The Young Warriors (film)
Encyclopedia
The Young Warriors is a war film
filmed in 1966 by Universal Pictures
based on Richard Matheson
's 1960 novel The Beardless Warriors
that was the working title
of the film. The novel was inspired by Matheson's own experiences as an 18 year old infantryman with the 87th Infantry Division in Germany in World War II. The film was directed by John Peyser who had directed 27 episodes of Combat! and would later direct 10 episodes of The Rat Patrol
.
It was filmed cheaply by Universal on their backlot
using many of its contract players, with Matheson asked to do a rewrite of his screenplay in order to utilise the battle sequences from Universal's To Hell and Back
.When Universal wished to "lighten" Matheson's screenplay, they had Jonathan Daly write a comedy relief scene of chasing a duck through a minefield. The film was released as a double feature
with Rosalind Russell
's Rosie!
.
was making The Longest Day
) and Fred Zinnemann
. Zinnemann told Matheson that he wanted to make the film but had several other projects at the time; Matheson refused to wait and turned him down.
... Sergeant Cooley
Steve Carlosn ... Hacker (Hackermeyer in the novel)
Jonathan Daly ... Guthrie
Robert Pine
... Foley
Jeff Scott ... Cpl. Lippincott
Michael Stanwood ... Riley
John Alladin ... Harris
Hank Jones ... Fairchild
Tom Nolan ... Tremont
Norman Fell
... Sergeant Wadley
Buck Young
... Schumacher
Kent McCord
(as Kent McWhirther) ... Lieutenant
War film
War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
filmed in 1966 by Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
based on Richard Matheson
Richard Matheson
Richard Burton Matheson is an American author and screenwriter, primarily in the fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres. He is perhaps best known as the author of What Dreams May Come, Bid Time Return, A Stir of Echoes, The Incredible Shrinking Man, and I Am Legend, all of which have been...
's 1960 novel The Beardless Warriors
The Beardless Warriors
The Beardless Warriors is a 1960 World War II novel written by Richard Matheson, author of I Am Legend. It was based on his experiences as a young infantryman in the 87th Division in France and Germany.-Plot synposis:...
that was the working title
Working title
A working title, sometimes called a production title, is the temporary name of a product or project used during its development, usually used in filmmaking, television production, novel, video game, or music album.-Purpose:...
of the film. The novel was inspired by Matheson's own experiences as an 18 year old infantryman with the 87th Infantry Division in Germany in World War II. The film was directed by John Peyser who had directed 27 episodes of Combat! and would later direct 10 episodes of The Rat Patrol
The Rat Patrol
The Rat Patrol is an American television program that aired on ABC during the 1966–1968 seasons. The show follows the exploits of four Allied soldiers who are part of a long-range desert patrol group in the North African campaign during World War II...
.
It was filmed cheaply by Universal on their backlot
Backlot
A backlot is an area behind or adjoining a movie studio, containing permanent exterior buildings for outdoor scenes in filmmaking or television productions, or space for temporary set construction....
using many of its contract players, with Matheson asked to do a rewrite of his screenplay in order to utilise the battle sequences from Universal's To Hell and Back
To Hell and Back (film)
To Hell and Back is a CinemaScope war film released in 1955. It was directed by Jesse Hibbs and starred Audie Murphy as himself and Kyle Sanville. It is based on the 1949 autobiography of the same name and is an account of Murphy's World War II experiences as a soldier in the U.S. Army...
.When Universal wished to "lighten" Matheson's screenplay, they had Jonathan Daly write a comedy relief scene of chasing a duck through a minefield. The film was released as a double feature
Double feature
The double feature, also known as a double bill, was a motion picture industry phenomenon in which theatre managers would exhibit two films for the price of one, supplanting an earlier format in which one feature film and various short subject reels would be shown.The double feature, also known as...
with Rosalind Russell
Rosalind Russell
Rosalind Russell was an American actress of stage and screen, perhaps best known for her role as a fast-talking newspaper reporter in the Howard Hawks screwball comedy His Girl Friday, as well as the role of Mame Dennis in the film Auntie Mame...
's Rosie!
Rosie! (1967 film)
Rosie! is a 1967 film based on Ruth Gordon's play A Very Rich Woman.- Cast :*Rosalind Russell as Rosie Lord*Sandra Dee as Daphne Shaw*Brian Aherne as Oliver Stevenson*Audrey Meadows as Mildred Deever*James Farentino as David Wheelwright...
.
Plot
Europe: 1944. A group of replacements are assigned to Sgt Cooley's squad and sent into battle. Initially frightened, Hacker grows to love killing but loses that feeling as well. He is promoted to Corporal and later given his own squad.Production
Matheson recalled that following the release of his novel he had offers from Richard Zanuck (who dropped his plans to film it when his father Darryl F. ZanuckDarryl F. Zanuck
Darryl Francis Zanuck was an American producer, writer, actor, director and studio executive who played a major part in the Hollywood studio system as one of its longest survivors...
was making The Longest Day
The Longest Day
The Longest Day could refer to:*D day*The Longest Day , published in 1959 by Cornelius Ryan*The Longest Day , a 1962 war film based on Ryan's book*The Longest Day , a 1980 wargame by Avalon Hill...
) and 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:...
. Zinnemann told Matheson that he wanted to make the film but had several other projects at the time; Matheson refused to wait and turned him down.
Cast
James DruryJames Drury
James Child Drury, Jr. is an American actor probably best known for his success in playing the title role in the 90-minute weekly Western television series The Virginian, broadcast on NBC from 1962-1971...
... Sergeant Cooley
Steve Carlosn ... Hacker (Hackermeyer in the novel)
Jonathan Daly ... Guthrie
Robert Pine
Robert Pine
Robert Pine is an American actor who has starred on television and in film. He is probably best known for his role as Sgt. Joseph Getraer on the hit NBC television series CHiPs from 1977 to 1983.-Personal life:...
... Foley
Jeff Scott ... Cpl. Lippincott
Michael Stanwood ... Riley
John Alladin ... Harris
Hank Jones ... Fairchild
Tom Nolan ... Tremont
Norman Fell
Norman Fell
Norman Fell , born Norman Noah Feld, was an American actor of film and television, most famous for his role as landlord Mr. Roper on the sitcom Three's Company and its spin-off, The Ropers.-Early life:...
... Sergeant Wadley
Buck Young
Buck Young
Buck Young was an American actor who played the role as "Sergeant Whipple" on the Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. TV series.In 1944, during World War II, Young was drafted into the US Army Air Corps...
... Schumacher
Kent McCord
Kent McCord
Kent McCord is an American actor best known for his role as Officer Jim Reed on the television series Adam-12.- Biography :...
(as Kent McWhirther) ... Lieutenant