The Men

Brando scores big, and Wright matches him scene for scene. The tragedies of post-war disabilities are examined unflinchingly by Zinneman in this no-punches-pulled drama. Paul Stewart and Jack Webb are superb in supporting roles. Brando takes us right inside his character and never lets go. This is a movie that should be seen with and discussed by the whole family as it honestly discusses the horrors of daily life.

The Men (1950) Well, you do have to see a movie like this partly to see Marlon Brando before his stellar rise to fame (ultra-fame) in "On the Waterfront" (1954) and "Streetcar Named Desire" (the next year, 1951). This is his first role, and he's already the famous, complex, simultaneously macho and tender Brando. He plays Ken, and he is bedridden because he can't walk. Around him are a host of actors, amateur and professional, who are all unable to walk, probably permanently, from war injuries. This is a story of adjusting to being in a wheelchair, getting others to accept you like this, and ultimately getting to accept it yourself. It's an emotional more than a physical battle, and a powerful one. The doctor in charge is in some ways the main character, or the most present, throughout, and he's strong if somewhat uncomplicated in his portrayal of a devoted, tireless medical worker. He's played by Everett Sloan, who has just come off a bizarre but terrific role as a rich lawyer with difficulty walking in "Lady from Shanghai" (a Welles movie--and Welles gave Sloan his entrance into Hollywood in "Citizen Kane"). The woman who is both lovingly sympathetic and also scared in her uncertainty as Ken's girlfriend and wife. She's kind of perfect, turning into that somewhat disconnected 1950s housewife before our eyes (influenced surely by her officious if kindly parents, a kind of 1930s Republican do good but also look out for yourself first attitude). It's a perfect fit, set up by the screenwriter and worked by with surprising believability by the young director, Fred Zinnemann ("From Here to Eternity") with Stanley Kramer producing. These two men were among the most socially conscious in a post-war Hollywood that had many directors trying to make a difference in their films (Kazan and Lumet would be two others). And "The Men" is certainly about showing a problem with realism and optimism at the same time. It's a kind of parallel to the film noir films which made dramatic fictions out of many returning servicemen. This was closer to the reality for many. Is it a great film? For some small reasons, no, as much as Brando is convincing in his role. For one thing, it's just too clear what the motivation of the director and producer is, so the movie movies forward without clear dramatic tension (even though you don't quite know the outcome). For another, the acting is generally very good without being wrenching (and the subject is frankly wrenching). It feels a little like we're being given a lesson, a good lesson, but still a bit like schoolwork made vivid on the screen. This will be apparently right from the first scene where a room full of wives and girlfriends ask questions (frank and important questions) of the doctor, who wisely and frankly answers them. Good stuff, great stuff, and as a film experience, incomplete stuff.

This magnificent film begins with a written prologue as : ¨In all wars , since the beginning of history , there have been men who fought twice . The first time they battled with club , sword or machine gun . The second time they had none of these weapons. Yes , this by far was the greatest battle. It was fought with abiding faith and raw courage and in the end victory was achieved . This is the story of such a group of men . To them this film is dedicated¨ . It deals with an ex-GI named Ken (Marlon Brando who follows the Stalislawski method from Actors' Studio) who as a result of a war wound suffers paralysis and is wheel-bound. In the hospital back home, he is depressed and the isolation young thanks the approval and help of the good Dr. Brock (Everett Sloane) and his former sweetheart Ellen (Teresa Wright) who manage to bring him out of it , as ken gets redeem himself . Ken's depression caused for his paralyzed below the waist is also overcome with the witty friendship of his fellow patients, especially the sly Norm (Jack Webb), the sympathetic Leo (Richard Erdman) and hunk young Angel (Jurado). Soon Ken throws himself into the job rehabilitation and later a long period of physical therapy even suspects he may regain the utilization of his feet. After that , he and Ellen marry, but on their wedding night both have sadness, misgivings and grief about their future , then bitter Ken reverts to self-pity. Ken drives nutty a car and takes place a crash accident . The newspapers publicize : ¨Paraplegics cited for drunk driving¨. Then he goes back to the hospital.. . This is a thoughtful flick with interesting storyline by Carl Foreman relies on wonderful interpretations and slick realization . Subtle performance from Marlon Brando in his screen debut as depressed paralysed young who pass through an initial period of bitterness and sorrow to spontaneous blazed anger and splendid Teresa Wright as his faithful fiancée . Everett Sloane steals the show as intelligent and realist doctor . Marvelous relationship among the main players , both of whom must attempt to build their new life full of difficulties and problems . Furthermore , special mention to ¨ Forty five of the men veterans of Birmingham Administration Hospital ¨. Though the characters and events depicted in this Photoplay are fictitious and similarity to persons , living or dead is purely coincidental. Atmospheric cinematography in black and white by Robert De Grasse A.S.C . Sensible musical score composed and conducted by the classic musician Dimitri Tiomkin. Atmospheric production design by Edward Boyle though is mostly set at a Hospìtal . The motion picture well produced by Stanley Kramer - National Film Release- and is stunningly directed by Fred Zinnemann who had a lot of experience from his formers classic films as ¨Act of violence , Seventh cross , Eyes in the night , The search ¨, among them. Rating : Above average . Well worth watching.

Fred Zinnemann finally came up with a script that Marlon Brando liked enough to leave the stage and head for Hollywood. And the rest is history. That script turned out to be The Men. Brando is Bud, a paraplegic shot in WWII and recovering in a veterans hospital. Unfortunately there is no hope for Bud ever walking again, a fact he refuses to accept. This movie is an interesting character study. Brando shows here why he would become the most influential actor of the last century. He brilliantly depicts a man at tremendous odds with himself. The supporting cast of characters, Teresa Wright(Bud's love interest), the doctors, and the men in the hospital, are well cast. Fans of character driven dramas and Brando fans should get a kick out of this film.

