278:. She introduces his friend Alan to her roommate Kalai, a nurse of Hawaiian-French heritage. Kalai and Alan quickly become attracted to each other. Kalai tells Alan that her parents were killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. They all go to Lorraine's apartment, where Frankie first passes out, then wakes up screaming at the thought of returning to the war. Lorraine decides to leave him. Kalai and Alan later profess their love to each other. She later sees him off, while cursing the war for taking another loved one from her.
473:, Sahl said he wrote 16 pages of dialogue for his character and the other Marines but most of the material was edited from the final print. Director Phillip Dunne asked the producer Jerry Wald why Sahl's name was not on the posters or advertisements. Wald responded that he was told that there was nothing in Sahl's contract that required him to receive any billing. Wald signed Sahl on to a personal contract with the intention of casting him as a
286:
and when a wounded
Japanese soldier calls out to him for help, he tries to give the Japanese soldier some water but Nico shoots the wounded soldier and reveals to Alan and the other marines that a grenade was hidden under the wounded soldier as a trap. Alan then begins to question the futility of the
270:
Alan and
Frankie later meet up at an elite hotel where Alan's family has a permanent suite. There they find the newlywed Nico and Andrea. After finding out that the newlyweds had hoped to spend their wedding night at the hotel, but found that it was booked, Alan gives them the key to the suite, much
294:
The war ends and Alan returns and becomes a professor at the local university, with his father's blessing, and happily reunites with Kalai. Frankie, now promoted to sergeant, brings Nico's last love letter home to Andrea and their son who is now a young boy. Andrea tells
Frankie, who has decided to
290:
Back home, Andrea gives birth a baby boy and raises him with the help of both her and Nico's family. Kalai continues to work at the hospital where she learns that Sue was admitted after she tried to commit suicide after being assaulted by one of her lovers. Kalai visits her in an attempt to provide
266:
Nico proposes and marries his pregnant girlfriend Andrea. A drunken
Frankie fights with Charlie Stanton, his hateful stepfather, who thinks him a coward. The wealthy Alan catches his fiancée, Sue, with another man. After realizing Sue has repeatedly cheated on him, Alan ends the engagement, despite
287:
war. When an advancing enemy tank threatens the platoon, Nico singlehandedly blows up the tank, but dies from his wounds. Frankie, Alan, and the rest of the group are devastated, but
Frankie, having greatly changed thanks to Nico, steps into Nico's role and leads the remaining soldiers forward.
281:
The three men return to the
Pacific front. Frankie initially shows cowardice and Nico slaps some sense into him. Later, Frankie saves Alan and is honored for his heroism. He later sends the medal and the letter of recognition home where his mom stands up to his stepfather and tells him to never
291:
comfort, but Sue dies of shock from severe alcohol withdrawal. Kalai later visits Alan's father to ask for a way to contact him. At first wary of her, he softens when he realizes that she truly cares for his son, and Kalai is able to get him to accept his son for who he is.
29:
263:; the second, Frankie, is a perennial goof-off, who drinks too much; and the third, Alan, is an intellectual from a wealthy family. He has joined the Marines, despite his father's protests.
1117:
1147:
1172:
1137:
1132:
1127:
1122:
813:
1162:
942:
843:
1102:
256:
1097:
466:
Filming started in June 1958. Dunne says filming started with "half a script" and he had to do writing on location in the
Pacific.
1107:
1112:
500:
555:
Please note figures are for US and Canada only and are domestic rentals accruing to distributors as opposed to theatre gross
1167:
479:
785:
546:
967:
991:
1157:
1142:
1061:
867:
806:
1152:
935:
899:
463:
Bradford
Dillman and Robert Wagner were cast in April 1958. Jeff Hunter and France Nuyen were cast in June.
433:
421:
1069:
1015:
397:
565:
907:
823:
799:
773:
244:
230:
42:
983:
710:
1007:
928:
1023:
259:
on shore leave in San
Francisco during World War II. One of the men, Nico, is a seasoned, decorated
1092:
891:
427:
382:
715:
835:
751:
570:
28:
491:
The film had its premiere in San Diego on
October 28, 1958 and then opened in 600 theaters.
328:
260:
188:
137:
859:
453:
403:
355:
127:
419:
in March 1957. It was one of a number of war novels bought by Fox at the time, including
316:
99:
271:
to Frankie's protest, and has the staff charge all expenses to his family's account.
