It is impossible to see this film and not find it intelligently hilarious. You will laugh your way through it and never once feel your time has been wasted. The premise is simple and, in an odd way, that may in fact be it's strength.
During the last days of the Civil War, a contingent of Union soldiers, have made an uneasy accommodation with their Confederate counterparts stationed a few miles away. Every day at a certain time, each side fires a round of cannon fire at the other, timed to a deliberate miss. The aim of both sides is to, hopefully, last out the war in this manner: reasonably safe and secure.
This arrangement works quite well, until a brash headstrong Union Captain (played well by Glenn Ford)decides,on his own, to go out and capture a few of the "enemy". This of course forces their equally reluctant "enemy" to retaliate.
Ford's Commander,(played with exquisite timing by veteran actor Melvyn Douglas) is horrified. "What have you done?" he shouts at him, "take them back! How many times have I instructed you not to show initiative?" From this point on, the humor escalates and never ceases.
Staffed by some of the most recognized character actors of the time, we are treated to a highly skilled portrayal of an incredibly believable assortment of military misfits. What makes them believable is that their characterizations are delivered with depth. And this, in a sense, makes them somewhat realistic and all the more funnier.
This high caliber B-film is well scripted and, to it's credit, is finally being recognized for the cinematic gem that it is. My advice to all film lovers is to seek out this almost forgotten treasure. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.
