THE YOUNG LIONS has to be one of the few major Marlon Brando films I have yet to write about. Having covered A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (read here), JULIUS CAESAR (read here), VIVA ZAPATA! (read here), MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (read here), SAYONARA (read here), ON THE WATERFRONT (read here) and GUYS AND DOLLS (read here). All reminding me of some of my other favorite Marlon Brando films in need of being discussed in the future; THE MEN, THE WILD ONE, MORITURI, THE UGLY AMERICAN, DESIREÉ, THE FUGITIVE KIND and well … THE GODFATHER on the other hand, which I personally consider the greatest film of all time. That's all that needs to be said about that. It's not up for discussion, it explains itself. Greatest Movie of All Time!!
If you have not seen THE YOUNG LIONS by now, "make time consigliere." It stars Marlon Brando with Montgomery Clift, in a role Monty described as, "Noah, from THE YOUNG LIONS, was the best performance of my life. I couldn't have given more of myself. I'll never be able to do it again. Never." and Dean Martin in a role that played an important part in his solo career after the breakup between he and Jerry Lewis. Marking his first major dramatic role in those two years.
Montgomery Clift on set of THE YOUNG LIONS (1958).
With such a trio, Brando, Clift and Martin, it is only Martin and Clift who share screen time. That is, until the very end, which if you've been following my pieces for some time, you must know, I don't discuss endings in a write up for those who have not seen the particular film. However, I will say about the ending, Clift vowed he'd walk off the set if Brando chose to outstretch his arms in a Christ-like fashion at the end of his scene. Once you've watched the film, you'll know *exactly* what I'm talking about.
THE YOUNG LIONS was based on Irwin Shaw's 1949 novel of the same name, on his own experiences in Europe during WWII as a warrant officer in the United States Army.
A lot of which, when being adapted from novel to screen, was changed. Something both Montgomery Clift and Irwin Shaw objected to. And, according to "Picture This! -- A Guide to Over 300 Environmentally, Socially and Politically Relevant Films and Videos" by Sky Hiatt, the script went through three rewrites before the Pentagon approved a script.
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This was the only film in which Bud and Monty starred in together. The two had met some years ago before Monty left for Hollywood from NY. The two both from Omaha, Monty 4 years older than Brando, shared the same agent, Edie Van Cleve. They met while Marlon was in the Broadway play Truckline Cafe and out of curiousity went to see Monty in the Broadway play The Searching Wind to see how good Montgomery Clift was as an actor:
"There may have been a rivalry between us--in those days I was a competitive young man determined to be the best and he was a very good actor--but I don't remember ever feeling that way about him. In my memory he was simply a friend with a tragic destiny." |
For classic film fans, there are scenes in the film with Montgomery Clift that will feel very reminiscent to FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953) starring Clift only five years earlier. But don't expect the same outcome, though Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt and Noah Ackerman are somewhat similar characters in not wanting to be pushed around. Regardless if they win or lose the fight. They fight.
Bud mentions in his autobio ("Songs My Mother Taught Me") that when THE YOUNG LIONS came along, it was hard for Monty to work (since the car accident he suffered May 12, 1956 after leaving Elizabeth Taylor's Berverly Hills home from a party she was throwing, that spring the two had begun filming on RAINTREE COUNTY), and when he arrived to Paris, he had lost a lot of weight, appearing "gray and gaunt," and according to supporting actress in THE YOUNG LIONS Barbara Rush (who is still with us!), during a screening of THE YOUNG PHILADELPHIANS (opposite Paul Newman), Dean and Monty became very close during filming on THE YOUNG LIONS and Monty became to depend on Dean because he was so ill. So ill, he only had one take in him to give, that he'd build all his strength up for that one take. Martin, who had been cast into the role in place of Tony Randall (who ended up making his film debut in OH, MEN! OH, WOMEN! (1957)), was said to be always grateful for Clift's help to him during filming.
Aside from co-star Barbara Rush, who shares scenes with all three actors, Marlon, Monty and Martin, May Britt (before marrying Sammy Davis, Jr., and also still with us!) plays a role as Maximilian Schell's wife, though the two never share a scene together. Instead, Marlon Brando's "Christian" is sent in place of to see about his wife.
Montgomery Clift and Hope Lange, Montgomery Clift's love interest turned wife in the film named "Hope" in the film as well, gives a performance that is so beautiful to watch. Monty, as only Monty can do, making it seem as though Hope is the only woman in the world.
The part of Hope originally cast with Joanne Woodward to play the role, who ultimately left the production to film THE LONG, HOT SUMMER (1958) opposite Paul Newman (later, husband) in their first cinematic collaboration, married a month after production wrapped, and the rest, as they say, is history. Cinematic History. And aren't we glad it is!
The part of Hope originally cast with Joanne Woodward to play the role, who ultimately left the production to film THE LONG, HOT SUMMER (1958) opposite Paul Newman (later, husband) in their first cinematic collaboration, married a month after production wrapped, and the rest, as they say, is history. Cinematic History. And aren't we glad it is!
Maximilian Schell, in his American film debut, adds to the film in a terrific performance as "Captain Hardenberg," having yet to master the English language comfortably yet, he learned his lines phonetically from Marlon Brando. The two would appear together later in their careers as "Carmine Sabatini" (Brando) and "Larry London" (Schell) in THE FRESHMAN (1990). A film, as I say, no, it isn't THE GODFATHER, but it's a film worth watching. It's a comedy with enough laughs to make it enjoyable. Even according to Robert Osborne, who sneaked on the set of THE YOUNG LIONS during filming, was surprised by the kindness Marlon showed toward Schell, writing in The Hollywood Reporter:
"At that point, Schell was brand new to America and not yet comfortable speaking English. Brando treated him like a cherished kid brother, protecting Max from an irritated director when Schell's English failed him, encouraging him and protecting him through the minefields of moviemaking; it seemed especially striking considering Brando's reputation for being a tough combatant with most of those in his wake." |
Marlon, who had dyed his hair blonde for the role of the Nazi officer, gaining a lot of press and publicity because of it, chose to portray Christian sympathetically as opposed to how the character was originally written in the novel, a choice director Edward Dmytryk and screenwriter Edward Anhalt were not opposed to.
And one bit of interesting trivia to note, as with a lot of the dock workers in ON THE WATERFRONT (1954), some extras who appear in the Struthof concentration camp scenes were former inmates of the same camp in real life. A location actually used during filming.
Be sure to catch THE YOUNG LIONS when it airs on TCM as part of #31DaysOfOscar Tuesday, 26, 2019 at 11:30AM CT. On the lookout for Dora Doll as Simone, Lee Van Cleef as First Sergeant Rickett, Liliane Montevecchi as Françoise and other recognizable others. And if you can't watch live, set your DVR, it's worth the watch. |