All the Young Men

All the Young Men

1960 theatrical poster
Directed by Hall Bartlett
Produced by Hall Bartlett
Alan Ladd
Written by Hall Bartlett
Starring Alan Ladd
Sidney Poitier
Music by George Duning
Cinematography Daniel L. Fapp
Edited by Al Clark
Production
company
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release dates
  • August 26, 1960 (1960-08-26)
Running time
 90 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget over $1 million[1]
Box office $2,000,000 (US/ Canada)[2]

All the Young Men is a 1960 Korean War feature film starring Alan Ladd and Sidney Poitier dealing with desegregation in the United States Marine Corps.

Plot

Poitier plays a U.S. Marine sergeant commanding a small, isolated and decimated platoon in the Korean War. The film explores the racial integration of the American military, centering on the African-American sergeant's struggle to win the trust and respect of the men in his unit.[3]

When the platoon commander is mortally wounded in an ambush, he passes the role of platoon leader to the next highest ranking man, Sergeant Towler (Sidney Poitier). Towler initially feels the role should be taken by the combat experienced former Sergeant now Private Kincaid (Alan Ladd) who has eleven years of service as a Marine. However, Kincaid lost his former rank through misconduct and doing things his own way. Kincaid's prowess as a hero is demonstrated in the opening battle scene where he picks up a M1919 Browning machine gun and fires it from the hip into charging North Korean soldiers.

Before he dies, the Lieutenant reminds Towler that he is next in line for command, not Kincaid. One of the platoon, Pvt Bracken (Paul Richards), openly questions Towler's authority in favour of Kincaid.

With their radio destroyed in the ambush, Sgt Towler leads the ten survivors of the platoon to a house strategically located at a pass that the men can hold until the rest of the battalion arrives.

Cast

Production

Hall Bartlett designed a film as a vehicle for Sidney Poitier, based on the integration of the military in the Korean War. Bartlett came up with the original story with Gene Coon and wrote the script himself. He aimed to make the film independently, though the exact start date was going to be dependent on Poitier's success in A Raisin in the Sun.[4]

Columbia Pictures agreed to finance on the proviso that Bartlett rewrite the script for a white co-star. Bartlett found the only major star willing to do the movie was Alan Ladd who co-produced the film.[5][6] Bartlett:

I could have done it [the film] on a shoestring in some canyon in the Hollywood Hills, but I felt that now is the time for me to prove myself with a picture in the million-plus category. I realized that I could not stay in my ivory tower forever, making nice, small, critically praised films. You don't go very far here if you're not successful when the right time comes.[1]

The film features an unusual cast who works well together. In addition to Alan Ladd and Sidney Poitier the cast includes Mort Sahl who does a comedy routine,[7] James Darren who sings the title song (he was meant to sing three songs in all[8]), Glenn Corbett and boxer Ingemar Johansson in his American film debut. Bartlett cast his Argentine wife Ana María Lynch/Ana St. Clair as a Korean,[9] Mario Alcalde as an American Indian, Hollywood born Paul Richards as a bigoted Southerner, and cast local Blackfoot Indians as North Koreans.[5]

"I just play myself," said Johansson.[10]

All the Young Men was filmed in Glacier National Park (U.S.) and Mt. Hood Oregon.[11] Poitier's commitment to make the film meant he had to leave the run of A Raisin in the Sun early.[12]

Columbia planned two separate advertising campaigns for the film to white and black audiences.[13] Columbia also used Quentin Reynolds to promote the film in advertising campaigns. A paperback novelisation of the film was written by Marvin Albert.[14]

The Marine Corps provided Lieutenant Colonel Clement J. Stadler who had been awarded the Navy Cross[15] in World War II as a technical advisor; a function he also performed in Hell to Eternity, The Outsider, Ambush Bay and The Lieutenant television series. The United States Marine Corps had disbanded separate black Marine units and bases since 18 November 1949.[16]

References

  1. 1 2 HOLLYWOOD 'FREEDOM': Independent Producers Take Timely Inventory By THOMAS McDONALDHOLLYWOOD.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 18 Oct 1959: X7
  2. ↑ "Rental Potentials of 1960", Variety, 4 January 1961 p 47. Please note figures are rentals as opposed to total gross.
  3. ↑ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,939200,00.html
  4. ↑ POITIER WILL PLAY MARINE IN MOVIE: Signs to Star in 'All the Young Men' -- Replacement Sought for Lana Turner By THOMAS M. PRYORSpecial to The New York Times.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 04 Mar 1959: 34.
  5. 1 2 pp.180-181 Goudsouzian, Aram Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor and Icon 2004 UNC Press
  6. ↑ Ladd, Poitier to Co-Star in War Movie Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) [Chicago, Ill] 06 May 1959: b3.
  7. ↑ U. S. LEGIONNAIRES TO HEAR RED ISSUE: California Unit Will Take Resolution Criticizing Film Industry to Conventon By MURRAY SCHUMACHSpecial to The New York Times.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 07 July 1959: 36.
  8. ↑ ROLE IN WAR FILM TO JAMES DARREN: Actor Will Join the Cast of 'All the Young Men' -- 'Powder Keg' Planned Special to The New York Times.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 19 June 1959: 28.
  9. ↑ Writer Liberated Schulberg Claims: Creator Now Follows Through; Bartlett Imports 'Only Girl' Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 05 Oct 1959: A13.
  10. ↑ JOHANSSON WEEPS IN FILM ON KOREA: Heavyweight Champion Will Mourn Death of a Buddy in 'All the Young Men' Special to The New York Times.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 12 Oct 1959: 14.
  11. ↑ http://www.communitywalk.com/location/glacier_park_all/movies/1189617
  12. ↑ PLAY IS CANCELED BY MICHAEL ELLIS: Tryout of 'Intermission' by Ned Armstrong Dropped -- Author Brings Charges By SAM ZOLOTOW. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 28 July 1959: 24.
  13. ↑ p.166 Gormery, Douglas Shared Pleasures: A History of Movie Presentation in the United States University of Wisconsin Press
  14. ↑ http://www.mysteryfile.com/GM_Albert/goldmedal_albert.html
  15. ↑ http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/02_awards/index_nx/index-NXs.html
  16. ↑ p.483 Sutherland, Jonathan African-Americans at War:An Encyclopedia 2004 ABC-CLIO

External links

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