NEVER SO FEW
US, 1959, 125 minutes, Colour.
Frank Sinatra, Gina Lollobrigida, Peter Lawford, Steve Mc Queen, Richard Johnson, Paul Henreid, Bryan Donlevy, Dean Jones, Charles Bronson, Philip Ahn, Robert Bray.
Directed by John Sturges.
Never So Few is a lavish war drama, setting is Burma. It has a very strong cast led by Frank Sinatra and was directed by John Sturges who was about to make The Magnificent Seven as well as to go on to The Great Escape and The Eagle Has Landed.
While the film is long, beautifully photographed and capitalising on the Burmese landscapes, the film has little action comparatively speaking. There is a long focus on a romance between Frank Sinatra and Gina Lollobrigida.
Sinatra has a rather embittered role as an OSS leader. There is a moral issue at the end when, after the Chinese cross the border into Burma and murder and loot American troops, Sinatra orders the execution of prisoners and then has to give an account to the American authorities. This film was made five years before the Americans became really involved in Vietnam and had to face similar issues.
The supporting cast is strong. Peter Lawford has a better role than in many of his Rat Pack films. Steve Mc Queen was at the beginning of his career and was about to appear in The Magnificent Seven – as was Charles Bronson who had been a character actor for many years. This is also an early film for Richard Johnson who was to have a long career in film and on stage in Britain. Paul Henreid, in a role reminiscent of his performance in Casablanca, is a mysterious wealthy man in Burma who trades with the Chinese.
The film will seem rather slow in terms of contemporary war films – but is an American perspective on World War Two, fourteen years after the end of the war, with a particular focus on the experience in Burma.
1. A 1950s war film? The role of the Americans in World War Two? In Asia? Allies with Burmese tribal people? The Chinese? Against the Japanese?
2. The widescreen colour photography, location photography, atmosphere of Burma, the countryside, the temples? The affluent world of the wealthy traders? The headquarters and the cities? The contrast with out in the mountains, the war sequences? Musical score?
3. The title, the reference to the Americans working with the Kachin natives?
4. Tom Reynolds and his men, Frank Sinatra in this role? As a leader? His reliance on Bill Ringa? His friendship with Danny de Mortimer? His working with the troops, personnel, in control? Difficult people like Danforth and Norby?
5. Going to Nikko Ragas’ house? Meeting with Carla? Carlo and Nikko and their lifestyle? Trade? The later revelation of their working with the authorities? Carla, her aloofness with Tom? Considering him an unsophisticated Middle American? The contrast with the Italian sophistication? Her taunting him? His kissing her, her response? The relationship? Her relationship with Nikko, his seeming threats – but his disappearing from the scene and from the film? Carla and the outings with Tom? His return, her support of him, the final kiss?
6. The troops in headquarters, being sent out into the mountains? The Kachin natives? The Japanese and their advance? The attack on the Japanese, the troops, the fire bombs for the planes and trucks? The deaths?
7. The war sequences, the Chinese invading Burma, the fight with the Americans?
8. Ringa, his New York background, tough, attacking the guards, with the car? Explaining himself to Tom? Out in the mountains? His being made second lieutenant?
9. Gray Travis and his place as a doctor, encountering Tom, helping the wounded? Tom and his commandeering Travis? The flight, the parachuting out? Travis and his looking after the sick, his challenge to Tom, friendship with him?
10. Norby, his sexist remarks, his easygoing attitude, calling Danforth Hiawatha? Danforth and his Indian American background? His tough stances?
11. Nautaung and his support of Tom, working with him? His death?
12. The warriors, those who died, including de Mortimer and Danforth? Tom being wounded, Ringa giving his shirt?
13. The Chinese invasion, the betrayal by the Burmese, their execution? The attack by the Japanese during the banquet?
14. Tom, his anger, ordering the prisoners killed? Sending message to the authorities? His willingness to be tried for murder? The authorities and their interviews, discussions? His being praised for his work?
15. The ethos of World War Two and the Americans, the retrospective of the late 1950s? In view of American involvement in wars, especially in Asia, in the coming decades?
