Red_Ball_Express_(film) Knowpia

Red Ball Express
Red Ball Express
Directed by	Budd Boetticher
Screenplay by	John Michael Hayes
Story by	Marcy Klauber; (as Marcel Klauber); William Grady Jr.; (as Billy Grady Jr.)
Produced by	Aaron Rosenberg
Starring	Jeff Chandler; Alex Nicol
Cinematography	Maury Gertsman
Edited by	Edward Curtiss
Color process	Black and white
Production; company	Universal Pictures
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release dates	May 24, 1952 (Los Angeles); May 29, 1952 (New York City); July 4, 1952 (United States);
Running time	83 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$1.5 million (US rentals)

Red Ball Express is a 1952 American World War II war film directed by Budd Boetticher and starring Jeff Chandler and Alex Nicol, featuring early screen appearances by Sidney Poitier and Hugh O'Brian. The film is based on the Red Ball Express convoys that took place after the D-Day landings in Normandy in June 1944.^[2]

Plot edit

In August 1944, Patton's Third Army has advanced so far following the D-Day invasion toward Paris that it cannot be supplied. To maintain the momentum, Allied headquarters establishes an elite military truck route. One racially integrated platoon of this Red Ball Express encounters private enmities, German resistance, minefields and increasingly perilous missions.

Lt. Chick Campbell, head of the platoon, clashes with Sgt. Red Kallek over an incident that occurred when they were civilian truck drivers that resulted in Kallek's brother's death.

Cast edit

Jeff Chandler as Lieutenant Chick Campbell
Alex Nicol as Sergeant "Red" Kallek
Charles Drake as Private Ronald Partridge / The Narrator
Judith Braun as Joyce McClellan
Sidney Poitier as Corporal Andrew Robertson
Jaqueline Duval as Antoinette Dubois
Bubber Johnson as Private "Taffy" Smith
Davis Roberts as Private Dave MCord
Hugh O'Brian as Private Wilson
Frank Chase as Private Higgins
Cindy Garner as Kitty Walsh
Gregg Palmer as Tank Lieutenant
John Hudson as Tank Sergeant Max
Jack Kelly as Heyman
Howard Petrie as Major General Lee Gordon

The character of General Gordon appears to have been based on General Patton, although Patton is also specifically mentioned in the film. Major General Frank Ross, who was in charge of the real Red Ball Express, acted as a technical adviser.^[3]

Controversy edit

Because of the high percentage of black drivers in the Red Ball Express operation, the Department of Defense insisted to Universal that the film be modified so that "the positive angle be emphasized" regarding race relations. Director Budd Boetticher claimed:

The army wouldn't let us tell the truth about the black troops because the government figured they were expendable. Our government didn't want to admit they were kamikaze pilots. They figured if one out of ten trucks got through, they'd save Patton and his tanks.^[4]

References edit

^ 'Top Box-Office Hits of 1952', Variety, January 7, 1953
^ Budd Boetticher: The Last Interview Wheeler, Winston Dixon. Film Criticism; Meadville Vol. 26, Iss. 3, (Spring 2002): 52-0_3.
^ Jeremy Arnold, 'Red Ball Express', Turner Classic Movies accessed 5 August 2012
^ Sean Axmaker, 'Ride Lonesome: The Career of Budd Boetticher', Senses of Cinema 7 February 2006 accessed 25 June 2012