THE RED BALL EXPRESS (1952)

By-the-numbers, fact-inspired WWII story, a Universal programmer that leaves a lot of drama on the table.  An outlier for Western specialist Budd Boetticher, a first feature for scripter John Michael Hayes (Hitchcock classics in his future), it’s not a bad little ‘B’ pic as long as they stick to the main task (supplying the fast-moving General Patton & his troops in their unprecedented dash across Europe); less so covering comic soldierly adventures on the side and in some cliché character building.  A shame since everything about the operation is fascinating; from the speed of putting a huge truck convoy together;  to the danger of enemy attack while overcoming impossible road and weather conditions.  Most of all, with military resources already stretched to the limit, the necessity of running a color-blind integrated unit in a still officially segregated U.S. Army.  The film seriously downplaying this angle.  Cautious of being labeled a Race Pic?  An unforced error with such a fine company of young Black actors involved, including Sidney Poitier.  (But nice touch from Hayes in having these guys get together to hash out their situation always referring to C.O. Jeff Chandler as ‘Boy.’)   Not that they ignore the issue (one fight breaks out so we get to see the signature Poitier ‘seeth’ stare), but this aspect of the mission was an awfully big deal at the time and must have been a constant issue under the stress of three-day non-stop hauls.*

LINK:  *Famous enough to gain a featured spot in the post-war B’way revue CALL ME MISTER.  A hit in 1946 for composer Harold Rome and co-producer Melvyn Douglas.  Here’s original cast member Lawrence Winters singing ‘The Red Ball Express.’  (Note the album cover features Irving Berlin’s THIS IS THE ARMY (the only truly integrated unit during WWII) as the two albums were issued together in CD format.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0NUFJ8JpIA  https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2009/05/this-is-army-1943.html