Je suis un nègre

...since AI first saw it on TV in the late 50's. This is a frank look at military racism and its results. The term "nigger" is used openly (a rarity at any time to be sure, in a movie without an all-black cast and especially way back then). James Edwards delivers a powerful performance as a psychosomatically paralyzed black soldier being treated by a white psychiatrist (Jeff Corey). Corey's relentless digging stirs Edwards's memory and the incident that caused the paralysis is finally uncovered. Stark, honest storytelling. Based on a play in which the afflicted soldier was Jewish, this retelling is very contemporary even today.

I first saw this film when it was released, when I was a kid of 12. It was light years ahead of its time in casting an African American actor in the lead role, with a cast that was otherwise all white. With one blow, the film --through James Edwards' acting-- destroys all the Hollywood and social stereotypes of black men. The film does so without making the hero, Moss, perfect(ala Sydney Poitier in later films). He's as flawed as the other soldiers in his group, but like them he is real! The screen play by Carl Foreman (later blacklisted)is brilliant, very hard-hitting, with brutal language and raw emotions. The entire cast is brilliant. I give the film a rating of 8 for quality with another 2 points for sheer guts.

To correct a previous commentary... "The Big Red One" is the 1st Infantry Division. The "Red Ball Express" was the name given to the truck convoys. My own opinions of the film: I think a movie like this needs to be appreciated within the context of the time period it was made. Considering that the country then was barely taking baby steps into the civil rights movement, the subject was handled pretty well. It sent it's message without being preachy or patronizing. A great cast also helps it make a worthwhile movie to watch. It's too bad that James Edwards died several years later while still relatively young. He might've made a real breakthrough to some leading roles.

James Edwards, LLoyd Bridges, Frank Lovejoy, Steve Brodie, and Jeff Corey all give outstanding performances in this powerful and moving story of handling life and death situations. With no false notes, this film probes all the characters' psychological profiles in order to tell its story. Perhaps one of the best war films ever made.

I saw this movie when I was about eleven or twelve- years-old, and felt sad about Lloyd Bridges dying and being left behind. I also felt sad for James Edwards who was suffering for the loss of his friend. His suffering is what they call to day "PTSD" Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I saw the movie again a few months ago and still find it to be a great and poignant movie. Here are two men; one white and the other black,who deep inside see no color, but love for their fellow man and brother. I can attest to that, for being a combat wounded Viet Nam Vet, I saw how soldiers who were white,black,brown,etc. cried for one another when death was upon them. As God knows my heart, I love this movie and thank those that had the courage to first put it out there and to the great cast.

Mark Robson's sensitively directed film perfectly captures the social mores and racial bigotry of its time during the stresses and traumas of war. The dialogue is brittle and thoroughly convincing. Although Lloyd Bridges and James Edwards are both excellent, Frank Lovejoy steals the film with his portrait of Mingo. Steve Brodie is just right as the insecure bigot who is more ignorant than evil. This is one of my five favorite war movies of all time. It reminds me of another great film made the next year called "The Men" with Marlon Brando. I give this one 10 out of 10.