Sadly Over-hyped

Load of rubbish!!

Good concept, poorly executed.

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

People keep comparing this film with "A Fairwell To Arms" (1932). If that is true, then it can also be seen as a stepping stone to "The Americanization of Emily" (1964) — highlighting how changing American attitudes toward war have become gradually more cynical.Seems like the "Emily" team — writers and director — might have been influenced by Sgt. Joe 'Pete' Peterson (Holden character), transposing Garner's Charlie Madison to be an updated version of same. 1932 > 1951 > 1964.All three successfully integrate Romance and War, ably supporting the theme that Love is the stronger force. So why do we keep on making war?

There are times when the most accurate, realistic portrayal of something in a non-comedy movie may be boring to some people. Maybe even most. Hollywood has known that for ages. Things that otherwise may be humdrum or so-so need to be spiced up. Often times, that's to the point of scenarios hardly resembling reality at all. "If that's what the public likes, give it to them," often seems the attitude in Hollywood. At other times, Hollywood and certain producers, directors or writers, strive for realism, against the pressures for greatest box office appeal. I think "Force of Arms" is one such film. Oh, it has a fair share of reviewers who would have liked more blood and guts action, or hot romance with a local Italian, or something else. But I agree with those who appreciated this film for its realism and for its strong portrayals by the leads. There aren't many top stars here, but that seems to be how the plot was intended. This is a story about one GI, and how he advances through the ranks leading his men from the early involvement of the U.S. in WW II Africa and into Italy. Then it becomes a story of two people --- the GI and an American female officer (WAC), and a deep love that blossoms between them. Then it is a story about their love surviving through the 5th Army's push to liberate Rome. I agree with others who saw William Holden's portrayal as superb. He goes from Sergeant to Lieutenant Joe "Pete" Peterson. It is one of the best performances of his career. Nancy Olson is very good as Lt. Eleanor MacKay, and Frank Lovejoy is very good as Major Blackford. Whether or not the story was an imitation of Ernest Hemingway's "Farewell to Arms" about WWI, "Force of Arms" is a very good account of the Italian campaign in WW II. It follows the U.S. 5th Army in Italy. Peterson's 36th Infantry Division was actually there and did the things the film covers. At one point toward the end of the movie, the 36th is moving up to again try to cross the Rapido River. During that action in 1944, the 36th Division lost a large number of its men in two of its three regiments.The battle scenes and action are gritty and very realistic in "Force of Arms." The romance that blossoms is not far-fetched because during the Italian campaign, forward units were replaced for R and R. And, because they were near cities, the GIs behind the lines were able to see women in bars, cafes and shops. Some, mostly officers, no doubt fraternized with Army nurses and other WAC officers. That is the case in this film, with Pete and Eleanor.Another realistic aspect of this film was Pete getting a battlefield commission. That happened quite a lot in the European theater, but few movies show it. My father received a battlefield commission while serving in the 5th Army in Europe. He later returned to the States and went through OCS (Officer Candidate School). It's interesting that the Major himself was a product of OCS. So, he would have been one of the early active Army GIs well before the U.S. entered the war. And, he would have been promoted as officers above him were taken out of action. About the only questionable scene in this movie was the major leading a tank assault. Blackford was an infantry officer, and was CO of a battalion or regiment. There's no way that an infantry officer was going to command or lead an armored assault. That was stretching credibility too far. The only other unreal aspect was in the script when Pete talked to Blackford on the radio. The Army never used the expression, "Over and out." It's contradictory. A person who expects a reply says, "Over!" One who is ending the conversation says, "Out!."This is a very good and gritty picture of the Americans fighting in the Italian Campaign during WW II. It's also a nice wartime romance and love story.

I wasn't sure what to make of this at first since I had never heard of the movie before I saw it on Turner recently, but almost right off the bat this earnest war/romance drama shows it's mettle.William Holden is a GI on a short leave in Naples during the Allied advance up Italy. He meets WAC Nancy Olson , and after a short resistance on her part they fall in love , more or less at first sight. I liked the dialog between the two of them during this 'courtship' , it is well written and though Holden plays the wisecracker he so often did in his roles, it seems natural in these scenes.The rest of the film tracks their time in Italy, together and apart, as Holden returns to the front and faces the need to prove his courage and cool under fire. The thing that made this movie stand out is the treatment of a war time in service romance that is neither played for laughs or pathos. It is slightly melodramatic at times, but appropriately so for the material.One of the better films of this type I have seen.

It's hard to say if FORCE OF ARMS is a romantic love story with a war background or if it is a war film with a romantic background! Either way it comes across as an enjoyable 100 minute motion picture. Very loosely based on Hemingway's WW1 epic romance "A Farewell To Arms" it was produced by Anthony Veiller for Warner Bros. in 1951 and the usual workmanlike direction came from the legendary Michael Curtiz.Beautifully photographed by genius cinematographer Ted McCord in glorious black & white and from a splendid screenplay by Orin Jannings it starred William Holden as a battle weary, hard bitten GI who during the German occupation of Italy in 1943 and the Battle Of San Pietro falls in love with a reluctant WAC (Nancy Olson).Holden delivers one of his very best performances but he's left really to carry the movie almost on his own. This is a fault with the picture! He is surrounded by what is essentially a cast of minor players! Third billed is Frank Lovejoy who is as unimpressive as ever! Then we have what are called the supporting players (in this case Holden's GI buddies) such as the bland Gene Evens (who seemed to be in everything during this period), the irritating Dick Wesson (trying as usual to be humorous and not being very successful) and Paul Picerni who never did anything worthwhile with his career. But for me the most disappointing piece of casting is that of the pivotal female lead! Although she won an Oscar nomination for her performance in Billy Wilder's brilliant "Sunset Boulevard" I always found Nancy Olson to be an unremarkable actress and most wanting in the looks/glamour department. She always gave me the impression of looking more like a favourite aunt rather than a lover or even a leading lady! However, she must have held some fascination for Holden as she was his leading lady in three other films - "Sunset Boulevard"(1950), "Union Station" (1950) and "Submarine Command"(1951). Who knows - perhaps she was HIS aunt too! HUH?Besides Holden's winning performance, a literate screenplay, the atmospheric art direction (the Italian mock-ups are splendidly realised) there is also a wonderful score by the great Max Steiner. For the battle sequences he brings into play some military cues he wrote for other Warner war pictures he scored such as "Sergeant York" (1941). But the main central theme is an inspired and memorable bit of writing! First heard under the titles it is at once a sumptuous sweeping melody that is hauntingly used in the love scenes making them both meaningful and heartfelt.FORCE OF ARMS despite some iffy aspects is an enjoyable enough drama set in wartime with Holden as always making it watchable. A few years after its initial release in 1951 it was reissued with the unfortunate and unforgivable title "A Girl For Joe"!