THE BOLD AND THE BRAVE

US, 1956, 87 minutes, Black and white.
Wendell Corey, Mickey Rooney, Don Taylor, Nicole Maurey.
Directed by Lewis R. Foster.

The Bold and the Brave is a small-budget black and white war film of the mid-50s. The memory of the war was still strong, with many war films being made in the first half of the 50s. However, the first half of the film concentrates on the central characters and their interactions. The setting is Italy, very similar to The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit, a higher-budget film which was released the same year.

Mickey Rooney received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor in his role of a young man who wanted to get money to support his wife and their dreams. It is an exuberant performance. The serious side of the film is from Wendell Corey, a somewhat cynical observer of life who confronts Don Taylor as preacher, a religious zealot who becomes intolerant of the young woman that he encounters and falls in love with when he discovers that she was a prostitute (Nicole Maurey) and is harsh in dealing with Mickey Rooney’s character and the money.

The second part of the film has some battle sequences in which the religious zealot, the group leader, has to make some decisions – as does the Wendell Corey character who, from his experience, comes to a deeper perception of human nature. The film was written by Robert Lewin who received an Oscar nomination for best screenplay.

1. A film of the 1950s? Just over a decade after the end of the war? The American perceptions of World War Two, the memories of the 50s? This film seen in hindsight?

2. The Italian setting, the village, the battlefield? The black and white photography? The action sequences and effects? The musical score?

3. The title, with reference to the central characters? The lyrics of the final song?

4. The conventions of a small group of men in the war zone, their lives, interactions, with the locals? In action, courage, fear, cowardice?

5. The focus on Fairchild, the typical cynical American, his story about his past, observing human nature? His life being saved by Preacher? His friendship with Dooley? Concerned about Preacher, arranging for Fiamma to meet him? His observing of Preacher’s falling in love, discussions with Dooley? His reaction to Preacher’s rejection of Fiamma? Straight talk? His support of Dooley and their going to the gambling and Dooley winning? Going into action, Preacher demanding that Dooley get rid of the money? In the field, Dooley and the burying of the money, his death? Fairchild and the confrontation with Preacher, Preacher wounded? Fairchild deciding to carry him to safety? His discovering more humanity in the experience of war?

6. The contrast with Preacher, earnest, his cross, his religious zeal? His rescuing Fairchild and saving his life? Interactions with Dooley and the others? Meeting with Fiamma, their time together, his caution, not wanting to kiss her? Falling in love? Going out with her again, the troops coming by, his discovery of the truth about her past? His inability to accept it? His brutal rejection of her? The harshness of his religious stances, the challenge for forgiveness and his inability to do so? His hardening of his attitudes, treatment of Dooley with the money, leading the men in the field? Dooley’s death? His being injured and saved by Fairchild? The film not showing any conversion experience or change of heart on his part?

7. Dooley, bubbly, the Mickey Rooney kind of character? His bravado? The time in Italy, the truth about his wife and family, ambitions? The gambling, winning all the money, having to go back? The final bet and winning again? Preacher and his demanding that he get rid of the money, taking it in his clothes, Preacher scattering it about the ground, his going back to get the money, his death? Fairchild collecting the money and telling Preacher he would send it to Dooley’s wife?

8. Fiamma, the Italian women, surviving during the war, relationships with the men? Preacher falling in love with her, her response? Her not believing that love could be possible? The men coming in, her having to admit the truth, Preacher’s rejection of her?

9. The general background of the Americans in Italy, on leave, going into battle?

10. A small but significant war film of the 50s?