The Men (1950)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Fred Zinnemann

Writers:

Carl Foreman (story)
Carl Foreman (screenplay)

Release Date:

September 1950 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A completely new experience between men and women.

Plot:

Paralized war vet tries to adjust to the world without the use of his limbs.

Plot Keywords:

Hospital | Physical Therapy | Narration | Veteran | Paraplegic

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Marlon Brando	...	Ken
Teresa Wright	...	Ellen
Everett Sloane	...	Dr. Brock
Jack Webb	...	Norm
Richard Erdman	...	Leo
Arthur Jurado	...	Angel
Virginia Farmer	...	Nurse Robbins
Dorothy Tree	...	Ellen's Mother
Howard St. John	...	Ellen's Father
Nita Hunter	...	Dolores
Patricia Joiner	...	Laverne
John 'Skins' Miller	...	Mr. Doolin (as John Miller)
Cliff Clark	...	Dr. Kameran
Ray Teal	...	Man at Bar
Marguerite Martin	...	Angel's Mother

Also Known As:

Battle Stripe (USA) (reissue title)
The Courage of Man (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

West Germany:16 | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | UK:A (original rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #14228)

Filming Locations:

Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Trivia:

In the early part of the film, inside the hospital ward, a paraplegic solider is reading Superman comic book, #62. #62: Black Magic on Mars (January/February 1950) involves a plot line with Orson Welles and his famous radio broadcast, "War of the Worlds" about Martian invasion of America. Welles may have been promoting his new film, Black Magic (1949). Harry W. Gerstad, Gustaf Norin, Jean Speak, and Clem Beauchamp, production staff for many of Kramer's films, would later work for the 1950s television series, "Adventures of Superman" (1952).

Goofs:

Continuity: In Dr. Brock's room, when Ken begins to talk to him, Brock's right hand changes between shots.

Quotes:

Ellen's father: If he loves you as much you love him, he'll make you go.
Ellen: You've been so clever, so logical, I've never knew that you handled words so well.
Ellen's father: That's not an answer, Elly.
Ellen: You weren't quite so logical a few years ago when we needed some boys to ground and get killed or paralyzed.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Brando (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Waltz in B Flat Major

A True Great Story by a veteran's son.

This film holds a personal touch for me because my father was one of the paraplegics featured in this film. I know it's story to be a true and an accurate "slice-of-life" for the late 1940's public views on wheelchair bound veterans. This film is consistant with the producer[Krammer] and director[Zinnemann] film legacy of making socially conscious films. This one is a film gem! Reviewers like "Renee" should realize that there was NO measure of handicapped public awareness in 1949. People would whisper, stare, and step away from people in wheelchairs. Hand controls for cars, ramps & wide doors for wheelchairs in public restraurants, homes and hospitals were still quite new. I know, I was there at my dad's side for many many years. The point of the film was the interest about people overcoming obstacles. The cast was believeable and very outstanding. I find this film to be a very enjoyable memory into seeing again my dad with all his wheelchair friends that I grew to know. My dad and many of the veterans in this film started the Paralyzed Veterans Association or PVA. This organization is still helping needy veterans. My dad lived a very full life. While there are less and less of these "The Men" still alive; their courage and this film's insiteful positive message is worth expressing today. This is an interesting character driven film, hurrah! [This film or it's cast should NOT be compared or confused with the politically radical biography film, "Born of the Fourth of July". They are a study in opposites. My father and I thought that film was horrible and demeaning to wheelchair veterans because of it's director's heavy handed self-serving political viewpoint staged in that film.]