Film Snail

6.8

The Young Lions

NR·1958·167m

War

Drama

Action

War

Drama

Action

Summary

The lives of three young men, a German and two Americans, during WWII.

Cast

Marlon Brando

Lt. Christian Diestl

Montgomery Clift

Noah Ackerman

Dean Martin

Michael Whiteacre

Hope Lange

Hope Plowman

Barbara Rush

Margaret Freemantle

May Britt

Gretchen Hardenberg

Maximilian Schell

Capt. Hardenberg

Dora Doll

Simone

Lee Van Cleef

1st Sgt. Rickett

Liliane Montevecchi

Françoise

Parley Baer

Sgt. Brandt

Arthur Franz

Lt. Green

Hal Baylor

Pvt. Burnecker

Richard Gardner

Pvt. Crowley

Herbert Rudley

Capt. Colclough

Michael Smith

Draft Board Member (uncredited)

Paul Comi

Pvt. Abbott (uncredited)

John Alderson

Cpl. Kraus (uncredited)

John Banner

German Town Mayor (uncredited)

Milton Frome

Draft Board Physician (uncredited)

Sam Gilman

Pvt. Faber (uncredited)

L.Q. Jones

Pvt. Donnelly (uncredited)

Alberto Morin

Bartender (uncredited)

Norbert Schiller

German Civilian with Town Mayor (uncredited)

Harvey Stephens

Brig. Gen. Sam Rockland (uncredited)

Stephen Bekassy

German Major (uncredited)

Dagmar Biener

Minor Role (uncredited)

Paul Bradley

Draft Board Member (uncredited)

Joe Brooks

Minor Role (uncredited)

Julian Burton

Pvt. Brailsford (uncredited)

Robert Burton

Col. Mead (uncredited)

Wade Cagle

Lt. Emerson (uncredited)

Ann Codee

French Woman (uncredited)

Bud Cokes

Party Guest (uncredited)

Ashley Cowan

Maier (uncredited)

David Dabov

Soldier (uncredited)

Ann Daniels

Hatcheck Girl (uncredited)

Joan Douglas

Maid (uncredited)

Larry Duran

German soldier (uncredited)

Robert Ellenstein

Rabbi Joseph Silverstein (uncredited)

Harry Ellerbe

Draft Board Chairman (uncredited)

Milton Frome

Burn (uncredited)

Norman Grabowski

Barracks Inspection Private (uncredited)

Joe Gray

Soldier (uncredited)

Stan Kamber

Acaro (uncredited)

Craig Karr

Draft Board Secretary (uncredited)

Kurt Katch

Camp Commandant (uncredited)

Kenner G. Kemp

Officer at Bar (uncredited)

Hubie Kerns

Minor Role (uncredited)

Nicholas King

Medic (uncredited)

Gil Lasky

Soldier (uncredited)

Gustave Lax

Draft Board Member (uncredited)

George Meader

Milkman (uncredited)

Gordon Mitchell

Minor Role (uncredited)

Clive Morgan

British Colonel (uncredited)

Monty O'Grady

Bar Patron (uncredited)

Ann Paige

Minor Role (uncredited)

Christian Pasques

French Boy (uncredited)

Michael Pataki

Pvt. Hagstrom (uncredited)

Voltaire Perkins

Bus Terminal Café Counterman (uncredited)

Mary Pierce

Young French Girl (uncredited)

Art Reichle

Soldier (uncredited)

Otto Reichow

Bavarian (uncredited)

Edward Rickard

Mailman (uncredited)

Gene Roth

Bavarian Café Manager (uncredited)

Gerald Rowe

Messenger (uncredited)

Henry Rowland

Sergeant (uncredited)

Jeffrey Sayre

Drunk (uncredited)

Kendall Scott

Emerson (uncredited)

Ann Stebbins

Brunette (uncredited)

Vaughn Taylor

John Plowman (uncredited)

Alfred Tonkel

German Waiter (uncredited)

Ivan Triesault

German Colonel (uncredited)

Blaine Turner

Bartender (uncredited)

Lee J. Winters

Private First Class (uncredited)

Doris Wiss

Nurse (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Edward Dmytryk

Novel

Irwin Shaw

Writer

Edward Anhalt

Reviews

Wuchak

January 24, 2021

_**Outstanding WW2 DRAMA (with Some Action)**_

"The Young Lions" is a black & white 1958 WW2 drama featuring Marlon Brando, Dean Martin and Montgomery Clift.

The film attempts to show the German, American and French sides of the war. Brando stars as a young German officer who becomes increasingly disillusioned with Hitler's regime and the world war he started. Meanwhile Martin plays a worldly Broadway musician who struggles with cowardice whereas Montgomery Clift's character is a poor, naive Jewish American who falls in love with with a winsome lass (Hope Lange) and fights the anti-semitic guys in his platoon.

Marlon's performance illustrates why he's considered the greatest actor in cinema; he's just captivating. Most reviewers note that Brando's German storyline is more interesting than the two American story lines, which is true, but repeat viewings grant the viewer more appreciation for the latter.

There are three stunning women featured in the picture: Barbara Rush, May Britt and Liliane Montevecchi. Rush is Martin's marriage-minded gal, who flirts with Brando early on; Britt plays the luscious sexpot wife of Brando's captain (Maximilian Schell); and Montevecchi performs as a French girl who initially insults Brando's character (because he's a German invader).

It should be pointed out that "The Young Lions" is not a war action film, but rather a powerful war DRAMA. Yes, there's quite a bit of action (France, Northern Africa, etc.), but the emphasis is on the characters and their stories. The climax involves a horrified and utterly disillusioned Brando, leaving a strong impact.

FINAL WORD: If you're looking for a mindless action flick this is not the one to see. This perhaps explains some of the less-than-stellar reviews. Yet, make no mistake, "The Young Lions" is without a doubt a WAR film. It's also a masterpiece of cinematic art, not to mention one of Brando's most mesmerizing performances.

The film runs 2 hours, 47 minutes.

GRADE A-