The Naked and the Dead

Norman Mailer's 1948 epic debut novel, inspired by his experiences as a Marine in the Pacific theater in World War II, was severely truncated for its 1958 screen adaptation. Aldo Ray stars as brutal, bigoted Sgt. Sam Croft, a career soldier and platoon leader; Raymond Massey is Gen. Cummings, a commander who prefers to be feared and hated than loved and respected by his men and thinks nothing of sacrificing troops; and then-rising star Cliff Robertson is Lt. Robert Hearn, a former playboy and son of a powerful industrialist who defies the general and is assigned to lead Croft's platoon on a dangerous mission—despite his lack of experience—as punishment. Along with battle action as the American forces retake islands from the Japanese in the South Pacific, the film looks at issues of leadership, loyalty, and how battle can harden men to the point of cruelty. Director Raoul Walsh also directed 1955’s Battle Cry, another WWII platoon movie set in the Pacific theater, but The Naked and the Dead features a harder edge in its portrait of men turned ruthless and heartless under pressure, and in its depiction of how soldiers are sacrificed to further careers or satisfy the egos of those in command. Familiar character actors William Campbell, Richard Jaeckel, James Best, and L.Q. Jones costar as members of the platoon along with comic Joey Bishop, and striptease artist Lili St. Cyr has prominent billing for a small role in the opening scenes with the men on leave in Honolulu. Making its Blu-ray debut, this is recommended. (S. Axmaker)