THE NAKED AND THE DEAD

US, 1958, 132 minutes, Colour.
Aldo Ray, Cliff Robertson, Raymond Massey, Richard Jaeckel, Jerry Paris, William Campbell, Joey Bishop, James Best, L.Q.Jones, Barbara Nichols.
Directed by Roland Walsh.

The Naked and the Dead is based on the celebrated World War II novel by Norman Mailer. Mailer continued to have a significant career in succeeding decades with novels, biographies and studies of important Americans like Marilyn Monroe.

The novels by James Jones, From Here to Eternity and The Thin Red Line, and their film versions, had made a great impact on the American reading public, giving them pictures of war which were both down-to-earth, in military behaviour and relationships in Honolulu before going into action as well as meditative reflections on the meaning of war. The Naked and the Dead is in this vein.

The cast was not as high profile as in From Here to Eternity. Aldo Ray had a solid film career and was impressive as the repellent Croft in this film, racist, vicious towards women, ruthless in his leading of men, executing of Japanese soldiers, jealous towards his leader. On the other hand, Cliff Robertson as the voice of reason was at the beginning of his career and was to win an Oscar 10 years later for Charley. The other central character, the obsessive general, is played by veteran Raymond Massey, Things to Come, portraying Lincoln in and starring in East of Eden with James Dean.

The group of soldiers was played by a number of solid American character actors.

Raoul Walsh had been making films since 1913, even with Pancho Villa. He had a long and successful career, mainly directing action pictures, many of them at Warner Brothers with such stars as Humphrey Bogart. This was to be one of his final films.

1. World War II film? A film of the 1950s? Close to the experiences shown?

2. The work of James Jones and Norman Mailer, novelists of the 50s, their novels, the movies made of their novels, the interest of the public? The perceptions of war? Questioning the reasons for war? The nature of warfare and authority?

3. Norman Mailer and his career, reputation, the status of his novel, the transfer to the screen, the criticisms of its inadequacy compared with the book?

4. A big production, widescreen? The cast, the veteran director, the Panama locations for the South Pacific? Bernard Herrmann’s score?

5. The title, the military?

6. The action sequences, compared with the sequences of this period? The soldiers, the boats, infantry, under fire, the taking of hills, assaults, the use of grenades, guns? Injuries and death?

7. The philosophical discussions? The general and the discussions of power, fear, exercise of power? Authority? Power in war? The reasons? the reflections on soldiers, their service, patriotism, giving their lives? Power and the obsessive behaviour of both Croft and the general?

8. The introduction, Honolulu, the club, the soldiers, the strippers, the MPs, relationships between the soldiers and the locals?

9. The introduction to Croft, tough, in the bar, hitting the women, spitting the drink in the face of the bartender, with his men? Indication of things to come? His prejudices? The new men? Demanding that they stand to talk with him? The flashback, his relationship with the woman, her infidelity, his anger and motivation?

10. The introduction of the Jewish characters, the expressions of anti-Semitism? Later on the hill and the anti-Semitic taunt?

11. The general, as a character, the briefings, order in his room, a career military man, his strategies, admiration for the enemy and strategies? Choosing Robert as his aide, his intentions, the discussions, treatment of him, and being demanding? Wanting everything cleaned? The flowers on his desk? The issue of the cigarette butt on the floor? His speeches? His phone demands, sending Robert on the mission as punishment, the meeting, his strategy, being proven wrong? His return, the attack on his official and the initiative? The breakthrough? Talking with the wounded Robert, Robert and the discussions about power, and still disagreeing with the general?

12. Robert, military career, his father, as the general’s aide, with the men, getting the documents from the dead Japanese from Croft? Croft wanting some kind of repayment and his refusal? With the general, the arguments, his different stances on power and fear? Going on the mission, command, Croft not liking it, the attack, his being wounded, carried, wanting water, saved, his gratitude?

13. Croft, the mission, his courage, leadership, being friendly to the captured Japanese, the photo of the family, the cigarette and then killing him? Getting gold from the Japanese dead and their teeth? Orders? Gallagher and his challenging him? Going on the mission, his motivation, the anti-Semitic taunt and the soldier falling? Martinez, the deceit about the Japanese presence? climbing? Indicating that Robert should die? His going out to the field, with all the Japanese, his death?

14. The range of men, Wilson in Honolulu, Gallagher and his newborn son, Red and his defiance of Croft, the Jewish soldiers, carrying Robert back, the Baptist minister and talk of God?

15. A war film of the 1950s – how does it stand up in retrospect?