Main Cast: Alan Ladd, Sidney Poitier, James Darren, Glenn Corbett, Mort Sahl
Release Year: 1960
Country: US
Run Time: 86 minutes
Plot
Set right near the 38th Parallel, the dividing line between North and South Korea, this conventional wartime tale focuses on the relationships of some GI's caught without reinforcements in an old farmhouse. Although the house offers some protection, the men are outnumbered and little by little, casualties mount. After the lieutenant dies, black Sergeant Towler (Sidney Poitier) automatically assumes command, and that causes friction among the white soldiers underneath him. Knowing that racial tension can do much more damage than normal under these siege conditions, Sergeant Towler finally defuses the situation when his nemesis, Kincaid (Alan Ladd) is wounded. Kincaid gets a life-saving transfusion from the Sergeant which also shows up the stupidity of racial hatred -- but meanwhile, the enemy is still attacking and reinforcements are still needed. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Paul Richards - Bracken; Lee Kinsolving - Dean; Joe Gallison - Jackson; Paul Baxley - Lazitech; Charles Quinlivan - Lieutenant; Michael Davis - Cho; Mario Alcalde - Hunter; Ingemar Johansson - Torgil; Dick Davalos - Casey; Ana St. Clair - Maya; Marie Tsien - Korean Woman
Poitier plays a Korean War sergeant commanding a small, isolated and decimated platoon of American Marines. 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.[1]
When the platoon's lieutenant is mortally wounded in an ambush, he passes the role of platoon leader to the next highest ranking man, Sergeant Towler (Poitier). Towler initially feels the role should be taken by the combat experienced Sergeant Kincaid (Ladd) who has eleven years of service as a Marine. However, Ladd lost his former rank through misconduct. Ladd'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 hordes.
Before he dies, the Lieutenant reminds Poitier that he is next in line for command, not Kincaid. One of the platoon, Pvt Bracken (Paul Richards), openly questions Poitier's authority in favour of Ladd.
Production
Hall Bartlett designed a film for Sidney Poitier that he signed on a contract and a percentage of the profits. Bartlett based the idea of the film on the integration of the military in the Korean War. However only Columbia Pictures would finance his film with Columbia insisting that Bartlett rewrite the film for a white co-star. Bartlett found the only major star willing to do the film was Alan Ladd who co-produced the film.[2]
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, James Darren who sings the title song, 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, Mario Alcalde as an American Indian, Hollywood born Paul Richards (actor) as a bigoted Southerner, and cast local Blackfoot Indians as North Koreans.[3]All the Young Men was filmed in Glacier National Park (U.S.) and Mt. Hood Oregon.[4]
Columbia planned two separate advertising campaigns for the film to white and black audiences.[5] Columbia also used Quentin Reynolds to promote the film in advertising campaigns. A paperback novelisation of the film was written by Marvin Albert.[6]
