The Young Lions (1958)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Christian Diestl	Marlon Brando	½
Noah Ackerman	Montgomery Clift	½
Michael Whitacre	Dean Martin	½
Hope Plowman	Hope Lange
Margaret Freemantle	Barbara Rush
Gretchen Hardenberg	May Britt
Capt. Hardenberg	Maximilian Schell
Sgt. Rickett	Lee Van Cleef

Review

Edward Dmytryk's drama about love and ethics during WWII is overproduced and episodic, but has harrowing sequences and great characterizations. Marlon Brando stars as German idealist turned nazi-officer, and much of the film's strength lies in Brando's powerful performance as his character transforms throughout the film. There is also strength in Montgomery Clift's character. Clift is brilliantly frail in the romantic scenes and shows real sensitivity as the film progresses, but in the end the film is a bit too wise. Its political conception is somewhat naïve and simplified, and as it goes along, Dmytryk makes things look a bit too tidy. The Young Lions is at its best in a few dramatic scenes portraying human relations: The scenes with Brando and Britt are particularly brilliant. Unfortunately, Brando's character has a lot of potential that is left unexplored and the climax is disappointing.