Review of Bitter Victory (1957) by Stella D — 11 Nov 2012

[C+/65] Wartime melodrama interesting mainly for the performances and moral interplay between the lead actors, Burton and Jürgens. The stark black-and-white photography lends itself well to expressing a dialogue of principles, personal war, and futility on a battlefield between a wry captain and his rather fraudulent major. Burton and Jürgens are excellent, even with underdeveloped (or, at best, muted) backstories that hamper a fuller exploration and explanation of their characters.

Alas, much of the plot seems arid and overlooked, while military aspects, from the shabby comportment of the soldiers to the lackadaisical commando raid and tactics, seem unbelievable. Though, to be fair, this is far less a movie about war exploits than about simple, bitter human failings.