What a way to introduce Audie Murphy as Henry Fleming! What a way to individuate a mob of naive young men! Example from the end: Henry and his friend Tom, played by Bill Mauldin, are marching away from the battlefield, still alive, and a bit surprised. The camera slowly moves in towards the small crowd, not the speaker, but the backs of the listeners' heads, and one of the soldiers turns around towards the camera and steps quickly into a close up with an expression of deep self-doubt. Example from the beginning: a group of soldiers are gathered around a speaker who is spreading rumors about a coming battle, most of their backs turned to us. But he must have been interested in "The Red Badge of Courage," from beginning to end. When he was uninterested, Huston could do a merely pedestrian job. John Huston's direction is outstanding, while still being understated. I can't think of any other reasons, because this is a very good movie indeed. Well, I suppose it's in black and white, it's short, it has no expensive bankable stars, and no love interest. I can't understand why this movie isn't more well known or why it doesn't get more critical applause.
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