20th Century-Fox. Director Henry King; Producer Louis D. Lighton, Lamar Trotti; Screenplay Lamar Trotti, Norman Reilly Raine; Camera Joseph La Shelle; Editor Barbara McLean; Music Alfred Newman; Art Director Lyle R. Wheeler, Mark-Lee Kirk
Gene Tierney
John Hodiak
William Bendix
Richard Conte
John Hersey's story of an American major's administration of a town in Sicily, and his attempts to return it to its peaceful prewar status, has not been tampered with or elaborated upon. The film begins quietly to set the simple keynote, has some very beautiful, inspired moments, and finishes off with several scenes of emotional brilliance.
John Hodiak, in the difficult role of Major Joppolo, presents the right hardboiled type of civil affairs officer, determined to bring spiritual rebirth (through the return of its city-hall bell) to the community. Gene Tierney, too, as the blonde fisherman's daughter, has a certain quiet grace without always bringing sufficient poignancy to the role.
William Bendix, as the major's orderly, plays the part in subdued fashion for the most convincing portrayal of the three leads, rising superbly to his one big scene at the end. Here Bendix goes roaring drunk at learning that the major is to be displaced.
Henry King's direction caps the story's mood superbly, because of his ability to instill the thought of movement frequently where no action actually exists.
(B&W) Extract of a review from 1945. Running time: 103 MIN.
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