http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038000/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Schmid
From 1945 comes this biographical movie starring the acclaimed John Garfield. Garfield, who was born 4 March 100 years ago, was a stalwart of many well-known movies in the 1940s. Films like "Air Force", "Thank Your Lucky Stars", "Destination Tokyo", "The Postman Always Rings Twice" and "Body and Soul" were lifted by his presence and skill.
In this film, Garfield plays the decorated Marine Al Schmid as the archetypal East Coast guy from that era, swagger to spare and full of big talk & big plans. Some friends persistently attempt to set him up with their single lady acquaintances, as he continually resists. Eventually, he meets his match in the lovely Ruth (portrayed by Eleanor Parker). Al gives her the business, trying to keep her at arms' length. Ruth proves his equal and more (check out the scenes in the bowling alley and where Al offers Ruth a ride home).
Over time, Al and Ruth grow close. Their growing romance, however, gets interrupted by the attack at Pearl Harbor and America's subsequent entry into World War II. Al, like most able-bodied men, heads off to join the Marines, again full of bluster and determined to do his part to win the war.
As Al sees action right away at Guadalcanal, he and his fellow Marines face all sorts of internal challenges as well as the adversary. They are all changed profoundly for the experience.
Soon, the injured Marines are stateside, recuperating in a military hospital. Those scenes carry a lot of gravity, and they foretell what our wounded military heroes go through today. So many questions: how do I re-enter society? Will there be a job for me when I'm healthy? How do those who didn't fight see me, now that I am permanently injured? Will there be some immigrant guy in the job I left behind? Will society look at me with pity, or look at me as a washed-up "former hero"? Al is at the forefront of all these questions and more.
Of course, a movie like this has a happy ending that looks trite by today's standard. Nonetheless, the movie was well-put-together, and was no doubt meant for civilians to consider as they welcomed home family and friends who'd fought for America's safety & freedom.
For character actors in the supporting cast, look for John Ridgely (who worked in "The Big Sleep" and "Air Force"), Rosemary DeCamp (from "Strategic Air Command" and numerous TV appearances) as a caring nurse and Dane Clark ("Action in the North Atlantic" with Humprey Bogart & "Hollywood Canteen"), among others.
I like World War II movies in addition to film noir. This film was good for its' time, and holds up in the present day.
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