[Quick Summary: A sergeant of the 1st squad and his four men struggle to survive ground battle in WWII.]
I didn't particularly like this script, as it has all the things I dislike: It is episodic, has no overall story, has short bursts of peace, then friendly fire, etc.
It's closer to real life, more an anthology than a narrative film.
However, I think all this is intentional and I admire the attempt.
Writer and director Samuel Fuller was a soldier in WWII and wanted to portray it as it really is - episodic, no overall story, etc., without the typical Hollywood gloss.
I thought Fuller's first hand experience was particularly evident in how real the characters seemed to act and react to the chaos of war.
In the scene below:
- Sergeant and his men have killed the Germans who plowed their tank into a Sicilian's home.
- Vinci realizes it is his grandmother's home and thinks she is under the tank.
- The 'war souvenir' detail could only be told by someone who had been there.
ex. "TANK IN HOME
...VINCI (screaming): Nonna! Nonna! Nonna!
He dashes between tank and wall of house, kicking aside smashed furniture, throwing things that are in his path, searching for his grandmother. Crying and screaming like a madman, he collapses against the tank and his body jerks with sobs as the horror of what happened smashes him in the gut.
VINCI: Nonna!...Nonna!
His body jerks with sobs.
AN OLD LADY'S VOICE (in Italian - gentle): Are you American?
The Lieutenant, Sergeant and Griffith turn.
AN OLD ITALIAN LADY
Tiny, white-haired protruding from under black shawl, in typical black peasant dress, black shoes, advances apologetically. She looks like a saint. She continues in Italian.
OLD LADY: I have come for my crucifix, please.
She moves past them as CAMERA ANGLES TO Vinci on floor sobbing against the tank. She timidly approaches him, sees the crucifix in his hand - and then the photograph.
OLD LADY (kindly): I know soldiers like war souvenirs but please do not take that photograph.
She edges closer, starts to pull photo from his hand. He jerks it away, lifts his tear-splashed anguished face.
OLD LADY: Please, it is my photograph.
VINCI (in Italian): Your photograph?
OLD LADY: Ah, you speak Italian! It is of my son and his wife. They live in America. Why are you weeping, my son?
It is too much for him. He pulls her down, burying his head against her and his body shakes.
VINCI (sobbing): Nonna! Nonna! I am Antonio Vinci!
She breaks into cold sweat, crosses herself and begins to sob as she covers her grandson with kisses."
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I'm not sure anyone else could have written and made this film. It has a rawness of authenticity. Anyone else would be only approximating.
The Big Red One (1980)(3/20/58 draft)
by Samuel Fuller
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