Sergeant (The)
- Director: John Flynn
- Writer: Dennis Murphy
- Producer: Richard Goldstone
CGiii Comment
This is a mind-f**k.
Seriously.
The cruelty is mesmerising.
Daring for its time - daring for Rod Steiger's career.
And, it's still a mind-f**k.
It needs to be watched!
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
THE SERGEANT is the story of the dark inner struggle of Master Sergeant Albert Callan to overcome the overwhelming attraction he feels for one of his charges. In the staid and stifling environment of a post-World War II army post in France, Callan's deeply repressed attraction to other men surfaces when he encounters handsome Private Swanson. Maintaining the rugged "man's man" image of a war hero, Callan barks orders to his underlings. Later, lonely in his solitude, he recalls the frightening experiences of war and the events that led to this crossroads. Filled with self-loathing and unable to act on the natural attraction he feels for Swanson, Callan's affection festers into antagonism. He pushes Swanson constantly with verbal assaults and undeserved punishments. Oblivious to Callan's attraction to him, Swanson comes finally to feel enmity for his Master Sergeant.
Cast & Characters
Rod Steiger as MSgt. Albert Callan;
John Phillip Law as Pfc. Tom Swanson;
Ludmila Mikael as Solange;
Frank Latimore as Capt. Loring;
Elliott Sullivan as Pop Henneken;
Ronald Rubin as Cpl. Cowley;
Philip Roye as Aldous Brown;
Jerry Brouer as Sgt. Komski;
Memphis Slim as Himself;
Nadine Alari;
Gabriel Gascon as Solange's brother-in-law