This is the second of two posts dedicated to The Fourth Golden Boy Blogathon: A William Holden Celebration! being held over at The Wonderful World of Cinema, The Flapper Dame and Love Letters to Old Hollywood.
Tnx Virginie, Emily and Michaela for letting me take part!
–
“Don’t those Krauts ever run outta ammo?” – Sgt. Smiley ‘Mac’ McFee
“Gee I hope they don’t. When they lift their fire it means they’re comin’ in.” – Sgt. Joe Peterson
Number of Times Seen – 1 (16 Apr 2019)
Brief Synopsis – During World War II, a gruff soldier and a female WAC on the front fall in love but can their love survive the conflict around them?
My Take on it – This is another William Holden film that I had never heard of before choosing to watch it for this blogathon.
The overall premise is one that has been done and redone so many times over the year and in many cases much more efficiently than they manage to do here.
This film suffers from a lack of believing that the story could actually take place like they present things.
Holden does a fine job in the lead as does Nancy Olson as his newfound love, but the chemistry between the two of them doesn’t make us believe that they are truly caught up in a whirlwind love affair in the midst of the war.
Another problem with Holden’s character is that he is meant to split his scenes among two very diverse and distinct personalities.
The tough soldier personality and the hopeless romantic persona don’t mess very well together in the same character and that also helps to make things feel less believable.
The film tries to split the screen time between two parts of the story; the war and battle aspects and the love affair aspects and things feel incomplete because there is a lack of balance between these two aspects.
Bottom Line – This isn’t such a powerful film because it tries to tackle a subject that has been redone so often and most times much more accurately and believable. Holden is fine in the lead, but it’s a bit hard to believe him as both the tough soldier on the front and the hopeless romantic when on leave because the personalities are too diverse. Holden and Olson have ok chemistry together but once again, it’s hard to believe their whirlwind love affair. Since the film tries to hold up both the battle aspects of the film along with the love story aspect, both feel incomplete and lacking which is quite a shame.
MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – The lapel insignia Lt. MacKay wears on her uniform is the head of the Greek goddess Pallas Athene, which represents Wisdom, Crafts and Victory – meant to symbolize the purpose of the WACs in WWII. (From IMDB)
Rating – BAFTA Worthy (5/10)
_______________________________________
Check out my *updated* movie stats here
To see my reviews of Oscar Winning Performances check out this link
To see my reviews of all Oscar Best Picture Winners click here (now complete)
Here is a link to my movie index A-Z
MovieRob 
Pingback: Day 1: 4th Wonderful William Holden Golden Boy Blogathon – The Flapper Dame
This one I have seen- and I have to agree with you- Its just not something that hooks you – despite the casting and premise- its forgettable. I always feel Bill is the actor who can give a performance of what you want- but is sometimes held back by a poor script and or director which seemed the case in this one. In fact in an attempt to gain an audience this film was re released under the title “A girl for Joe”- as you can guess It didn’t work.Thank you so much for taking the time to write not one but two entries for this blogathon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
U guys kept me limited to two. I woulda done more 😉 always a pleasure taking part even when some of the films are far from perfect
LikeLike
I would agree…as the sports guy, I would give this a “swing and a miss” rating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Strike!!!!!!!!
LikeLike
Hum too bad it wasn’t better! I love William Holden and Nancy Olson together in Sunset Boulevard and Union Station. Thanks a lot for this relevant review Rob and for your second participation to our blogathon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Temporal Top Ten – 1951 | MovieRob
In Force of Arms, directed by Michael Curtiz, I think William Holden gives a complete arc of character performance as Joe Peterson. He is in combat in Italy, doing his job, and he’s close to all the men in his unit and especially his major played by Frank Lovejoy. During a period of R & R, we hear Joe-Pete say he has no family, no special attachment, just a lone GI mightily trying to stay alive. He also is about to be cited for a battlefield commission to the rank of Lieutenant. This calls for a celebratory drink with the “Maj.”
Suddenly, while in a restaurant, one of his buddies complains and cries that his mail from home has dried up. To help out, Joe and his buddy decide to go to the Post where mail arrives for GI’s. Enter the Nancy Olson character who works at the Post. She’s a lieutenant he had recognized from the night before when he was blurry with exhaustion from fighting. Now, they banter, but he finally persuades her to go for a drink with him alone.
They talk; they hide from falling bombs together, clutching each other romantically. I think the viewer sees they belong together, however fleetingly, which would be OK for Joe, but not for Ellie McKay aka Olson. They part, both unfulfilled, yet Joe is thunderstruck by feelings he perhaps can’t or won’t recognize. He tells her he will save his fighting for the Germans.
Holden is so believable with this onslaught of new feelings for a serious woman in a setting that is so undeniably male AND deadly. His “new stance” as he returns to battle is now more complex. He wants to stay alive, makes efforts to be more careful because he cares for this new girl.
Finally, he is wounded, hospitalized, and Ellie is not notified. Finally, she finds him in hospital; he’s conflicted; did he cause her worry, and during their brief meeting, he asks her pointedly and heartbreakingly, “Are you still my girl?” Holden’s close-up here telegraphs every emotion a GI must have ever felt ….in war…in love…..faraway from home….with strains of “My Buddy” plaintively tinkling in background. A killer scene.
From competent and battle-worn soldier to the behavior of a young man suddenly filled with love for a woman nearby, now torn with thoughts that this love could jeopardize his constancy and concentration on the battlefield is amazing to watch.
I will not divulge the end here, but the film is all Holden, as he gives what must be a full-frenzied, realistic look at WWII combat with guilt, passion, pathos, and indecision, no longer just a killing machine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pat, we are kindred spirits. I LOVED Force of Arms. in fact, of all Bill Holden’s wonderful movies, this is my favorite. In it, he exhibits every feature that substantiates him as super star. Gorgeous looks, velvety voice, beautiful physique, awesome athleticism, and most important, an ability to elevate a less-than-perfect script to a memorable one through his intelligent and dramatic interpretation. Joe Peterson comes alive because of his natural and totally believable acting; Check out his jeep conversation with Olson when he drops her off at her barracks. Or his drunken chat about the meaning of love with the Major. Or his refusal to see Olson at the hospital. Holden is achingly realistic and vulnerable.
Yes, he is a conflicted soul, one who wants to prove himself capable in battle. But he also desires a loving relationship when he can find it. Is that unrealistic? I respectfully disagree with Rob’s contention that this “split personality” is a failing in the script, saying that it weakens the story. I liked this dichotomy.. War is often surreal. It induces absurd sctions and reactions..
The film is not merely a romance. It is about a harrowing hisotric event, the Luri Valley campaign centered on San Pietro.. The battle scenes root this story in reality. Joe’s experience could easily have been any other GI’s during World War II.
Thanks for giving me a chance to disagree with all of you.
LikeLike