The Big Red One (1980)

 The Big Red One (1980)

Samuel Fuller’s The Big Red One is an epic, harrowing personal journey into how devastating World War II was. Even though the film is fictional, the film is based off the true stories that Fuller himself witnessed during the war. My review is the review of the reconstructed 158-minute feature that critic Richard Schnickel put together, which more closely resembles the story Fuller wanted to tell. When compared to war films, this particular movie is more episodic. Instead of scenes leading to one major scene, Fuller told this war story as is; as the group travels from North Africa to Italy to Omaha Beach. The unique degree of storytelling is what sets it apart from other war films. Even star Lee Marvin later said that his other major war film, The Dirty Dozen is “moneymaking junk” when compared to this feature.

The idea of the film came about in the 1950’s when Warner Brothers sent Fuller to scout locations for the film. Studio head Jack L. Warner wanted John Wayne to play the sergeant, but Fuller felt the pomp and circumstance Wayne brings to his roles is not right for this role. He wanted someone with a more realistic approach, someone who could bring tender sadness to the character…someone such as Lee Marvin! The project eventually fell on the backburner, but the film was later resurrected when Gene Corman boarded the project to produce.

The screenplay was written by Fuller himself based on the experiences he had during the war. Throughout, there are some shocking moments such as the shootout at an insane asylum, a pregnancy in a tank, and some major character transformations. I also liked the long dinner sequence with the Sicilian women. It lent an aura of authenticity to the feature. The beginning is also a well-shot sequence that introduced us to the Sergeant while serving in the First Infantry during the first World War. A military man for life, he later leads the same platoon he served in. I liked the running theme where the main squad do not bother to learn the names of the new squad members because they will die anyhow. That is how bloody the war was.

This story is about the hardened sergeant (Lee Marvin) who leads the First Infantry during World War II. They start off in North Africa before participating in the long siege of Italy and Sicily. Following that, they make their way towards Germany and the liberation of a death camp. Along the way, they have different encounters with civilians-some happy moments, others not so happy. Four main privates help keep the team intact. Among these privates is Private Griff (Mark Hamill) who is a pacifist but undergoes a serious character transformation as the war progresses.

This is Lee Marvin’s movie. I do not think John Wayne would be capable of playing this kind of sergeant. Yes, he is hardnosed when needed, but also shows moments of tenderness and respect for his team and civilians. His character is transformed during the first World War and his experiences stay with him throughout. Who thought that Mark Hamill would be in a Star Wars movie and a gritty war movie in the same year. His idea of peace and pacifism really moved me and even more so when the horrors of the Nazis changed him. I also liked Robert Carradine’s Private Zab. He is basically a pulp fiction writer who loves to chomp down on his cigars, much like Fuller himself.

When the film was originally released in 1980, the 270-minute cut was vastly edited down due to studio interference. Fuller was proud of the final cut, but it was not the movie he intended to make. Critic Richard Schnickel, who praised the original cut, worked to create a movie more in line with the director’s vision. He succeeded. Despite the length, this movie had me glued to my seat as the story immersed me. Some of the sequences are amazingly choreographed and filmed thanks to Adam Greenberg’s camerawork. Now we all know where Steven Spielberg got his influence for that D-Day sequence in Saving Private Ryan.

I cannot believe I have never heard of the movie prior to stumbling across it. It is a war movie that tells it story within a series of episodes. It is a long, character-driven drama with unforgettable sequences. I would never be able to forget the scene where the French woman gives birth in a back of a tank. A very low budget was used, and it can be obvious at times, but it does not really matter when the characters well-developed. And Lee Marvin nailed it! If you are a war movie fanatic, give this underrated gem a buzz.

My Grade: A-