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IMDbPro

The Private War of Major Benson

  • 19551955
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
847
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
49,124
8,292
Charlton Heston, Sal Mineo, Julie Adams, Tim Considine, Tim Hovey, and Joey D. Vieira in The Private War of Major Benson (1955)
ComedyFamilyRomance
As a disciplinary measure, the Army transfers a heavy-handed Major to a ROTC academy where he must shape-up cadets and improve the school's overall ratings.As a disciplinary measure, the Army transfers a heavy-handed Major to a ROTC academy where he must shape-up cadets and improve the school's overall ratings.As a disciplinary measure, the Army transfers a heavy-handed Major to a ROTC academy where he must shape-up cadets and improve the school's overall ratings.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
847
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
49,124
8,292
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Jerry Hopper
    • Writers
      • William Roberts(screenplay)
      • Richard Alan Simmons(screenplay)
      • Joe Connelly(story)
    • Stars
      • Charlton Heston
      • Julie Adams
      • William Demarest
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Jerry Hopper
    • Writers
      • William Roberts(screenplay)
      • Richard Alan Simmons(screenplay)
      • Joe Connelly(story)
    • Stars
      • Charlton Heston
      • Julie Adams
      • William Demarest
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 26User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 2 nominations total

    Photos

    Charlton Heston, Julie Adams, and Tim Hovey in The Private War of Major Benson (1955)
    Charlton Heston, Julie Adams, and Tim Hovey in The Private War of Major Benson (1955)
    The Private War of Major Benson (1955)
    Tim Hovey in The Private War of Major Benson (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charlton Heston
    Charlton Heston
    • Maj. Bernard R. 'Barney' Benson
    Julie Adams
    Julie Adams
    • Dr. Kay Lambert
    William Demarest
    William Demarest
    • John
    Tim Hovey
    Tim Hovey
    • Cadet Thomas 'Tiger' Flaherty
    Nana Bryant
    Nana Bryant
    • Mother Redempta
    Tim Considine
    Tim Considine
    • Cadet Lt. Gerald Hibler
    Sal Mineo
    Sal Mineo
    • Cadet Col. Sylvester Dusik
    Milburn Stone
    Milburn Stone
    • Maj. Gen. Wilton J. Ramsey
    Mary Field
    Mary Field
    • Sister Mary Theresa
    Joey D. Vieira
    Joey D. Vieira
    • Cadet Cpl. Scawalski
    • (as Donald Keeler)
    Gary Pagett
    • Cadet Lt. Molony
    Mickey Little
    • Cadet Lt. Hanratty
    Don Haggerty
    Don Haggerty
    • Harold Hibler
    David Janssen
    David Janssen
    • Young Lieutenant
    Richard H. Cutting
    Richard H. Cutting
    • Monsignor Collins
    Mary Alan Hokanson
    Mary Alan Hokanson
    • Sister Mary Thomasina
    Butch Jones
    • Cadet Capt. Petri
    Yvonne Peattie
    • Mrs. Hibler
    • Director
      • Jerry Hopper
    • Writers
      • William Roberts(screenplay)
      • Richard Alan Simmons(screenplay)
      • Joe Connelly(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Charlton Heston received no salary for this movie. He took a percentage of the box-office profits instead.
    • Quotes

      Mother Redempta: Heaven moves in mysterious ways Major... Heaven and General Ramsey

    • Connections
      Referenced in The Colgate Comedy Hour: Host: Charlton Heston; Guests: Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy, The Marjorie Fields Moppets, Bob Williams & his dog Red Dust (1955)
    • Soundtracks
      Toy Tiger
      (uncredited)

      Music by Henry Mancini

    User reviews26

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A nice little change of pace
    This is a very unusual film for Charlton Heston, as he plays a hard as nails major that is forced to be the commandant of a boys military school. Seeing his gruff and perfectionistic ways meet the reality that these are only children makes this a cute film and HIGHLY reminiscent of Clifton Webb's MR. SCOUTMASTER--another great family film about a grumpy old guy who is eventually tamed by the boys. Sure, this makes the film awfully predictable, but sometimes I am just a sucker for a little bit of sentimentality--provided it is paired with some comedy to keep it from being too schmaltzy--as in the case of this film. Also, like MR. SCOUTMASTER, the real star of the film is a very small and very endearing little boy--played in this film by an adorable Tim Hovey. The bottom line is for all this to work, the film had to be well-written and the writers DID earn an Oscar nomination for Best Original Story. So see this film--and MR. SCOUTMASTER--two excellent family films that are lots of fun regardless of your age.

    FYI--This film was later remade as MAJOR PAYNE.
    helpful•7
    1
    • planktonrules
    • Feb 26, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 2, 1955 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Privatkrieg des Major Benson
    • Filming locations
      • St. Catherine's Military School - 215 N. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal International Pictures (UI)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $600,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.00 : 1

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    Charlton Heston, Sal Mineo, Julie Adams, Tim Considine, Tim Hovey, and Joey D. Vieira in The Private War of Major Benson (1955)
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