1086:
999:
778:
304:
91:
52:
391:
340:
334:
283:
226:
222:
791:
975:
952:
851:
728:
669:
615:
600:
585:
457:
310:
240:
235:
218:
95:
71:
63:
883:
449:
373:
322:
81:
767:
361:
346:
109:
762:
756:
745:
920:
474:
274:
Lorraine, who is in love with Frankie, has joined the military as a
566:"Anton Myrer; Author of 'Once an Eagle' and 'The Last Convertible'"
275:
614:
By THOMAS M PRYOR Special to The New York Times. (1958, May 02).
599:
By THOMAS M PRYOR Special to The New York Times. (1957, May 27).
584:
By THOMAS M PRYOR Special to The New York Times. (1957, Mar 21).
415:
Jerry Wald, who had a deal with Fox, bought the screen rights to
924:
795:
629:"Movie, 'The Big War,' Is Given a New Title" Hopper, Hedda.
698:
Last Man Standing: Mort Sahl and the Birth of Modern Comedy
295:
stay in the Marines that she would like to see him again.
642:"Dillman and Wagner Will Join 'Big War'" Hopper, Hedda.
534:
Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History
521:
Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History
1053:
1034:
959:
202:
194:
184:
176:
166:
143:
133:
123:
115:
105:
87:
77:
58:
48:
38:
21:
282:disrespect Frankie again. Alan becomes ill with
243:. Myrer was a former Marine wounded during the
936:
807:
8:
1118:Films about the United States Marine Corps
943:
929:
921:
814:
800:
792:
27:
18:
655:"FILM EVENTS: Hunter, Nuyen in War Film"
1148:Films with screenplays by Edward Anhalt
512:
255:The film traces the progress of three
7:
700:University Press of Mississippi 2017
586:"TERRIER IS SIGNED TO FILM CONTRACT"
685:Screenwriter: Words Become Pictures
601:"JERRY WALD BUYS MYRER'S 'BIG WAR'"
440:At one stage the film was known as
14:
616:"CECELIA PARKER IN 'HARDY' MOVIE"
1173:English-language war drama films
233:. It is based on the 1957 novel
1138:Films scored by Hugo Friedhofer
992:The Intruder: A Novel of Boston
719:. September 24, 1958. p. 4
388:Brian Corcoran as Bobby O'Neill
307:as Pvt. Frank "Frankie" O'Neill
1133:Films directed by Philip Dunne
1128:Films based on military novels
1123:Films based on American novels
501:List of American films of 1958
1:
673:The Christian Science Monitor
670:"Wald to make film in Boston"
553:. 7 January 1959. p. 48.
471:1960 or Look Forward In Anger
1163:1950s English-language films
786:AFI Catalog of Feature Films
536:, Scarecrow Press, 1989 p227
523:, Scarecrow Press, 1989 p251
379:Mary Patton as Grace Scanlon
1103:American World War II films
844:The View from Pompey's Head
352:Steven Gant as Babe Ricardo
1189:
668:By, N. E. (1958, May 07).
319:as Plt Sgt. Nico Kantaylis
206:$ 2.5 million (US rentals)
152:October 28, 1958
830:
33:Theatrical release poster
26:
16:1958 film by Philip Dunne
1098:American war drama films
367:Joe Di Reda as Capistron
1108:20th Century Fox films
747:In Love and War (1958)
547:"Top Grossers of 1958"
480:The Best of Everything
1113:1950s war drama films
631:Chicago Daily Tribune
245:Second Battle of Guam
1168:1950s American films
1070:The Last Convertible
1016:The Last Convertible
469:On his comedy album
444:before being titled
364:as Father Wallensack
331:as PFC Alan Newcombe
892:Wild in the Country
868:Ten North Frederick
460:to play the leads.
383:Veronica Cartwright
370:Buck Class as Derek
217:is a 1958 American
968:Evil Under the Sun
822:Films directed by
774:TCM Movie Database
574:. 26 January 1996.
406:as Sue's Boyfriend
394:as Lt. Col. Herron
376:as Charlie Scanlon
1158:CinemaScope films
1143:Pacific War films
1080:
1079:
984:The Violent Shore
918:
917:
836:Prince of Players
711:"B.O. Blitzkrieg"
659:10 June 1958: B6.
