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March 12, 2005
Bitter Victory
Bitter Victory (1957), Nicholas Ray:
I was wondering what Ray would do with a WWII drama, stripped of the gender play and that lush palette he seems to love so much. Of course, having Richard Burton is always good for some sparks.
Burton is an officer, alongside Chad Jurgens on a secret mission in the deserts of Libya. Jurgens happens also to be the husband of Burton's old flame. Their dynamic provides the driving force for an otherwise sloppy war film. Ray doesn't really have the requisite technician's touch to juggle the various war setpieces without get lost at times. Near the end, when it's just about the two leads, is when Ray gets into his element and things get interesting.
8/15
Posted by bing at March 12, 2005 08:41 PM