Darby's Rangers (1958)

The lives, loves, and battles of fictional characters in the Army's First Ranger Battalion during WWII.

Director:

William A. Wellman

Writers:

Guy Trosper, James J. Altieri (suggested by the book) (as Major James Altieri)

Stars:

James Garner, Etchika Choureau, Jack Warden

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Garner	...	Col. William Orlando Darby
Etchika Choureau	...	Angelina De Lotta / Dittmann
Jack Warden	...	MSgt. Saul Rosen / Narrator
Edd Byrnes	...	Lt. Arnold Dittman (as Edward Byrnes)
Venetia Stevenson	...	Peggy McTavish
Torin Thatcher	...	Sgt. McTavish
Peter Brown	...	Pvt. / Cpl. Rollo Burns
Joan Elan	...	Wendy Hollister
Corey Allen	...	Pvt. Pittsburgh Tony Sutherland
Stuart Whitman	...	Sgt. / SSgt. / Sfc. Hank Bishop
Murray Hamilton	...	Pvt. / Sgt. Sims Delancey
William Wellman Jr.	...	Pvt. Eli Clatworthy (as Bill Wellman Jr.)
Andrea King	...	Mrs. Sheilah Andrews
Adam Williams	...	Cpl. Heavy Hall
Frieda Inescort	...	Lady Hollister

Storyline

Highly fictionalized account of the formation of the US Army's First Ranger Battalion in World War II and their first commanding officer Major (later, Lieutenant-Colonel) Orlando Darby. The idea was to create a US unit along the lines of the British commandos. In this account, which focuses on several fictional characters, the story is initially on their training in Scotland and the lives and loves their encounter while there. Their first combat mission was in the invasion of North Africa in 1942, followed by the invasion of Sicily and then Italy itself, including the amphibious landing at Anzio.

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Plot Keywords:

love | africa | major | italy | training | 

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Taglines:

"MAVERICK" himself - in his first starring big-screen role!

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The "enemy" Darby's Rangers meet and defeat a Arzew, presented as their first combat was the Vichy French forces. This fact is not mentioned or referred to in the movie.

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Goofs

LTC Darby refers to West Point as "the point" while interviewing a new lieutenant from West Point. West Pointers do not EVER refer to West Point as "the point." Darby was class of '33.

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Quotes

Col. William Orlando Darby: [Having a heart-to-heart talk with a somewhat distraught Ranger, who has just killed his first enemy soldier in combat] I've killed men, too. It won't be the last for either of us.
Pvt. Rollo Burns: Uh, sir, well, I was brought up to believe that a man's life was sacred, and that only God had the right to take it.
Col. William Orlando Darby: I believe that... Unless he's trying to kill you first.
Pvt. Rollo Burns: Well, I'll get over it, I guess.
Col. William Orlando Darby: Of course you will... Burns, look. We didn't make this world, so we can't account for the kind of men that are in...

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Connections

Referenced in Vidal Sassoon: The Movie (2010)

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Soundtracks

Sobre las olas (Over the Waves)
(uncredited)
Music by Juventino Rosas
Played when Bishop performs the coin trick on the bus
Also played when Sir Arthur turns over four aces

User Reviews

Routine but well made WWII film

Recycling the well worn "Sands of Iwo Jima" formula of a disparate group of new recruits getting trained at boot camp, coming together as a team, and then taking to the battlefield, "Darby's Rangers" offers nothing new, but is entertaining for fans of these type of WWII films. It's a durable formula that's can work well (i.e. Clint Eastwood's "Heartbreak Ridge") or can be so bad that it becomes a parody of itself (i.e. John Wayne's "The Green Berets"). With a veteran film director at the helm, William Wellman, and a strong cast (James Garner, Jack Warden, Peter Brown, Stuart Whitman, Murray Hamilton, and David Janssen) you have the makings for solid entertainment, which is exactly what "Darby's Ranger" delivers with Garner leading his squad into North Africa and Italy for exciting WWII action. The downside to the film is that the portions of the story focused on Garner's command level politics and the infantrymen's liberty romances are less than interesting.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 April 1958 (Japan)

Also Known As:

William A.Wellman's Darby's Rangers

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min 105 min (theatrical release)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1