657:Los Angeles Times
644:Los Angeles Times
571:Los Angeles Times
358:as Amory Newcombe
325:as Andrea Lenaine
210:
209:
1180:
1153:1958 drama films
1035:Film adaptations
945:
938:
931:
922:
816:
809:
802:
793:
733:
732:
726:
724:
707:
701:
694:
688:
681:
675:
666:
660:
653:
647:
640:
634:
627:
621:
612:
606:
597:
591:
582:
576:
575:
562:
556:
554:
543:
537:
532:Aubrey Solomon,
530:
524:
519:Aubrey Solomon,
517:
385:as Allie O'Neill
349:as Danny Krieger
343:as Kalai Ducanne
329:Bradford Dillman
261:platoon sergeant
159:
157:
138:20th Century Fox
119:William Reynolds
31:
19:
1188:
1187:
1183:
1182:
1181:
1179:
1178:
1177:
1083:
1082:
1081:
1076:
1049:
1043:In Love and War
1030:
1008:The Tiger Waits
955:
949:
919:
914:
876:In Love and War
860:Three Brave Men
826:
820:
780:In Love and War
769:In Love and War
758:In Love and War
742:
737:
736:
722:
720:
709:
708:
704:
695:
691:
682:
678:
667:
663:
654:
650:
646:1 Apr 1958: C8.
641:
637:
633:20 Feb 1958: a8
628:
624:
613:
609:
598:
594:
583:
579:
564:
563:
559:
545:
544:
540:
531:
527:
518:
514:
509:
497:
489:
454:Richard Widmark
446:In Love and War
434:The Enemy Below
422:The Young Lions
413:
404:James Philbrook
356:Harvey Stephens
313:as Sue Trumbell
301:
253:
214:In Love and War
169:
162:
155:
153:
146:
128:Hugo Friedhofer
98:
94:
69:
67:
34:
22:In Love and War
17:
12:
11:
5:
1186:
1184:
1176:
1175:
1170:
1165:
1160:
1155:
1150:
1145:
1140:
1135:
1130:
1125:
1120:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1085:
1084:
1078:
1077:
1075:
1074:
1066:
1057:
1055:
1051:
1050:
1048:
1047:
1038:
1036:
1032:
1031:
1029:
1028:
1024:A Green Desire
1020:
1012:
1004:
996:
988:
980:
972:
963:
961:
957:
956:
950:
948:
947:
940:
933:
925:
916:
915:
913:
912:
904:
896:
888:
880:
872:
864:
856:
848:
840:
831:
828:
827:
821:
819:
818:
811:
804:
796:
790:
789:
788:
776:
765:
754:
741:
740:External links
738:
735:
734:
702:
696:Curtis, James
689:
676:
661:
648:
635:
622:
619:New York Times
607:
604:New York Times
592:
589:New York Times
577:
557:
538:
525:
511:
510:
508:
505:
504:
503:
496:
493:
488:
485:
448:. Wald wanted
412:
409:
408:
407:
401:
398:Ray Montgomery
395:
389:
386:
380:
377:
371:
368:
365:
359:
353:
350:
344:
338:
332:
326:
320:
317:Jeffrey Hunter
314:
308:
300:
297:
267:Sue's pleas.
252:
249:
229:, directed by
208:
207:
204:
200:
199:
198:$ 1.59 million
196:
192:
191:
186:
182:
181:
178:
174:
173:
170:
167:
164:
163:
161:
160:
149:
147:
144:
141:
140:
135:
134:Distributed by
131:
130:
125:
121:
120:
117:
113:
112:
107:
106:Cinematography
103:
102:
100:Jeffrey Hunter
89:
85:
84:
79:
75:
74:
60:
56:
55:
50:
46:
45:
40:
36:
35:
32:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1185:
1174:
1171:
1169:
1166:
1164:
1161:
1159:
1156:
1154:
1151:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1141:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1119:
1116:
1114:
1111:
1109:
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1090:
1088:
1072:
1071:
1067:
1064:
1063:
1062:Once An Eagle
1059:
1058:
1056:
1052:
1045:
1044:
1040:
1039:
1037:
1033:
1026:
1025:
1021:
1018:
1017:
1013:
1010:
1009:
1005:
1002:
1001:
1000:Once an Eagle
997:
994:
993:
989:
986:
985:
981:
978:
977:
973:
970:
969:
965:
964:
962:
958:
954:
946:
941:
939:
934:
932:
927:
926:
923:
910:
909:
905:
902:
901:
