Darby's Rangers (1958)

Actors: Reginald Owen (actor), John McKee (actor), Raymond Bailey (actor), Thomas Browne Henry (actor), Murray Hamilton (actor), Murray Hamilton (actor), William Hudson (actor), Corey Allen (actor), Willis Bouchey (actor), Francis De Sales (actor), Peter Brown (actor), James Garner (actor), Peter Brown (actor), Frank Gifford (actor), Mike Ragan (actor),

Plot: Highly fictionalized account of the formation of the US Army's First Ranger Battalion in World War II and their first commanding officer Major (later, Lieutenant-Colonel) Orlando Darby. The idea was to create a US unit along the lines of the British commandos. In this account, which focuses on several fictional characters, the story is initially on their training in Scotland and the lives and loves their encounter while there. Their first combat mission was in the invasion of North Africa in 1942, followed by the invasion of Sicily and then Italy itself, including the amphibious landing at Anzio.

Keywords: american, american-abroad, american-soldier, army-ranger, backpack, beach, bell-tower, boarder, bus, bus-conductor
Genres: Action, Drama, War,
Taglines: Nothing Like It Since "Battle Cry"! The First Big Story of the American Commandos! the big "Battle Cry" story of the American Commandos! The picture that gets closer to a fighting man than any picture before - They trained 'em to be killers and then turned them loose in hell! "MAVERICK" himself - in his first starring big-screen role!

Quotes:

MSgt. Saul Rosen: [Screen shows Ranger recruits in rigorous training, some of whom have dropped from exhaustion while running] As long as I live, I'll never forget Manson's favorite expression...::Lt. Dave Manson, British Training Officer: Get off your bloody knees, Yanks!

Col. William Orlando Darby: [Having a heart-to-heart talk with a somewhat distraught Ranger, who has just killed his first enemy soldier in combat] I've killed men, too. It won't be the last for either of us.::Pvt. Rollo Burns: Uh, sir, well, I was brought up to believe that a man's life was sacred, and that only God had the right to take it.::Col. William Orlando Darby: I believe that... Unless he's trying to kill you first.::Pvt. Rollo Burns: Well, I'll get over it, I guess.::Col. William Orlando Darby: Of course you will... Burns, look. We didn't make this world, so we can't account for the kind of men that are in it. All we can do as soldiers is try and repair it, so it can be lived in again. Unfortunately, that means killing.

Pvt. Rollo Burns: You know, I think war is a big stink.::Col. William Orlando Darby: A BIG stink!... There never was a good war - or an intelligent or kind one.::Col. William Orlando Darby: [Starts to get up] Rollo, we'll be haunted by the men we've killed as long as we live. When you've married Peggy, and you've looked in the faces of your children, you'll understand why it had to be done.::Pvt. Rollo Burns: Uh, sir? Thank you... for taking the time to talk to me.::Col. William Orlando Darby: [pauses at the door, faint smile on his face] I was talkin' to myself, too.

MSgt. Saul Rosen: [Rangers are creeping through enemy territory, in a very thick ground fog] This was the low, clinging kind of fog I used to see when I was hunting duck out on Long Island... Now I know how the duck felt.

The McConnell Story (1955)

Actors: Donald Kerr (actor), Olin Howland (actor), John Alvin (actor), William Hudson (actor), Sam Harris (actor), Harry Harvey Jr. (actor), Frank Gerstle (actor), Willis Bouchey (actor), Brad Harris (actor), Dabbs Greer (actor), Sam Edwards (actor), Murray Alper (actor), Frank Faylen (actor), Frank Ferguson (actor), Alan Ladd (actor),

Plot: Mac's plans to settle down and raise a family are upset by the Korean War. He goes as a fighter pilot and returns a hero, the first triple ace of the war. His neighbors have built a home for Mac and his devoted wife and their three children. Now he has an offer to test pilot new Sabre Jets. His wife is uneasy but knows she cannot ground her man.

Keywords: aerial-combat, air-force, air-force-base, airplane-accident, airplane-crash, archival-footage, assaulting-an-officer, awol, baby, best-friend
Genres: Drama,

Quotes:

Capt. Joseph C.'Mac' McConnell, Jr.: I think I'm going to call you 'Butch'::Pearl 'Butch' Brown: Why?::Capt. Joseph C.'Mac' McConnell, Jr.: Because when I look at you, you cut me into pieces.