Marlon Brando, Jack Webb, and Richard Erdman play three paraplegic war veterans in a VA hospital, where they are mired in cynicism and self-pity. Brando marries Teresa Wright with agonizing results. The emotions in this drama are all really strong -- rage, frustration, anguish. The ending is a hopeful one, but the characters and the viewer have to undergo some torment to get there. Brando must have been a revelation in 1950. He's explosive. Only his crippled legs keep him confined to his chair. Jack Webb -- Sgt. Joe Friday -- is far, far better than one would expect. (Actually, he did quite a good job with his small part in "Sunset Boulevard" too, before he was forever typecast.) Everett Sloane -- memorable in "Citizen Kane", "Lady From Shanghai", "The Enforcer" -- is their doctor who has to be cruel to be kind. The cast is filled out by "the men of the Birmingham VA hospital". Stanley Kramer liked to produce "message" dramas. He tended to overdo it late in his career, but this is still early on. Fred Zinnemann directed a script by Carl Foreman, and these two would team up again on "High Noon". Foreman was then blacklisted by HUAC, getting no screen credit for his screenplay for "The Bridge on the River Kwai". Not for the faint-hearted, but a fine film which deserves to be better known.

"The Men" probably seemed very daring at the time of its release, and indeed Brando's performance and some of the supporting ones have lasted well and hardly dated at all. The film gives some idea of the horrific aftermath of war and its effects on the 'heroes' it disfigures. Teresa Wright plays Brando's girlfriend with some sensitivity and Everett Sloane gives a good performance as the doctor. Of the other actors playing paraplegics, Jack Webb deserves a mention. This is an interesting film which raises a lot of issues not previously faced that much on screen.

This little-known film surprised me with the depth of its emotional involvement with its characters. Conflict, pain, tragedy, suffering, doubt, and triumph are all present in generous and convincing doses, as we witness the travails of wartime paraplegics. Marlon Brando is excellent in a very auspicious beginning to his film career. We are really drawn into Ken and Ellen's tortuously conflicted relationship. Jack Webb is also very good here, which surprised me in light of his storied woodenness as Joe Friday (I guess that was just part of his characterization of the detective). Another round of kudos to American Movie Classics for bringing us this gem.

Marlon Brando's first film, "The Men" is conspicuous for many things including how little he got paid for it, the method acting that went into it, and the time Brando spent living like a patient in a veteran's paraplegic hospital. One story I heard was that one night when Brando was at a public place with the other (real) patients, a Bible thumper started ranting about the power of faith. Brando gestured the man over and asked him, "Let me ask you something, mister. If my faith is strong enough, will I be able to walk again?" The religious ranter paused and then said, "Yes, son. If it is God's will, you will even be able to walk again." So Brando responded with mock sincerity, "Well, by God, I am going to try right now." With that, he made a few straining, unsuccessful attempts to raise out of his wheelchair. But then he gave it his all, stood up completely, and went tap dancing out of the establishment, much to the shock of the Bible thumper, and much to the boisterous laughter of the other men in wheelchairs. I choose to believe this story is true and that it, in effect, created the scene when drunk Ray Teal comes over and starts patronizing the characters played by Brando and Richard Erdman. Brando asks Ray Teal, "Let me ask you something, mister. Could I marry your daughter?" A sarcastic banter ensues and eventually Brando punches out Teal who seemed to be discovering his type casting mold as an obnoxious character who gets punched out ("Best Years of Our Lives") and a bartender in Brando films ("The Wild One" and "One Eyed Jacks") I'd like to ad a personal note to authenticate the serious message of "The Men." Over ten years ago I taught a Japanese secondary student whose English ability was extremely low. But her desire, her drive, and her determination to learn were extremely high. After about a year of struggle with words and sentences, she wrote her first authentic essay for me. I had assigned an essay about someone she admired. She wrote about her father who had lost his legs in an industrial accident, but whose desire, drive, and determination to become independent were extremely high. She concluded with, "My father has learned to do many things. But the most difficult thing he has learned is how to accept help for those things he really can't do."

Although this isn't one of the best films from the 50s era I have seen, it is by no means anywhere near the worst either. The main topic of the film is paraplegia and the effects that has on the sufferer and his relationship(s), not only of the main character Ken (Brando) but also on the other veterans in the ward. The film is obviously going to feel outdated, there is nothing that can be done about that, yet the themes running throughout the film are still relevant. This film isn't trying to set-up the disabled as having no place in society, or that love will never happen for them, it is exploring the feelings encountered by all involved. The main theme is how suffering from paraplegia causes the sufferer to feel inadequate - feeling like less of a man - the loss of masculinity is paramount to the film. Whilst not exactly a melodrama, this film can be placed into that category, for many reasons, such as the use of music throughout the film and the very convenient 'forced closure' ending...which if anybody believes then more fool them. Brando is very watchable in this film, and apart from a couple of questionable casting decisions the rest of the cast are perfectly adequate in their roles.

I saw this film for the first time when I was 13 years old (4 years ago). I never heard about the great Marlon Brando but he surprised me so with his acting, it was like he was really handicapped, the story was so wonderful. Marlon Brando is handicapped but he wants to marry teresa wright. It is for her and him very difficult to live with each other. For her it was difficult to live with his handicap and he wouldn't accept it. They split but his friends say that he must go back to her and that real love can survive everything. After seeing this film again recently, I have always the same good film. This film let see how great Brando is / still is! ---> 9/10