Home of the Brave

Director: Mark Robson Mark Robson

Overview

This film version of Arthur Laurents' play focuses on a paralyzed African-American war veteran who begins to walk again only when he confronts his fear of forever being an "outsider." The soldier's comrades include his lifelong white friend Lloyd Bridges, redneck-bigot corporal Steve Brodie, and troubled sergeant Frank Lovejoy.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/13/2014
UPC:	0887090077101
Original Release:	1949
Rating:	NR
Source:	Olive
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[B&W]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:26:00

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

James Edwards	Private Peter Moss
Lloyd Bridges	Finch
Steve Brodie	T.J. Everett
Frank Lovejoy	Sergeant Mingo
Douglas Dick	Maj. Robinson
Jeff Corey	Doctor
Cliff Clark	Colonel

Technical Credits

Carl Foreman

Stanley Kramer	Producer
Jack Rabin	Special Effects
Mark Robson	Director
Carl Foreman	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Modern audiences will view Home of the Brave as dated and a bit simplistic, but that doesn't stop it from being a powerful and important film. Its importance lies in it being one of a number of films of its era that attempted to address serious social issues in American society -- in this case, bigotry. Although the Arthur Laurents play that is its source concentrated on anti-Semitism, the film version of Brave focuses on racial discrimination. It can be argued whether this switch helped or hurt the material, but the end result still gets across the same message about the need to get along with people, no matter how different they may be from you. And yes, Brave drives this point home a bit too hard; but as unrealistic as, say, the ending may be, it still makes quite an impact on the viewer. Besides, preachy or not, the screenplay has delicious dialogue and the kind of scenes that actors kill to get the chance to act. Brave is fortunate to have an exemplary cast, starting with James Edwards, whose leading performance is the glue that holds the picture together. Lloyd Bridges is quietly moving, Steve Brodie perfectly repulsive (as required) and Jeff Corey handles the doctor-as-God part with aplomb.