The screenplay tells the story of three men ,two of whom fought during WW2.Now they all work for Air Rescue Service with a commendable motto.The problem is that the film is far from being commendable.
During a mission,Widmark's dark memories come back to haunt him and ,in the middle of a sea rescue,we're offered a full flashback :he once loved a woman (Shirley Knight),and that is supposed to make us comprehend why he hates Japanese.But if it is bad ,a second flashback (dealing with Yul Brynner's past) is still worse.In a chocolate box North Africa ,he falls in love with an Arab girl -who barely looks Arab anyway.As George Chakiris did not fight during WW2(see above),the director spares us a third flashback,phew! This is a flick where even technical competence is at question and that is very ill-conceived.
During a mission,Widmark's dark memories come back to haunt him and ,in the middle of a sea rescue,we're offered a full flashback :he once loved a woman (Shirley Knight),and that is supposed to make us comprehend why he hates Japanese.But if it is bad ,a second flashback (dealing with Yul Brynner's past) is still worse.In a chocolate box North Africa ,he falls in love with an Arab girl -who barely looks Arab anyway.As George Chakiris did not fight during WW2(see above),the director spares us a third flashback,phew! This is a flick where even technical competence is at question and that is very ill-conceived.