Innocent or guilty, it's obvious that the character played by Alan Ladd in this psychological war drama is very troubled, and it's quite a change of pace for him. It's also a very detailed story concerning the life of West Point candidates and the emotional impact of war on those who survive (hence Ladd's very emotional line I utilize as my description), and for much of the film, Ladd seems like someone who doesn't really care much about anything. However, it's much deeper than that and as a result, this film requires major concentration.
Several years before her good time girl role in the Pearl Harbor themed "From Here to Eternity", Donna Reed plays a war widow who steps up to defend Ladd on various charges, claiming that he is not guilty of the death of her husband (Tom Neal), making her quite a noble character. Henry Travers plays Ladd's adopted father who continues to believe in him when Ladd stops believing in himself. It's quite a deep film, culminating with a memorable cameo of future president Dwight D. Eisenhower making a speech at West Point.
Several years before her good time girl role in the Pearl Harbor themed "From Here to Eternity", Donna Reed plays a war widow who steps up to defend Ladd on various charges, claiming that he is not guilty of the death of her husband (Tom Neal), making her quite a noble character. Henry Travers plays Ladd's adopted father who continues to believe in him when Ladd stops believing in himself. It's quite a deep film, culminating with a memorable cameo of future president Dwight D. Eisenhower making a speech at West Point.