Review of The Big Red One (1980) by Daniel A — 11 Feb 2011

The Big Red One is a fresh and engaging World War 2 drama. Splitting its focus between the camaraderie of the troops and the horrors of the battlefield, director Samuel Fuller delivers an equally informative and engrossing film that deserves its spot amongst the most highly-regarded of war movies.

Unlike most war epics, The Big Red One is the work of a genuine war veteran. Samuel Fuller served the US 1st Infantry Division during World War 2 and bases most of the film on his own experiences on the frontline. Not only does this provide the film heightened credibility, but one would hope it also makes for a more realistic and less 'Hollywood' interpretation of events. It certainly seems that way, as the film manages to be dramatic in its depiction of battle but also very warm in its portrayal of friendship between the soldiers, something that sets it apart from many of its peers.

The film focuses on a group of four young soldiers and their older sergeant. Together they battle their way from Northern Africa, through Central Europe and finally on to the concentration camps of Czechoslovakia. It's a long and laborious journey, and at 162 minutes can be something of a struggle for audiences too, but Fuller's talent for interspersing the explosions with everything from intrigue to comedy goes a long way in justifying the bloated runtime.

I feel the film's biggest asset is the great comradeship between the main characters. Played by unknown actors (with the exception of Mark Hamill who had just earned worldwide renown as Luke Skywalker) the quartet are fun protagonists to follow, and Fuller's many experiences create some fascinating situations for these young troops to overcome; it's not often we get to see soldiers delivering a baby inside a tank! I really found myself rooting for these young men, and were it not for their continued presence I feel the film would have been noticeably less successful. Also worth mentioning is Lee Marvin who plays the anonymous Sergeant quite brilliantly. His stoic and mature character is a great balance to the younger troops and though some have claimed Marvin was too old at 54 to play the role, his performance is strong enough to silence such critics.

As far as the war genre goes, The Big Red One is a very worthy film. It's well shot, avoiding sensationalism, and delivers a satisfying tale that has clearly inspired the likes of Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers. All in all a great movie.