The Brylcreem Boys

A film as bad as its title suggests, this far-fetched WWII drama cum love story is purportedly based on actual events. In 1941, neutral Ireland agreed to intern any soldier, Allied or German, captured on their soil. In the film, sworn enemies are placed in the same country-club of a P.O.W. camp, where no stringent wartime rules apply. Those interned are free to come and go, drink pints of Guinness, and fall in love with local stable girls. Allied pilot Miles Keogh (Bill Campbell of The Rocketeer) and Rudolph van Stegenbeck (Angus MacFayden of Braveheart) are two soldiers from opposite sides of the barbed-wire fence who vie for the same fiesty redhead. Gabriel Byrne has a minor role as the Irish camp's commandant. None of the performances are particularly noteworthy, except perhaps, the vigorous and impressive Irish jig by first-time actress and Riverdance star Jean Butler. While the occasional sweeping scenery of the verdant Irish countryside is a delight, this is really nothing more than pretty boys in period regalia mooning at the camera. Not recommended. (A. Glover)