It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Much has already been said about this being Marlon Brando's screen debut (and some debut it is). But this film is more than Brando. Its success depends largely on his interaction with his costars-- especially the lovely Teresa Wright.There is a moment when Brando's paraplegic character pulls up outside his and Wright's new home. He comes up the sidewalk in his wheelchair and she takes him inside. We learn that despite all his resistance, he has realized that they belong together and can share a place together and enjoy married life. It may have a sentimental feel to it, but these actors play it very realistically. They deftly combine volatility and vulnerability. And while the title may suggest the focus is on only one sex, it is a story for both.

Have only caught up with this film for a few (significant) moments on television, especially the two scenes in which Marlon Brando is driving himself and his friend back to the hospital after being out in a bar (and when they also crash), and the final scene where he drives himself back to his home with Teresa Wright, I spotted one glaring mistake in particular.Acknowledging the fact that when the film was made, there was much less knowledge and awareness of all the issues associated with various forms of disablement. But the thing which immediately struck me about these two scenes was that Brando, as a supposed paraplegic, was up there on screen driving a heavy American car of the 1950s, without a single driving aid to be seen on the screen - such as a remote gear change device or even knobs on the steering wheel to assist with the steering of cars for such people.

Best known today as Marlon Brando's film debut, this is a decent, solid film dealing with the touchy subject of paralysed WW2 veterans and their attempts to recover, both physically and emotionally. Brando is one of these veterans and he pushes his fiancé Ellen (Teresa Wright) away, thinking she only pities his situation, and does not truly love and care for him. Brando's debut is strong; it's no "Streetcar" or "Waterfront", but it is a good performance. Fred Zinnemann directed this film, which means the visual style is very flat and uninteresting. His direction is just boring. The more I see of Zinnemman, the more I dislike. I love "From Here To Eternity", but that's because the performances are excellent and the Pearl Harbour plot (taken from the novel) is an example of how to do soapy melodrama well. But I hated "High Noon". Teresa Wright also turns in decent work as Brando's loyal fiancé, although she already looks mousy. Jack Webb is also fine in support but Everett Sloane's performance as the doctor is pushy and overdone. I liked the film best in it's quieter, less "dramatic" moments, where the screeching score didn't take over.

The premise of the film appealed to me, and then I found out this was debut film for one of Hollywood's greatest stars, if not the greatest movie actor of all time, from director Fred Zinnemann (High Noon, From Here to Eternity). The film opens with the lead character Ken 'Bud' Wilozek (Marlon Brando) in battle, most likely how he got paralysed, that is what the story focuses on, a hospital for many other paraplegics like him. Basically Bud was to be married to Ellen 'Elly' (Teresa Wright), but after a year of being paralysed, he hasn't changed his mind on not wanting that anymore, and wanting to live pretty much in seclusion. Ellen does manage to find him, and she does talk him into make some changes, including more exercise, and I guess, trying to get walk again. Eventually, he decides to let him back into his life, and they do get married after all, there is a point where she wonders if she made the right decision, but don't worry, everything settles in the end. Also starring Everett Sloane as Dr. Eugene 'Gene' Brock, Jack Webb as Norm Butler, Richard Erdman as Leo Doolin, Arthur Jurado as Angel Lopez, Virginia Farmer as Nurse Robbins, Dorothy Tree as Harriet - Ellen's mother, Howard St. John as Ellen's father, Nita Hunter as Dolores, Patricia Joiner as Laverne, John 'Skins' Miller as Mr. Doolin, Cliff Clark as Dr. Kameran. Brando is extraordinary in his very first role, coming from Broadway, and Wright offers very good support as his fiancée, and the story has a lot of merit, a fantastic drama film. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay for Carl Foreman, and it was nominated the BAFTA Film for Best Film from any Source. Marlon Brando was number 30 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, he was number 11 on The 100 Greatest Sex Symbols, he was number 4 on 100 Years, 100 Stars - Men, and he was number 1 on The World's Greatest Actor. Very good!