900:The Inspector
897:
894:
893:
889:
886:
885:
881:
878:
877:
873:
870:
869:
865:
862:
861:
857:
854:
853:
849:
846:
845:
841:
838:
837:
833:
832:
829:
825:
817:
812:
810:
805:
803:
798:
797:
794:
787:
784:
782:
781:
777:
775:
771:
770:
766:
764:
760:
759:
755:
753:
749:
748:
744:
743:
739:
730:
718:
717:
712:
706:
703:
699:
693:
690:
686:
680:
677:
674:
671:
665:
662:
658:
652:
649:
645:
639:
636:
632:
626:
623:
620:
617:
611:
608:
605:
602:
596:
593:
590:
587:
581:
578:
573:
572:
567:
561:
558:
552:
548:
542:
539:
535:
529:
526:
522:
516:
513:
506:
502:
499:
498:
494:
492:
486:
484:
482:
481:
476:
472:
467:
464:
461:
459:
455:
451:
447:
443:
438:
436:
435:
430:
429:
424:
423:
418:
410:
405:
402:
400:as Lieutenant
399:
396:
393:
390:
387:
384:
381:
378:
375:
372:
369:
366:
363:
360:
357:
354:
351:
348:
345:
342:
339:
336:
333:
330:
327:
324:
321:
318:
315:
312:
309:
306:
305:Robert Wagner
303:
302:
298:
296:
292:
288:
285:
279:
277:
272:
268:
264:
262:
258:
250:
248:
246:
242:
238:
237:
232:
228:
224:
220:
216:
215:
205:
201:
197:
193:
190:
187:
183:
180:United States
179:
175:
171:
165:
151:
150:
148:
142:
139:
136:
132:
129:
126:
122:
118:
114:
111:
108:
104:
101:
97:
93:
92:Robert Wagner
90:
86:
83:
80:
76:
73:
66:
65:
61:
57:
54:
53:Edward Anhalt
51:
47:
44:
41:
37:
30:
25:
20:
1068:
1060:
1042:
1041:
1022:
1014:
1006:
998:
990:
982:
974:
966:
906:
898:
890:
882:
875:
874:
866:
858:
850:
842:
834:
824:Philip Dunne
779:
768:
757:
746:
727:– via
721:. Retrieved
714:
705:
697:
692:
687:, 1987 p 109
684:
683:Lee Server,
679:
672:
664:
656:
651:
643:
638:
630:
625:
618:
610:
603:
595:
588:
580:
569:
560:
550:
541:
533:
528:
520:
515:
490:
478:
470:
468:
465:
462:
445:
442:Hell Raisers
441:
439:
432:
426:
420:
416:
414:
392:Nelson Leigh
341:France Nuyen
335:Sheree North
293:
289:
284:dengue fever
280:
273:
269:
265:
254:
234:
231:Philip Dunne
227:World War II
225:film set in
223:DeLuxe Color
213:
212:
211:
168:Running time
145:Release date
62:
43:Philip Dunne
976:The Big War
953:Anton Myrer
852:Hilda Crane
729:Archive.org
458:Ben Gazzara
428:The Hunters
417:The Big War
337:as Lorraine
311:Dana Wynter
241:Anton Myrer
236:The Big War
219:CinemaScope
172:111 minutes
96:Dana Wynter
78:Produced by
72:Anton Myrer
64:The Big War
39:Directed by
1093:1958 films
1087:Categories
884:Blue Denim
507:References
450:Lee Remick
411:Production
374:Murvyn Vye
323:Hope Lange
203:Box office
156:1958-10-28
82:Jerry Wald
68:1957 novel
49:Written by
1054:TV series
951:Works by
908:Blindfold
362:Paul Comi
347:Mort Sahl
247:in 1944.
116:Edited by
110:Leo Tover
763:AllMovie
495:See also
185:Language
124:Music by
88:Starring
59:Based on
783:at the
772:at the
716:Variety
551:Variety
487:Release
483:(1959)
475:beatnik
257:Marines
189:English
177:Country
154: (
1073:(1979)
1065:(1976)
1046:(1958)
1027:(1981)
1019:(1978)
1011:(1973)
1003:(1968)
995:(1965)
987:(1962)
979:(1957)
971:(1951)
960:Novels
911:(1966)
903:(1962)
895:(1961)
887:(1959)
879:(1958)
871:(1958)
863:(1956)
855:(1956)
847:(1955)
839:(1955)
723:May 8,
195:Budget
752:IMDb
725:2023
456:and
431:and
299:Cast
276:WAVE
251:Plot
221:and
761:at
750:at
477:in
239:by
70:by
1089::
713:.
568:.
549:.
452:,
437:.
425:,
944:e
937:t
930:v
815:e
808:t
801:v
731:.
158:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
