As "The Cold War" begins, Soviet Russians attempt to blockade the divided, isolated German city of Berlin; Montgomery Clift (as Sgt. Danny MacCullough ) and Paul Douglas (as Sgt. Henry "Hank" Kowalski ) are among those flown in to assist, by airlifting into the beleaguered city. Most of the Germans are grateful for the assistance, of course; and, there are German women, like British-accented Cornell Borchers (as Frederica) and Bruni Lobel (as Gerda) who are able to catch a soldier's eye
The documentary-style location scenes of Berlin are starkly realistic; especially, after Clift and Douglas hit ground in Berlin. There, an actual story begins to take shape -- with bigotry, romance, and democracy featured. However, the story's arrival is too little, too late. While not mesmerizing, the performances are uniformly well directed, and delivered. Clift, Douglas, and the others do not disappoint, but the slow-moving film does... big time.
*** The Big Lift (1950) George Seaton ~ Montgomery Clift, Paul Douglas, Cornell Borchers
The documentary-style location scenes of Berlin are starkly realistic; especially, after Clift and Douglas hit ground in Berlin. There, an actual story begins to take shape -- with bigotry, romance, and democracy featured. However, the story's arrival is too little, too late. While not mesmerizing, the performances are uniformly well directed, and delivered. Clift, Douglas, and the others do not disappoint, but the slow-moving film does... big time.
*** The Big Lift (1950) George Seaton ~ Montgomery Clift, Paul Douglas, Cornell Borchers