Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1956)

tff btitihctich I 'The Rack" Scautet* Rati*? GOO Plus Istinguished drama of a collaborationist POW in the >rean War is thoughtful, powerful, deeply moving. Will aw strong word-of-mouth promising top returns in class uafions. good in general market. | Here is a powerful drama, a surprise package from -G-M that will generate a full head of enthusiastic word-mouth steam and roll on to strong boxoffice returns in 1 stops. "The Rack" is a striking example of what a ovie studio can do with a TV story. In this reviewer's jinion, Rod Serling's television drama of a POW collabotionist was only so-so, a slick, but rather skimpy effort to ;al with a deep subject. By expanding, exploring and ipplying additional emotional content, Metro has transirmed it into a superb motion picture. Now it is not slick id skimpy, but searching, eloquent and deeply moving, he film's appeal is on both the intellectual and human vels. Essentially a drama of ideas — What are the limits f man's resistance to punishment? Can a man be good id still make a wrong decision? — it explores them in owerful emotional terms through the words and acts of elievable and affecting characters. The impact will be :lt by every type of audience. Stewart Stern's adaptation of Serling's TV play probes lto the most fundamental human issue — not just the queson of a soldier's loyalty to his country, but of the relation etween the military and the civilian, between father and on, and the nature of man's conscience. But, aside from lese rather lofty investigations, the film plays as a tense. Korean veteran Newman is morose and silent at his welcome home party, while his sister-in-law. Anne Francis, looks on. exciting and absorbing courtroom melodrama. It is by no means limited in appeal to the class situations. As the court-martialed officer, Paul Newman gives a performance that definitely projects him into stardom. There are a host of other impressive readings, particularly by Wendell Corey, as the prosecutor, and Anne Francis, as Newman's sister-in-law (her own husband is ironically killed in the war). Edmond O'Brien, as counsel for the defense, and Walter Pidgeon, as the father, bring sensitive understanding to their parts. And the Arthur M. Loew, Jr., black-and-white production is out of the top drawer. Arnold Laven's direction is expert in developing suspense for the disturbing climax, and is remarkably well-paced. The story opens with Captain Newman returning from the Korean War, wounded, to be met by his father, Colonel Pidgeon, a professional soldier, and widowed sister-in-law Anne Francis. Newman is told by Wendell Corey that a trial is to be initiated on charges of his collaboration with the enemy and that Corey will prosecute. When the family learns this, Pidgeon furiously turns on his son, forcing him to leave their home, though Francis stands by him. At the trial, with O'Brien defending, this explanation is uncovered: after protracted isolation, and in a fit of loneliness, Newman had signed certain papers, after his captors had discovered his soft spot — the loneliness and emotional aloofness of his own family relations. Pidgeon finally breaks down in a moving scene with Newman. However, on the last day of the trial, Corey makes Newman admit that he could have held out for "another minute", and that the day of his mother's death (when he was a child) and not the day of his capitulation, was the "loneliest day of his life". The court's decision is "guilty". ■ ■•4 11 Yes, I sold my soul!" . . . I'aul Newman shrieks at his stunned father. If alter I'id^eim. MGM. 100 minutes. Paul Newman, Wendell Corey, Walter Pidgeon, Edmond O'Brien, Anne Francis, Lee Marvin, Cloris Leachman, Robert Burton, Robert Simon Trevor Bardette, Adam Williams, James Best, Fay Roope, Barry Atwater. Directed by Arnold Laven. Produced by Arthur M. Loew, Jr. Screenplay by Stewart Stern. Based on the teleplay by Rod Serllng. Director of photography, Paul C. Vogel. Assistant director, Robert Saunders. Music by Adolph Deutsch. [More REVIEWS on Pag© 12] Film BULLETIN April 16, 1956 Page 9