The Thin Red Line (1964 film)

The Thin Red Line is a 1964 American war film directed by Andrew Marton and starring Keir Dullea, Jack Warden, James Philbrook, and Kieron Moore. Based on James Jones's 1962 novel of the same name, the film follows the lives of a number of American soldiers during the battle of Guadalcanal.

The black-and-white film was shot in Spain. Bernard Gordon's screenplay of Jones's work concentrates on the relationship between the young rule-breaking, "survival-at-any-cost", Pvt. Doll (Keir Dullea) and the older veteran 1st Sgt. Welsh (Jack Warden).

Plot

As an American infantry battalion aboard a troopship prepares to land on Guadalcanal, Charlie Company's First Sergeant Welsh tells Private Doll he had not provided him with reports that Doll insisted that he gave to Welsh. They are overheard by their company commander Captain Stone. The Captain speaks with Welsh privately and tells him that he witnessed Doll hand Welsh the reports. Welsh replies that he knew he did but that war is insanity and the only way the men can survive the upcoming battle is to live with that fact. The Captain informs Welsh he is not pleased with his attitude. Welsh and Doll continue to be at odds with each other over Doll's independent thinking that extends to his stealing a pistol from another soldier that he thinks will give him an edge in surviving.

Once ashore, Charlie Company engages the Japanese with Doll killing a Japanese soldier with his stolen pistol, increasing Welsh's animosity towards him. During the campaign Doll shows his independent thinking by leading a successful attack against enemy emplacements when Stack, his platoon sergeant, panics and proves incapable of leadership. As Doll gains combat experience, his relationship with Welsh grows more strained.

Charlie Company is assigned to capture a strategic hill called "The Dancing Elephant" that the two other rifle companies of the battalion have failed to capture. The approach through a minefield called "The Bowling Alley" leads Captain Stone to initially refuse to order his men into a killing field controlled by enemy fire. Doll and Welsh climb the surrounding hills sending boulders into the Bowling Alley that set off the land mines. Though Charlie Company's attack is a success, Captain Stone is relieved of his command by his battalion commander Lt. Colonel Tall for being too close to his men. Charlie Company next captures a village held by the enemy who appear to retreat but counterattack during the night.

The survivors, including Doll and Welsh, attack The Dancing Elephant.

Cast

• Keir Dullea as Pvt. Don Doll
• Jack Warden as 1st Sgt. Edward Welsh
• James Philbrook as Lt Col. Gordon Tall
• Bob Kanter as Cpl. Geoffrey Fife
• Ray Daley as Capt. Stone
• Kieron Moore as Lt. Band
• Merlyn Yordan as Judy
• Jim Gillen as Capt. John Gaff
• Steve Rowland as Mazzi
• Stephen Young as Plt. Sgt. Stack (as Stephen Levy)
• Sol Marroquin as Soldier in hero's platoon

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 77% based on reviews from 13 critics.

Variety wrote: "Aficionados of the action-packed war film will savor the crackling, combat-centered approach of The Thin Red Line, an explosive melodramatization of the Yank assault on Guadalcanal in World War II."

In a 2015 TV Guide gave it 2 out of 4, and noted "In adapting Jones's novel for the screen, Gordon neatly compacted whole scenes from the book, occasionally causing confusion. Motivations are often touched on superficially rather than probed into to show the psychology of men at war."

Remake

In 1998, Terrence Malick directed a second film adaptation of the novel, which received critical acclaim.

External links

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