DARBY'S RANGERS

US, 1958, 121 minutes, Black and white.
James Garner, Jack Warden, Etchika Choreau, Edd Byrnes, Venetia Stevenson, Torin Thatcher, Peter Brown, Joan Elan, Corey Allen, Stuart Whitman, Murray Hamilton, Andrea King, Reginald Owen, Frida Inescort.
Directed by William A.Wellman.

William A.Wellman directed films about World War I including the first Oscar-winner, Wings. He also directed The Story of’s GI Joe at the end of World War II. his other World War II films include Battleground and Doug bees ranges, Derbies Rangers, a film about a special squad of commandos who were instrumental in assisting the landings in Italy in 1943, helping in the freeing of Naples, but sustaining many casualties later.

James Garner, in an early film, portrays Bill Darby, the energetic power behind the Rangers, sharing their training and their hard fighting with them, while also being a father-figure to some of the men. He is assisted by Jack Warden.

The first half of the film establishes the characters, especially in yanks “over there” and their being sexual hunters. This means that they are a mixture of exploitation and genuine falling in love. This part of the film also has strong sequences of the tough training. This took place in Scotland. The second part of the film emphasises the action.

1. A World War II story, American commandos, British training, their personal lives and relationships, the experience of war, especially in Italy?

2. The work of the director, his World War I experience and films, his World War II films like Battleground, Story of GI Joe?

3. Black-and-white photography, American military installations, sequences in London and sense of realism, in Scotland and Dundee? Southern Italy, the mountain roads, the towns, Naples, Anzio, Cisterna? The musical score?

4. Based on actual events, dramatised? 15 years later? Sense of realism? American spirit and patriotism?

5. The nature of the rangers, Darby’s idea, his work with Rosen, his admiring of commando history, guerilla warfare, respect for the British? His pressurising of the general, his being put in charge? Rosen and his support, friendship, work with Darby? His narration?

6. The personality of Darby, strong, determined, his relationships with the men, sharing their experiences with them, his choices, travelling on the truck with them, the accommodation, the training, being in the mud with them, commander yet acting as a father-figure?

7. The personal stories, conventional but giving a background to some of the characters? The emphasis on sexual encounters?

8. Rollo Burns, arriving late, being young, meeting Mac Tavish, going to the house, the encounter with Peggy, discovering the father, falling in love, the proposal, the father testing him, happy to accept him? His participation in action, wounded, his dying?

9. Hank Bishop, on the bus, his pleading with Wendy, the meal, her calling up the other women for his friends? The relationship, going home to meet her parents, their being aristocratic, the house, the meal, the card games and his flair? His explanation of his background, stealing a car, in juvenile detention, being a hobo around America, being a compulsive gambler? Wendy’s father and his jovial attitude? Wendy’s mother and her reserve? Hank and his being afraid of marriage, the reaction of her parents? His going away? His later return, being welcomed back, and the mother trying to do the card shuffle?

10. Tony Sutherland, his always being in trouble with women, his cavalier womanising attitude, assigned to the house, the archaeology lecturer, his making a pitch at his wife, the wife succumbing, the husband finding out, the wife and her learning that Tony had been killed in an accident in training?

11. Dittman, from West Point, by the book, his arrival, strict, taking over, discussions with the men, Rollo and his first killing – and Darby coming to talk things over about the feelings and Rollo later engaged in combat? Arrival in Naples, the fear of typhus, Angie and her reaction, Dittman and his approach, the spraying, going to the house, the meal, the attraction, her being upset at his insinuations? The return, her illness, pregnancy, his talking things over with Darby, the decision to marry, for the pension benefits for Angie, getting the priest for a ceremony? Their later being reunited?

12. The British, their attitudes towards the Americans, training? The detailed showing of the training? The men ready for combat?

13. The narration of the Italy landings, the guerilla warfare in the mountains, on the roads, being stuck in the mud, Darby confronting the authorities, the landing at Anzio, the attempt on Cisterna, the clashes with the Germans, the huge German attack and the massacring of the Rangers?

14. The remnant, their being praised for helping the landing, their medals and recognition?

15. Darby returning home, his achievement, passing the others landing and their admiration for the rangers?