The Men

This film from 1950 (hardly one to cheer you up on a joyless day or after watching the news) is mainly concerned with the rehabilitation of paraplegics shortly after World War Two and stars a young Marlon Brando in his first and impressive movie role as a war veteran paralysed from the waist down.

As we know many men were disabled during the wars and had to learn to cope - in the UK the name of legless Douglas Bader may still be remembered among the elders. THE MEN provides a pretty good picture of what went on in a military hospital in order to get these unfortunate men functioning again and dealing with being handicapped. Top scriptwriter Carl Foreman spent some considerable time in such a hospital in order to get his facts right as did the lead Marlon Brando.

In the opening scene we see how US Army Lieutenant Ken Wilocek (Brando) is wounded in action, injuring his spinal cord. Now he finds himself in the ‘Paraplegic Ward’ of the Birmingham Military Hospital, having lost the use of both legs. Needless to say he is somewhat beyond depressed about his current condition which, in all likelihood, will probably be permanent. In one scene we see Dr. Brock (Edward Sloane) delivering a lecture to a room full of women - most of whom are the wives and girlfriends of the patients. The actual key question delicately referred to is: will these men be able to 'perform' after rehabilitation? The fact that there is not actually a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer was enough to get the film banned in the U.K. But back to the US where Dr. Brock is the good doctor in charge of the ward - he is the kind of man who doesn't really exist in real life… someone who is both wise and kind and works near wonders. Alas there still isn't much he can do for the disconsolate Ken. In contrast to Ken’s bad-tempered persona most of the other patients are doing their best and are attempting to maintain a positive state of mind in view of the circumstances. Norm Butler (Jack Webb - best known as DRAGNET’S Joe Friday) appears to be the most positive influence in the ward - the eternal optimist who always looks on the bright side. Norm is the complete opposite of Ken who is absolutely saturated in self-pity and never misses an opportunity to put a dampener on the other men's opportunistic outlooks. Unlike a number of the other patients Ken actually has a long-suffering and rather staid girlfriend Ellen (Teresa Wright) – a ‘goody goody two shoes’ both in attitude and in appearance. Ken does manage initially to make one friend on the ward: Angel (real life paraplegic Arthur Jurado) who does a fair deal of working out as we can see from his powerful upper torso. Angel is just the kind of friend Ken needs. Sadly, no sooner does the friendship begin than Angel dies due to unforeseen medical complications.

Meanwhile, Ellen strives to convince Ken that she still loves him and wants nothing more than to marry him despite his condition. In turn, Ken eventually starts to make an effort to get fit. However, on a night out on the town the couple are being stared at. On the private front things don’t go well for Ellen either as her parents are adamant to put a stop to her idea of marrying Ken – with her father (Howard St. John) asking his daughter whether she really is prepared for a lifetime of nursing. It goes without saying that after the wedding things initially don’t fare too well and Ken returns the hospital ward after an argument with Ellen. Angry, frustrated and smashing a hospital window, Ken then embarks on a night out in town with a friend/fellow patient (quite how both men managed to get their wheelchairs in the car that Ken drives is another matter…). Once again Ken finds himself being scrutinised by most of the other diners who look at him and his mate like circus freaks – did people really behave this way back then towards handicapped people? Ken actually asks a rude customer something like “Would you like your daughter to go out with someone like me?” before knocking him out. A serious talk with Dr. Brock is needed to get Ken's mind right and possibly even save his marriage from failure…

The film is obviously well intentioned and was for the time addressing an important social issue and bearing that in mind it is of interest. Brando, as can be seen straight away, represented a new style of acting - the arrogance overrides the later sympathy (not that there is much of that and THE WILD ONE beckons). He is somewhat ill matched with Teresa Wright who not only sports a dreadful old maid’s hairstyle but was in fact six years older than him – the on-screen chemistry (at least from Brando’s side) isn’t entirely convincing.

THE MEN has just been released newly restored on Dual Format (Blu-ray and DVD) and contains the following Special Features: newly recorded audio commentary, audio-only interview with award-winning screenwriter Carl Foreman (1969, 82 min), stills gallery, original trailer, ‘Return to Action (1947, 19 min) plus ‘’The Undefeated’ (1950, 35 min) about UK rehabilitation schemes, reversible sleeve, plus Illustrated booklet with new essays (first pressing only).