Themes: Fish Out of Water, Opposites Attract, Military Life
Main Cast: Charlton Heston, Julie Adams, Tim Hovey, William Demarest, Nana Bryant, Tim Considine
Release Year: 1955
Country: US
Run Time: 100 minutes
Plot
A too-tough Army major gets himself sent to run an ROTC program at a Santa Barbara military school after he calls unwanted attention to the military by mouthing off to a prominent news magazine. When he arrives to his new post, the major is shocked to find it run by nuns and that his new troops are school children. His assignment is to make "men" out of the rambunctious recruits so that the school can keep from losing its ROTC certification. At first the hard-as-nails major treats his young charges with all the tenderness of a old army boot and the boys, tired of his constant barrage of insults and demands, come to hate him. Further complicating matters is the major's disconcerting romantic feelings for the school's lovely doctor. Unfortunately, she isn't about to put up with his ultra-macho guff anymore than the children are and before this romantic comedy is through, the major learns important lessons about the value of humanity in dealing with others. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Review
An amiable if unspectacular formula comedy, The Private War of Major Benson at least gives Charlton Heston one of his rare shots at comedy. And surprisingly, Heston is pretty good here. Certainly, it helps that the character of Benson is one that emphasizes the macho, hard-headed, stubborn side of the actor. That he is able to play this as easily for laughs as he is for drama is fortunate indeed, and it gives Benson a great deal of fun. Of course, Benson ultimately has to change – this is a comedy, after all – and Heston does very well in making the change of heart believable as well. He also has a nice rapport with co-star Julie Adams, which is not always the case with his love interests. For her part, Adams is aces here; a very talented and attractive actress, she somehow didn’t have the right spark to become a star, but she usually turned in very good performances, and this is one of her best. The supporting cast, including little Tim Hovey, crusty William Demarest and sensitive Sal Mineo, are also quite good. Where Benson falls down is in the script. It’s lively and amusing enough, but it’s predictable, trite, often unbelievable and sometimes just plain sappy. Jerry Hopper’s direction is adequate, but a stronger hand was needed to raise the film above the limitations of the script. Even with its flaws, Benson is still enjoyable. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Sal Mineo - Cadet Col. Dusik; Milburn Stone - Maj. Gen. Ramsey; Mary Field - Sister Mary Theresa; Donald Keeler - Cadet Cpl. Scawalski; Gary Pagett - Cadet Lieutenant Molony; Mickey Little - Cadet Lt. Hanratty; David Janssen - Young Lieutenant; Richard H. Cutting - Monsignor Collins; Mary Alan Hokanson - Sister Mary Thomasina; Butch Jones - Cadet Capt. Petri; Yvonne Peattie - Mrs. Hibler; Don Haggerty - Mr. Hibler; Edward Platt - Monsignor Collins; Kay Stewart - Mrs. Flahetly
Credit
Robert F. Boyle - Art Director, Alexander Golitzen - Art Director, Rosemary Odell - Costume Designer, Marshall Green - First Assistant Director, Jerry Hopper - Director, Ted Kent - Editor, Henry Mancini - Composer (Music Score), Herman Stein - Composer (Music Score), Joseph E. Gershenson - Musical Direction/Supervision, Henry Mancini - Songwriter, Herman Stein - Songwriter, Bud Westmore - Makeup, Harold Lipstein - Cinematographer, Howard Pine - Producer, Russell A. Gausman - Set Designer, Ruby Levitt - Set Designer, Glenn E. Anderson - Sound/Sound Designer, Leslie I. Carey - Sound/Sound Designer, Bob Mosher - Screen Story, Richard Alan Simmons - Screenwriter, Joe Connelly - Screenwriter, William Roberts - Screenwriter
The movie was filmed on St. Catherine's Military School campus in 1955, with cadets as the actors in all but the three leading roles. Universal-International Studios chose St. Catherine's cadets and location for their humorous comedy about the challenges facing the new commandant of a Military School by the antics of a group of grade school cadets. The picture starred Charlton Heston, Julie Adams, William Demarest, and a full battalion of St. Catherine's finest.
