Firstly, I enjoyed this film which, despite all the star names, is somewhat forgotten.
However, IMO there are too many stars and as a result the film is somewhat disjointed. There are too many sub-stories and as a result it turns out more like a mini soap/melodrama.
Wayne carries this film. His presence is really the only "glue" that holds the film together. Considering all the other star names involved this is quite a feat and demonstrates what made Wayne the star that he was.
I also think In Harms Way suffered from being made at the wrong time. WW2 films made either during the war or in the years soon after generally had a gritty realism borne out of memories still being very fresh. This realism resurfaced years later in films such as Saving Private Ryan and Thin Red Line, but for much of the intervening period this realism was lost and the 60's was a prime period for that. There were very enjoyable WW2 films made in that period such as Great Escape and Von Ryans Express, but these were generally as much rollicking good adventure films as much as war films.
I don't think In Harms Way has either the gritty realism or adventurism and it therefore suffers as a result. Trying to incorporate so many stars also makes it longer than it needed to be. I enjoyed the film, but it could and should have been better.
However, IMO there are too many stars and as a result the film is somewhat disjointed. There are too many sub-stories and as a result it turns out more like a mini soap/melodrama.
Wayne carries this film. His presence is really the only "glue" that holds the film together. Considering all the other star names involved this is quite a feat and demonstrates what made Wayne the star that he was.
I also think In Harms Way suffered from being made at the wrong time. WW2 films made either during the war or in the years soon after generally had a gritty realism borne out of memories still being very fresh. This realism resurfaced years later in films such as Saving Private Ryan and Thin Red Line, but for much of the intervening period this realism was lost and the 60's was a prime period for that. There were very enjoyable WW2 films made in that period such as Great Escape and Von Ryans Express, but these were generally as much rollicking good adventure films as much as war films.
I don't think In Harms Way has either the gritty realism or adventurism and it therefore suffers as a result. Trying to incorporate so many stars also makes it longer than it needed to be. I enjoyed the film, but it could and should have been better.