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Red Ball Express

  • 1952
  • Approved
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
1K
YOUR RATING
Jeff Chandler, Judith Braun, and Charles Drake in Red Ball Express (1952)
ActionDramaWar

Story of the military truck drivers who kept the Allied armies supplied in Europe during World War II.Story of the military truck drivers who kept the Allied armies supplied in Europe during World War II.Story of the military truck drivers who kept the Allied armies supplied in Europe during World War II.

  • Director
    • Budd Boetticher
  • Writers
    • John Michael Hayes
    • Marcy Klauber
    • William Grady Jr.
  • Stars
    • Jeff Chandler
    • Alex Nicol
    • Charles Drake
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Budd Boetticher
    • Writers
      • John Michael Hayes
      • Marcy Klauber
      • William Grady Jr.
    • Stars
      • Jeff Chandler
      • Alex Nicol
      • Charles Drake
    • 22User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos12

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    Top cast54

    Edit
    Jeff Chandler
    Jeff Chandler
    • Lt. Chick Campbell
    Alex Nicol
    Alex Nicol
    • Sgt. Red Kallek
    Charles Drake
    Charles Drake
    • Pvt. Ronald Partridge…
    Judith Braun
    Judith Braun
    • Joyce McClellan
    Sidney Poitier
    Sidney Poitier
    • Cpl. Andrew Robertson
    Jacqueline Duval
    Jacqueline Duval
    • Antoinette Dubois
    Bubber Johnson
    Bubber Johnson
    • Pvt. Taffy Smith
    Davis Roberts
    Davis Roberts
    • Pvt. Dave McCord
    • (as Robert Davis)
    Hugh O'Brian
    Hugh O'Brian
    • Pvt. Wilson
    Frank Chase
    Frank Chase
    • Pvt. Higgins
    Cindy Garner
    Cindy Garner
    • Kitty Walsh
    Gregg Palmer
    Gregg Palmer
    • Tank Lieutenant
    • (as Palmer Lee)
    John Hudson
    John Hudson
    • Tank Sergeant
    Jack Kelly
    Jack Kelly
    • Heyman
    Howard Petrie
    Howard Petrie
    • Maj. Gen. Lee Gordon
    Douglas Bank
    • Mechanic
    • (uncredited)
    George Barrows
    George Barrows
    • Soldier in Bistro
    • (uncredited)
    Nan Boardman
    • French Peasant Mother
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Budd Boetticher
    • Writers
      • John Michael Hayes
      • Marcy Klauber
      • William Grady Jr.
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Louis L'Amour's memoir, "Education of a Wandering Man", said this movie was actually based on his own war-time anecdotes. He was awarded two Bronze Star Medals while serving as an officer with the Red Ball Express.
    • Goofs
      The real Red Ball Express operated two separate roads for traffic (one going to the front and one for returning empty) Two-way traffic on a single road, as shown in the film , never occurred.
    • Crazy credits
      No credits besides the title, seven minutes in the film.
    • Connections
      Featured in Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That (2005)

    User reviews22

    Featured review
    10/10

    Changed my life's view

    I'd have to say that this is a very interesting war time movie. It focuses on not the battle front, but the people who were responsible for the supply line behind the battle front.

    The soldiers who are mostly rejects from the battle front are assigned to the Red Ball Express the troops comprising 6000 trucks to bring food, ammunition, and fuel.

    This is an innocent looking movie, but it taught me the most important lesson of my life. That everything moves on a commerce. That war is a commerce. It's the delivery of the goods to the points of consumption that is everything. Almost nothing else matters, because if soldiers and tanks didn't have ammo and gas, there's no action. Everything in this world is the same way.

    This kind of organized mobility decides the outcome of the war. America had good commander to realize this, and tactical minds to put it into action. Nobody was named a hero, but Patton couldn't have done what he did without the Red Ball Express.

    This makes the movie one of the most memorable of all war time movies. I really loved it.
    • ebiros2
    • Sep 6, 2012
    • Permalink

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    FAQ13

    • How long is Red Ball Express?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 29, 1952 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Unternehmen 'Rote Teufel'
    • Filming locations
      • Fort Eustis, Newport News, Virginia, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal International Pictures (UI)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 23 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Jeff Chandler, Judith Braun, and Charles Drake in Red Ball Express (1952)
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