Kings Go Forth [PG]

In WWII France, war-weary lieutenant Sam Loggins has a new radioman: the young, rich, handsome, and charming corporal Britt Harris. Already uncertain of Britt’s character as a man, Sam’s suspicions and intrigue about him are heightened when they both fall in love with the same girl: Monique, an American born and raised in France. Though Sam is steadfast and caring, Britt is quite the ladies’ man and it seems that Sam has no chance at winning Monique’s love. But she soon reveals that her parents were a mixed-raced couple and the news puts each man’s character to the test. 

When I first discovered that this film was in existence, I was really excited. Come on, it’s Frank Sinatra and Tony Curtis! Speaks for itself really. But then I sat down and watched it… 

In WWII France, war-weary lieutenant Sam Loggins has a new radioman: the young, rich, handsome, and charming corporal Britt Harris. Already uncertain of Britt’s character as a man, Sam’s suspicions and intrigue about him are heightened when they both fall in love with the same girl: Monique, an American born and raised in France. Though Sam is steadfast and caring, Britt is quite the ladies’ man and it seems that Sam has no chance at winning Monique’s love. But she soon reveals that her parents were a mixed-raced couple and the news puts each man’s character to the test. 

I think this is a pretty pathetic attempt at an epic war movie. I don’t think there’s any two ways about it. From where I sit it looks like a screenplay that really struggled and then direction that just didn’t quite hit the mark. Essentially this is a love story: a typical love triangle to be exact set against a wartime background. Although I concede that there is potential in this story itself, for me it just didn’t translate very well onscreen. The love story was mediocre and the symbolism of it happening during a war, supposing this is meant to be metaphorical and adding some drama and poetic depth to the film, was just not very good. It seemed too clunky and cumbersomely written. And Sinatra’s reminiscent voice-over narration did little to relieve any of this lack of technique. 

As much as I want to, I can’t bring myself to praise the actors on their performances either. Frank Sinatra as Sam Loggins was wooden and unappealing, lacking any real depth. I’ll admit that he is very sweet in those first few dates with Monique, his awkwardness about showing emotion and his asking her if he can kiss her, but even these little flights of fancy can’t turn away the fact that his performance was just wooden. Natalie Wood on the other hand, proves to be a bit of a ham in the role of Monique. Even when she’s silent and staring, she’s injecting a lot of gusto into it and all you can see is that she’s just a pretty face. The only one with any real character to him is Tony Curtis as Britt Harris. Ironically, his most ‘moving’ line is, “I’m not like you Sam. I don’t have any character”. Curtis is charming, cheeky, sincere, and a scallywag: the one character that I enjoyed watching. 

Starring Leora Dana, Karl Swenson, Ann Codee, Eddie Ryder, and Jacques Berthe, Kings Go Forth is a rather mediocre film, proving that even black and white classic sometimes don’t hit the mark. Filled with action, drama, explosions, war, and romance, my excitement at seeing the names Frank Sinatra and Tony Curtis side by side was short-lived. It’s a shame because there is potential here, but it just wasn’t pushed in the right way to get it to where it could have been good.