Obviously Wood does not remotely look half black (as she is supposed to be) and her French accent leaves a bit to be desired but she is beautiful, Curtis is handsome and Sinatra plays quite well the man whose beauty lies within. Your new favorite show is right here. | Don't have an account? His fine novel was altered in keeping with the climate of the times yet although the girl survives we are still denied a happy ending. Lindsay) are more believable and interesting than anything involving that romantic triangle. and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. Awards They'd been through the living hell of war , eating dirt , crawling on their guts , but the real was to come when they fell in love with the same girl . Running Time: 109 min. However, she is reluctant to let their relationship progress and her mother (Dana), though she admires Sinatra as well, feels the same way. Among them are ANCHORS AWEIGH, FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, VON RYAN'S EXPRESS, and this, one of his best acting efforts. The girl is played by Natalie Wood--she's French by way of West Virginia and Philadelphia!--and there's some hesitant talk early on of her being from a white mother and a black father (it gives Frank momentary pause, but Tony thinks of her ancestry as a novelty). After watching this I learned that Dorothy Dandridge was originally planned to star in the role of Monique. Supplements include a trailer hosted by Sinatra himself, he suggesting King's Go Forth is another From Here to Eternity or Man with the Golden Arm. A Frank Sinatra, Tony Curtis and Natalie Wood love triangle, eh? Britt Harris, (Tony Curtis) as a communications expert who will travel along with Sam and these two eventually get along with each other. (Video). It was one of those powerful films that I watched for the first few minutes, fully expecting to change the channel but was quickly hooked for the duration. The racial issue is not nearly as important as the basic trianglular struggle, with a not meagre war plot well mixed in. The crux of the drama seems silly these days (at least to anyone who isn't a pathetic loser), but I suppose that it was daring in its day. Articles Available: 1,173,559, Cast: Frank Sinatra, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Leora Dana, Karl Swenson, Ann Codee, Eddie Ryder, Jacques Berthe. The battle scenes are also disappointing, hurt mostly by choppy editing, and when Sinatra and Curtis take on a treacherous plan of attack near the end, we're not sure why these two were picked (other than the fact they're the stars). She was never remotely convincing in those parts, however, with Pauline Kael famously dismissing her as "clever Natalie Wood, [the] most machine-tooled of Hollywood ingénues." There are also complications between officer and man as the higher-ranked soldier is from a poorer background. You know, from where I was sitting, I thought that this rather oddball, 1958, WW2 drama was really expecting just a little too much of the viewer by asking them to believe that Natalie Wood, as the Monique Blair character, was, in fact, half-black (or "Negro"). It does not make any sense to show Monique Blair (Natalie Wood) very much impressed when he met Lieutenant Sam Loggins (Frank Sinatra) for the first time, then without any justification she said that she did not like him as a lover. Listed in order of first episode it's…, Eirik Frisvold Hanssen 2,650 films 176 Edit, Films mentioned in André Bazin's published writings [incomplete list]. Sincere but not effective, Kings Go Forth is worth seeing once for its good points, but the film is pretty much a bust. Frank and Natalie's roles are well done-the surplus of war scenes detracts a bit from the love story and the ending is a surprise, but it's a great film. Directed by: Delmer Daves. Handsome, talented (he plays trumpet with the skill of Al Hirt), and a brazen womanizer, Harris invites Loggins's resentment, nor does he trust him. It's all because Wood has a rather shattering secret. Check out the exclusive TVGuide.com movie review and see our movie rating for Kings Go Forth Censorship and various social taboos made it difficult to present it in a way that would really send it across. I have heard it flopped considerably in it's day. A romantic melodrama set in the south of France during the last year of the Second World War, Kings Go Forth (1958) is a sincere but painfully mild film revolving around the then-taboo subject of miscegenation. "Kings Go Forth" is actually a slightly late in the game WWII flick that shifts attention at first to luxuriating soldiers in the south of France just as the war was ending. Curtis, always at home as a lout and a cad, brings these qualities across well. I was thrilled to stumble upon it streaming on Netflix, heard Frank Sinatra's distinct narration, and knew I'd found my missing film. The 1.0 mono DTS-HD Master Audio is likewise fine, and offered with optional English subtitles. I enjoyed it and was glad I watched it, but I don't know if it is one I need to see again in my lifetime. * Little effort, however, is made to hide the very 1950s cars on the roadways there, spoiling the verisimilitude somewhat. Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2018. These elements provide the setting for this piece of dramatic deeds , giving it its own special quality and ambient . The screenplay had all the right elements in it, but the order was tweaked to make the ending into a Hollywoodish, happier ever after story. The film's producer, Frank Ross, told The New York Times that "he was not in favor of miscegenation" (!) Some good jazz is provided by Candoli, Norvo, Lewis, Kamuca, Wooten, Weible. As big and brave and bold a love story as has ever been exploded on the screen¡ . Synopsis: Toward the end of World War II, two American soldiers fighting in Southern France become romantically involved with a young, American woman. Saw 'Kings Go Forth' as part of my Tony Curtis completest quest after being recommended many of his films here in the recommended for you section. A conniving yet intelligent soldier in his unit (Tony Curtis) also falls for Natalie Wood. Kings Go Forth is just more proof that Daves remains one of the most crucially overlooked directors of the classic Hollywood studio system. Kings Go Forth is a great movie! Copyright © Fandango. Downbeat and sad film with little to choose from. I don't want to give it all away, but there is much to be said for a … Daves did indeed direct some memorable westerns, but he was comfortable in a variety of genres and very comfortable with melodrama. Unconvincing World War II tale that mixes war and a soap opera war romance. When Sinatra asks for her hand in marriage she refuses because of some secret reasons . The wartime material is fairly standard (if well-executed), but the simmering theme of racism is honestly handled, and Sinatra is excellent. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! Enjoy. Frank and Richard Ross are brothers and have produced or coproduced many films through the years. While this film might have been better with Dorothy Dandridge, it is excellent. Supposedly Dorothy Dandridge was in the running for Wood's part, but that seems unlikely. Also, elements from the source novel were changed in a way that doesn't help the story remain cohesive. Spooky foreshadowing! Perhaps I'm suspicious to do a review about a Sinatra's movies, due he finds himself a "bigger than life" as a person, he thinks that the world spin around him, in this picture he played a US's soldier sent to France when Allies already invaded by Normandy and his mission is just extinguish some places where the German still control on French Riviera, meanwhile he falling in love for an young girl played by Natalie Wood, actually could be his daughter, but she has afraid to tell that his dead father was an African American descendent, Sinatra stays shocked by such revelation, but accept later, when the couple fortuitously meets the handsome Tony Curtis in the role as Corporal Britt Harris all things changes, the young girl falling in love to him on first sight, knowing the past life of his bon vivant and maladjusted subordinate, he decided that him marry her immediately, valuable picture over prejudice, guilt and sorrow, if we forget some mismatch about young girls that wants oldest guys, which presuppose happened on Sinatra real life, much possible attracted by his money and fancy life!!! Her background will reveal more about them than her. At the end the soldiers take on a dangerous assignment behind enemy lines with unexpected consequences . A romantic melodrama set in the south of France during the last year of the Second World War, The Elephant Man (The Criterion Collection). Kings Go Forth is a dramatic love story about two American soldiers fighting in France that fall for the same woman. Metacritic Reviews. Sinatra is excellent, and Curtis too does well with an unsympathetic, swaggering role. Frank Sinatra, Tony Curtiss, and Natalie Wood, make a good trio cast in these roles. Sinatra eventually deals with it okay, but when he introduces his buddy Curtis to Wood, they wind up hitting it off and Sinatra is odd man out. In Kings Go Forth she affects a phony French accent, is unconvincingly starry-eyed around American soldiers, goes nuts for Tony Curtis, and pretends to be half-black. Either they didn't listen or didn't have a military advisor. The film works well as character study of shy, introvert Sinatra and cocky extrovert Curtis. Two soldiers (Sinatra & Curtis) vying for the love of Natalie Wood, the first the serious and the second the carefree ladies man. Its been over for 15 minutes and I'm still having bursts of tears and I want to settle down so I can go upstairs to sleep. Here, he's a no-nonsense Lieutenant with the U.S. Army stationed in France, fighting the Germans as well as Corporal Tony Curtis, an educated, self-assured trust fund kid on the run from his life of privilege. The film’s visual strength remain even when material disintegrates. Disjointed, all over the place, not always as honest in its handle of race and class as it would like to believe, but as mostly Daves melodramas always visually assured. The film contains human drama , passion , emotion , tragical events , character description in deep and complemented with a loving triangle and battles . I guess it's because the original novel (which I haven't read, but which I have heard about) was censored for the screen, or made "happier" (though there's still a fair share of dark moments). It also hurt me to watch the "love story" after reading Sinatra was 25 years older than Wood and 8 years older than the woman playing woods mother at the time of filming. 1958 Maybe 1958 wasn't the best year to present a story like this in a mainstream Hollywood film, but perhaps the producers really wanted to get it out there the best way they could. By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy Sinatra doesn't see that as a deterrent, but what does matter is that Wood is apparently in love with Curtis. A sweet scene where Swenson's Colonel offers Loggins a piece of a horribly crushed angel food cake his wife baked and shipped to him is more memorable than the film's racial angle. The screenplay is so predictable that you will not be surprised once while you are watching such a tepid weepie.Natalie Wood 's character was inspired by Fannie Hurst's "imitation of life" (see Stahl and Sirk),but who could believe she's a black man's daughter anyway?Susan Kohner was more credible in "imitation of life")and Sinatra and Curtis are given so stereotyped parts that they cannot do anything with them:the poor officer,and the wealthy good-looking -and mean- sergeant.Guess whom will Natalie fall in love with?France is shown as a land of tolerance ,where interracial unions are warmly welcome.At the time(circa 1944) it was dubious,it still is for narrow-minded people you can find here there and everywhere.