The Men (1950)

Brando In "The Men"... A Legendary Film Star Is Born...

This is where it all started...Marlon Brando's one-of-a-kind film legacy...

Marlon's performance in "The Men" demonstrates his natural talent - a talent that is now the legacy of the greatest actor of all time. His remarkable performance in "The Men" drew me in immediately. I could not take my eyes off of him. His demeanor, his facial expressions, and the way he spoke reminded me somewhat of his screen test for "Rebel Without A Cause." He is sweet, tender, ambivalent, unassuming, and somewhat emotionally injured - much as I believe he was in his life off of the screen as well. There is nobody I have seen on stage or screen who can achieve such a delicate and perfect balance of emotion or elicit the kinds of emotions he does in others through his performances as Marlon did in the roles he has played on stage and screen.

I have 36 Marlon Brando films in my collection, many of which I have watched several times. But, I have never been able to bring myself to watch "The Men" until very recently. I am a nurse and I have seen first hand that which Marlon's character, "Bud," faced after becoming a paraplegic as the result of an injury. In my work, it has weighed on me at times that, although I possess some medical expertise and although I can contribute to helping a person back to optimal health following a tragedy, I am still not able to wave a magic wand and turn his reality into a dream from which he will awaken.

I knew what "The Men" was about and with having become very familiar with Marlon Brando's realistic and poignant portrayals of people on film such as his portrayal in this film, I expected that my insides would be torn asunder. And, they were. Marlon portrayed it as it truly was and is. In the beginning, "Bud" is afraid to live while also being afraid to die. Later in the film, this sentiment is echoed by Jack Webb's character when he recites a piece of Hamlet's soliloquy from "To Be Or Not To Be"..."To die, to sleep...to sleep, perchance to dream...aye, there's the rub...for in that sleep of death what dreams may come when we have shuffled off this mortal coil must give us pause" - the contemplation of suicide, but, at the same time, the fear of what one may face in death should one choose to take his own life due to his circumstances. Which is the most fearful prospect?

"The Men" is about a man who, following a war injury, finds that he has become a paraplegic and that life will never be the same for him again. Throughout the film, he travels through every stage of grief and grieving and, ultimately, comes to terms with his circumstance. I won't give the details of the film away, but I will say that it is definitely a "must see" movie and that, among the many touching scenes throughout, a very moving scene with Bud and his wife takes place at the end and one is left feeling so many emotions.

This is an excellent film, the first film for Marlon Brando, and one whose heart-rending insight into the personal struggles of a man faced with a life-altering situation is exhibited with absolute perfection by Marlon Brando. October 30, 2007

What War is really all about...

Marlon Brando (very, very young in this one) in his first major movie role really shines and shows us why cameras always loved him.

Just a glimpse of his eye, and you guess what he's thinking.
What an actor!

The movie is a very short tale of a soldier wounded in battle, who returning home discovers that he has lost a limb.

The real battle ensues from then on. Will he be able to survive the ordeal? Will he be able to still have a normal life among people?

"The Men" is an ageless movie, still valid nowadays as it was back then, in the 50's.

Solid story, solid actors, straight storyline, non-obtrusive score, make this a tiny masterpiece in its own right.

The transfer on DVD is astonishingly excellent, as is its sound. The Black & White image is crisp and clear.

I can only remmond it to all the fans of Marlon Brando, as well as those who never saw him in one of his earliest roles. August 31, 2007

Fred Zinnnemann strikes again in Brando 's first Opus!

This mature and off-beat movie anticipated for years the awful and painful consequences about the reinsertion of a man in the civil life after having been in the War. This neo realist picture would be marked for the Moral League, believe or not winning a dark notoriety, with a young actor named Marlon Brando making his debut with this Opus.
Zinnemann was preparing another hidden Ace, even more penetrating and acid work: "From here to the eternity."
Previously this raising promise of the direction had filmed "The Seventh cross", an epic War picture, and the best would yet to come.
Interesting and potent existential drama, that illustrates as a few the unsaid.
October 11, 2005

the men

I was impressed with this movie when I fist saw it in the 50's I have been a Brando admirer ever since . Over the past 50 years I have seen all of his movies more than once. The Men has a great message , I recommend it to all my friends .

jack August 2, 2005

Still a good film despite unevenness

Marlon Brando's first feature film, "The Men" tells the story of a group of injured veterans of WWII who try to put their lives together. Overall I feel this is a well-done film, as it's not pretentious as many such films tend to be. Brando turns in solid performance, even though at times he over-acts which makes his character less than believable. The g/f character, unfortunately, is not very likeable; the actress never seems to get into the role, and there's little chemistry between her and Brando. The best chacrater is Dr. Brock; it's probably because of my own exposure to such physicians that I find him very believable and powerful.

In the end, the reason to watch this film is really to see Brando as a first-time feature actor. He *is* good. Many of the supporting actors are good, too; unfortunately the second half of the film seems too hurried and becomes shallow compared to the first half. I think this is a movie not to be missed. December 25, 2004

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