The young lions

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Movie
German title The young lions
Original title The Young Lions
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1958
length 167 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Edward Dmytryk
script Edward Anhalt based on a novel by Irwin Shaw
production Al Lichtman
music Hugo Friedhofer
camera Joseph MacDonald
cut Dorothy Spencer
occupation

The Young Lions is an American film from 1958. Directed by Edward Dmytryk . The film is an early example of an anti-war film and is set in World War II . It is based on a novel by the author Irwin Shaw .

The young lions was the only movie in which the two stars Marlon Brando and Dean Martin could be seen together, as well as the only joint appearance of the two "Hollywood rebels" Brando and Clift.

action

In this film there are two parallel storylines that only briefly cross at the end. The film is primarily about three young men who go to war and the experiences they have there.

Half of the film describes everyday life in an Allied military camp. Two young men, Whiteacre and Ackerman , are stationed together; both met at the draft. Whitacre is a Broadway star who wants to shirk his responsibility and for this he enlists the help of powerful people from the show industry. Ackerman is a New York native Jew who is bullied while training. In the midst of the military command structure, he and Whiteacre cannot take any action against the sadism of their superiors.

At the same time, German units stationed in France are being relocated to North Africa to fight the British. Diestl , a young German soldier, puts himself in the service of the cause. He seems to be nationalistically blinded by the victory and his superior Hardenberg , but later also becomes a broken hero, as he recognizes the brutality and senselessness of the whole thing in the course of the war.

In addition to the military aspects, the film also shows the personal lives of its characters. Diestl begins an affair with a French woman and with the wife of his superior. He fails, among other things, because of his status as a "conqueror" of France. Ackerman, on the other hand, encounters anti-Semitic resentment from his lover's father, who “didn't know a Jew” and who first expresses concerns about the connection, but finally agrees. In this way Ackerman learns first hand which ideology he has to fight against in war.

criticism

The film critics especially praised the intention of the film not to glorify its heroes, but to present them as normal people. The film also showed how differently patriotism was understood and implemented in both warring parties, but the film also criticized American society in the 1940s.

prisma-online : Also because of the dominance of Marlon Brando as a German officer, Edward Dmytryk created a masterpiece based on a novel by Irwin Shaw. One of the best black and white cameramen in the world, Joe MacDonald, made a significant contribution to this, and Hugo Friedhofer's music is also an excellent element in the screen classic. Dmytryk is surprisingly America-friendly - he was politically persecuted in the USA by Senator McCarthy in 1948.

According to the critics, Martin and Brando delivered a solid acting performance and contributed significantly to the success of the film.

Remarks

  • Brando dyed his hair straw blond, assuming it was typically German.
  • Brando took on a strange German accent for his role.
  • Clift threatened to leave the film if Brando ultimately let his character die like Jesus Christ, as the actor suggested to the director.
  • This film was the first after Clift's serious car accident.
  • Clift had his nose changed in the mask and tucked something behind his ears so that they stick out to look "more ethnic".

Awards

The film was nominated for an Oscar in 1959 in three technical categories (best film music, camera - black and white, sound) , but could not prevail against the competition. Marlon Brando won the Laurel Award for Best Drama Actor in 1958, while Montgomery Clift received the French Étoile de Cristal for Best Foreign Actor a year later . The film received nominations at the Golden Globes ("Best Film Promoting International Understanding"), the British Film Academy Awards (best film, Marlon Brando as best foreign actor) and director Edward Dmytryk for the Directors Guild of America Award (all 1959) .

literature

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