Just then, Costa painfully drags himself down the cellar stairs and tries to shoot Cooney, but collapses and dies, after which Cooney kicks his body. Harold Woodruff William Smithers has to try and keep the peace by paying battalion commander Lt. Bernstein's leg is broken when a beam falls on it. Woodruff, Tolliver, Bernstein, Jackson and Snowden Richard Jaeckel take refuge in a basement, followed shortly afterward by Cooney. When Cooney does, Woodruff kills him.
As the platoon approaches La Nelle, the men come under fire. Moments later, Allied tanks move into the city, and Bartlett finds them in the cellar. Director Aldrich bought the rights when he failed to obtain those for 's and 's. Although he refuses to remove Cooney, he assures Harry that the platoon will not be seeing any more action. Due to the nature of the film, which cast some officers as either cowards or manipulators, the refused to grant production assistance.
This build up is combined with some powerful visuals none more so that the opening scene with a soldier's helmet tumbling down a hill after he has been gunned down. As they argue the matter out they are told that the town is now being overrun by Germans. Outraged, Woodruff accuses Bartlett of orchestrating the whole thing in order to get rid of Cooney and gain favor with his powerful father. But Bartlett, well aware of Cooney's failings, is more intent on giving him a chance to be a hero so when the war ends Cooney and his important father will look after him. As they argue between each other, Costa suddenly appears.
But Costa's issues extend further as whilst he respects Bartlett as a man who has seen action knows that Bartlett is looking out for himself by having Cooney in charge. Captain Erskine Cooney Eddie Albert is commander of. Harry Woodruff and Costa will be attending the game, and Harry privately tells Costa about his plan to confront Bartlett about Cooney's incompetence. It was shot in thirty-two days on the back lot of Studios with a small cast and budget and a few pieces of military equipment, including two tanks, that Aldrich had bought or rented. Unsure whether the Germans are there or not, Cooney overrules an all-out attack and decides that Costa should lead a mission.
The first squad to attempt the approach is shot down, so Costa leads the survivors, Tolliver and privates Abramowitz, Bernstein, Ricks and Snowden, to the farmhouse, where two German soldiers retreat unnoticed into the cellar. Bartlett gives him a field promotion to captain, but then announces that he is going to nominate Cooney for the award. Woodruff warns him that he will shoot him if he tries. Bernstein's leg is broken when a beam falls on it. Woodruff warns him that he will shoot him if he tries. Seriously injured and with only minutes of life left, he appeals to to give him enough to kill Cooney, but he himself collapses and dies while Cooney mockingly kicks the gun away from him.
But Woodruff calls his bluff, goes to the radio and calls for General Parsons. In a show of solidarity, each man fires a bullet into Cooney's body. They then take turns shooting Cooney's body themselves, all except Snowden, who has gone to see if the Germans heard the shots. Cooney freezes under fire and cannot bring himself to send more men into battle to reinforce those already under attack. Aldrich never saw the play on stage but had read it and liked what it said about war.
They then take turns shooting Cooney's body themselves, all except Snowden, who has gone to see if the Germans heard the shots. Ingersol Production The film was based on Norman Brooks's stage play, Fragile Fox. With the pressure building up inside him, Cooney turns to drink again, but Woodruff smashes the bottle. Costa disables an enemy tank with a , but is gravely wounded when another tank drives over his arm. It is almost the perfect package with Palance delivering a commanding performance full of depth to marry Aldrich's rich vision and Biroc's cinematography. The increasing and unnecessary loss of life is lowering morale and trying the patience of platoon leader Lieutenant Joe Costa.
He was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism, rescuing American marines during the Battle of Tarawa while under heavy gunfire in 1943. Production The film was based on Norman Brooks's stage play, Fragile Fox. He also lost a portion of his hearing from the noise of the battle. Sight and Sound; London Vol. Bartlett reprimands him for failing to send in his entire company to take La Nelle.
Moments later, a wounded Costa returns intending to murder Cooney. Due to the nature of the film, which cast officers as either cowards or manipulators, the refused to grant production assistance. They are led by Captain Erskine Cooney , who appears to be better at handling than combat. The interiors of buildings look detailed and full of atmosphere which makes it feel like you are in the room with them. When Costa calls for reinforcements, Cooney ignores his request and begins drinking.
Harry then instructs Tolliver to have him arrested when they are freed, but all the men agree that Cooney's death was just. They try to get out, but the way is blocked. It is well known that Cooney owes his position to battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Clyde Bartlett , who has known the Cooney family since he was a 14-year-old clerk in the office of Cooney's father, a top judge. The rest of the men manage to get back to town, though Ricks James Goodwin is killed. Bartlett threatens to arrest Cooney if he falls back, as it would leave another company unprotected, and strikes Cooney after the coward begs to be reassigned. Outraged, Woodruff accuses Bartlett of orchestrating the whole thing in order to get rid of Cooney and gain favor with his powerful father. It was directed by and starred , , , , , , and.