There's Something About a Soldier
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Alfred E. Green
Tom Neal
Evelyn Keyes
Bruce Bennett
John Hubbard
Jeff Donnell
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Wally Williams and Frank Malloy, classmates at Camp Davis, the Anti-Aircraft Officer Candidate School at Wilmington, North Carolina, are extreme opposites. Wally, a glib ex-newspaper sports columnist, has talked his way through most of his life, including the Army. Malloy, on the other hand, won his appointment to the O.C.S. by distinguishing himself on the battle front. At school, they both meet Carol Harkness, a Civilian Administration secretary on the post. Carol is the sister of Malloy's former captain, who was killed in action, and Malloy brings her his personal effects. The rivalry for Carol's affections soon causes a deep rift between Wally and Malloy. Knowing that fighting is cause for instant dismissal, they both avoid each other. One night in the barracks, however, Wally loses control and swings at Malloy. Luckily, several of the students intervene and prevent a crisis. When Wally refuses to join a study pool organized to help the slower students, he is ostracized by his squad. Soon after, on his first weekend leave, he talks Carol into going out with him. On their date, Wally admits that his reason for going to O.C.S. is personal aggrandizement, and Carol then scathingly tells him about Malloy's distinguished service in North Africa and his loyalty to her brother. Humbly moved, Wally returns to camp, a new person. Without his former brashness, Wally quietly tutors the slowest student in the group. On the gun range one day, Wally assumes responsibility for an accident that sends Malloy to the hospital, although it was not his fault. During Malloy's convalescence, Wally offers to tutor him in mathematics, Malloy's weakness. Wary of Wally's motives, Malloy refuses his help and as a result, flounders helplessly on the final examination. The day before graduation, Wally steals Malloy's exam before it has been graded. A mathematics wizard, Wally quickly substitutes the correct answers and attempts to slip it back into the pile. Wally is apprehended, however, and accused of trying to fix his own paper, then is expelled from school. As Wally leaves camp, the graduation exercises commence. When his mathematics instructor congratulates him on his exam, Malloy questions his grade. After a re-check of the papers, Wally is exonerated of cheating. Malloy and Carol hurry to the train station, arriving just as Wally is boarding his train. Malloy then extends his hand in friendship and Carol kisses Wally and tearfully promises to wait for him.
Director
Alfred E. Green
Cast
Tom Neal
Evelyn Keyes
Bruce Bennett
John Hubbard
Jeff Donnell
Frank Sully
Lewis Wilson
Robert Stanford
Jonathan Hale
Hugh Beaumont
Kane Richmond
Douglass Drake
Craig Woods
Mel Schubert
Robert Lowell
Herbert Gunn
Tom Seidel
Robert Craine
Lane Page
Paul Stupin
Ernie Handelsman
Conrad Harvey
Glenn Charles
Ray Hilton
Verne Anders
Steve Keyes
John Kascier
Vi Athens
Donald Kerr
Neil Reagan
Gary Bruce
John Whitney
Martin Ashe
Richard Graham
James Martin
Warren Ashe
James Flavin
Fred Kohler
Wallace Pindell
William Haade
John Forrest
Charles Jordan
David Peters
Romaine Callender
Shelley Winters
Cliff Clark
Ray Walker
Jack Lee
Ilka Gruning
Jack Gardner
Frank Wilcox
Jeanne Bates
Roy Gordon
John Tyrrell
Edwin Mills
George Eldredge
Tom Dillon
William Edmunds
Harry Cording
Russell Hicks
Edith Evanson
Louise Beavers
Stella Le Saint
Crew
Rex Bailey
Lionel Banks
Al Becker
Samuel Bischoff
Ralph Black
Ray Cory
Richard Fantl
Frank Foster
Morrie Friedman
Tad Gillum
Emil Harris
Olie Heilieman
Horace Mccoy
Francis Mcdowell
George Meehan
George Montgomery
Don Murphy
Lt. Walter E. O'brien
Val O'malley
Ollie Olson
William Randall
Sam Rosen
Rudolph Sternad
Capt. Austin W. Stitt
M. W. Stoloff
Philip Tannura
Barry Trivers
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to War Department records, the working title of this film was Officers' Candidate School. Although a Hollywood Reporter production chart lists Larry Parks and Lloyd Bridges in the cast, their appearance in the released film has not been confirmed. According to Columbia publicity materials contained in the production files on the film in the AMPAS Library, thirty enlisted men and officers from the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Training Center at Camp Haan, CA, were to appear in the training sequences of this picture.
According to materials contained in NARS in Washington, D.C., the Special Service Division of the War Department objected to this film because "the story which it utilizes is an old movie formula having to do with situations and gags used hundreds of times in prep school and college pictures, with all the stock characters...including a tough guy who turns into a hero." Also objectionable was the fact that "the situations in the script do not arise out of the nature of the OCS and its true material." Although letters in the NARS file dated 27 and October 31, 1943 indicate that the Army was considering holding a premiere of this film at Camp Davis or Camp Haan, no evidence that the premiere took place has been found.
