ATTACK!

New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 952, 8 November 1957, Page 21

ATTACK!

(United Artists-Associates and Aldrich) | 3 A Cert. OST war films have heroism as a central theme, and however realistic the battle sequences heroism rather than horror is what we are meant to remember. Attack! is different-a film brave enough to suggest that even in wartime ambitious men may abuse their power. Set in Europe in 1944, this is the story of an American unit whose captain, a coward, is allowed to throw away the lives of his men because it suits the post-war political ambitions of his colonel to leave him in command, Mrs Luce, I seem to remember, walked out when Attack! was shown at Venice, though it is not so much about bad Americans as about human weakness and the horror of war. The main battle sequences are concerned with two attacks by a squad led by Lieutenant Costa (Jack Palance), to which the captain (Eddie Albert) hasn’t the courage to give promised support. Both are well done, and indeed direction (Robert Aldrich) and: photography (Joseph Biroc) are always impressive. Matching the battle sequences are scenes in which the colonel and ‘the captain reveal their’ characters. The colonel, played by Lee Marvin with a cool and wholly convincing insensitivity, is of course the real villain, and the film could have spared a little compassion for the captain-especially ‘since it. makes some attempt to explain his character. Jack Palance gives a disturbing performance as a man at ‘the end of his -tether, and William Smithers gives solid support. In spite of some relatively minor faults, then, including a tendency to over-emphasis in. places, Attack! is an event: a war film which doesn’t sell out. -_-_