The Young Lions (1958)

Director:

Edward Dmytryk

Writers:

Edward Anhalt (writer)
Irwin Shaw (novel)

Release Date:

2 April 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | War

Tagline:

20th CENTURY-FOX PRESENTS ALL THE DAYS AND NIGHTS OF the Young Lions (original print ad - mostly caps)

Plot:

The destiny of two soldiers during World War II. The German officer Christian approves less and less of the war...

Plot Keywords:

Animal In Title | Uniform | Nazi Soldier | Anti Semitism | Soldier

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

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

Runtime:

167 min

Country:

USA

Language:

French | German | English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo | Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Norway:16 | West Germany:12 (cut version) | West Germany:16 (f) | Australia:PG | Spain:13 | Finland:K-16 | UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #18687)

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Dean Martin stepped into the role of Michael Whiteacre when Tony Randall became indisposed. It was a move that solidified Martin's solo film career after his split from Jerry Lewis two years earlier.

Quotes:

Michael Whiteacre: Look, I've read all the books. I know that in 10 years we'll be bosom friends with the Germans and the Japanese. Then I'll be pretty annoyed that I was killed.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Rat Pack (1998) (TV)

Destroys the power of the book

This is a textbook example of how Hollywood didn't (doesn't) trust moviegoers, and panders to its big name stars. The character of Christian is completely re-written, the anti-semitism Noah faces from his own army unit is virtually eliminated, Michael's story is changed significantly, and the end result is to decimate the power and terrible beauty of the book. I almost wish I hadn't even seen it, because of the ability of movies (sounds and images) to resonate so powerfully in your brain; I would have much rather just been left with the impression of the book. The book could have been written today, it is that honest and brave. The movie, neither. My advice: SKIP the movie; READ the book.