A Walk in the Sun — The Definitive Restoration (1945) | Dana Andrews, John Ireland | WWII Classic
American soldiers hit the beach at Salerno and begin their trek across the countryside toward the Nazi-occupied farmhouse they’ve been ordered to destroy. These are infantrymen who aren’t thinking about fighting bravely enough to become officers…just living long enough to become civilians! During the World War II Allied invasion of Italy, the film stars Dana Andrews as Sgt. Tyne, one of the officers leading an attack on a farmhouse in the Italian countryside which functions as a German stronghold. When the ranking officers are killed soon after the platoon lands on the beach, Tyne must take over. The film is noted for its attempt to portray the infantryman’s experience realistically, in particular the banter and mid-1940s slang. This WWII film was the first to use a ballad as a thematic element, a practice which, after HIGH NOON, would become a cliché of the 1950s. One of the best WWII films, A WALK IN THE SUN combines documentary-like sequences with a sharp awareness of the isolation of each soldier in the midst of battle. Included in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry. One of the National Board of Reviews’ “Ten Best” of 1945, this realistic look at men in war was directed by the legendary Lewis Milestone (All Quiet on the Western Front).
Director: Lewis Milestone
Stars: Dana Andrews, Richard Conte, George Tyne, John Ireland, Lloyd Bridges
Credit to : The Sprocket Vault
