directors and screenwriters, though his reviews, at times, were unnecessarily mean...
of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
gave the film a positive review and wrote: "Stern in its intimations of the terrible consequences of war, this film is a haunting and affecting, as well as a rewarding, drama to have at this time." Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
also gave a favorable review, and noted: "Producer Stanley Kramer turns to the difficult cinematic subject of paraplegics, so expertly treated as to be sensitive, moving and yet, withal, entertaining and earthy-humored."