In Love and War (1958)

In 1944, the family lives of three San Francisco Marines are affected by their personal experiences on the front lines in the Pacific and vice-versa.

Director:

Philip Dunne

Writers:

Edward Anhalt (screenplay by), Anton Myrer (based on a novel by)

Stars:

Robert Wagner, Dana Wynter, Jeffrey Hunter

Won 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Cast overview:
Robert Wagner	...	Frank "Frankie" O'Neill
Dana Wynter	...	Sue Trumbell
Jeffrey Hunter	...	Sgt. Nico Kantaylis
Hope Lange	...	Andrea Lenaine Kantaylis
Bradford Dillman	...	Alan Newcombe
Sheree North	...	Lorraine
France Nuyen	...	Kalai Ducanne
Mort Sahl	...	Danny Krieger
Steven Gant	...	Babe Ricarno
Harvey Stephens	...	Amory Newcombe
Paul Comi	...	Father Wallensack
Joe Di Reda	...	Capistron
Buck Class	...	Derek

Storyline

Three Marines take shore leave in San Francisco during World War II. Frankie O'Neill visits his lower-class dysfunctional family; Nico Kantaylis visits his pregnant fiancée; and the upper-class Alan Newcombe visits his high-living playgirl girlfriend. Each must decide whether to make the best of his situation or break out of it. O'Neill drowns his troubles in alcohol, losing the respect of a potential lover; Kantaylis marries his fiancée, but realizes he may not survive the war to see his child; while Newcombe sheds his decadent girlfriend for a pure-hearted Hawaiian nurse. Later, in battle, a heroic act costs one of the Marines his life.

---

Plot Keywords:

marines | hawaiian | nurse | socialite | greek american | 

---

Taglines:

THE ONE TRULY GREAT STORY OF THE U.S. MARINES! (original print ad - all caps)

---

Genres:

Drama | War

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 October 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Big War

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,590,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jerry Wald Productions, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Color by Deluxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hugo Friedhofer's title theme from The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956), another Fox film set in WWII, is used in the scenes between Bradford Dillman and Dana Wynter.

---

Goofs

Although the film is set during the final days of World War II, which ended in 1945, outside the San Francisco hotel where Jeffrey Hunter and Hope Lange spend their honeymoon are parked, among other vehicles, a 1954 Ford and a 1952 Plymouth; CinemaScope panoramas of San Francisco streets, and the San Francisco skyline are all contemporary 1958 views.

---

Quotes

Amory Newcombe: How can you be like everyone else?
Alan Newcombe: I intend to try.

---

Connections

Referenced in What's My Line?: Robert Wagner (2) (1958)

---

Soundtracks

Blue Moon
(uncredited)
Music by Richard Rodgers
Played when Frankie is calling on the pay phone

User Reviews

Any good, red blooded American will like this WWII movie.

Although made in 1958, this is one of those patriotic WWII movies that are a hit with Americans who appreciate the sacrifices made for our freedom. Yet, there was plenty of home front footage as well with very good acting. Dana Wynter, whom I had just seen in Sink The Bismarck, did a wonderful job in a difficult part. The writing for the part was superficial and the reasoning behind it not believable. And yet, Ms. Wynter took it and made it believable. What an actress! And darn good looking too! The male leads were all well done, Jeffrey Hunter, Robert Wagner and Bradford Dillman. One finds oneself rooting for all three Marines to make it through the battle scenes. Hope Lange, a great actress as always and a real beauty. Remember her in the TV version of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir? France Nuyen, a sweet face and good acting, what more could we want? One face popped up that I recognized right away - a Corcoran boy! This one is Brian who played Israel Boone on the old Daniel Boone TV show. But it was his brother Kevin Corcoran whom I thought about - the great child actor who did Old Yeller, Pollyanna and others. His sister in the movie is Veronica Cartwright, the real life sister of Angela Cartwright of the Danny Thomas show, Lost in Space and Brigitta in the Sound of Music movie. Of course Veronica made news herself as Jimima Boone on the same TV show as Brian, Lumpy's sister on Leave It To Beaver, Spencer's Mountain and other good parts. All in all, excellent acting in this movie, good drama and exciting WWII action by the Marines. Well worth seeing.