The Private War of Major Benson (1955)

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

From the ranks of the U.S. Army comes the story of a veteran Korean War officer who believes, soldiers made of iron, can be molded from the ranks of the very young. Charlton Heston plays Maj. Bernard R. 'Barney' Benson a hard bitten officer who has been brought to the brink of his career, by publishing his personal motto in Newsweek magazine. Repremanded by his commanding officer, Maj. Gen Wilton Ramsey (Milburn Stone,) he is given a choice, either he can resign his commission or accept an assignment at a Catholic ROTC school. Having little choice, he accepts his new assignment where he meets school doctor Kay Lambert (Julie Adams). The school has a failing score and it's his task to train the students to pass their next inspection. With William Demarest as John, Tim Hovey as Flaherty, Tim Considine as Hibler and Sal Mineo as Cadet Col. Sylvester Dusik, the school accepts their new commander, but weather he stays long remains to be seen. This comedy with Heston playing a straight lace is one which belongs in your private library as it's not too often he accepts humorous roles. The result of director Jerry Hopper, story written by Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher is the creation of a fine family movie and one which easily makes it a Classic. ****

i loved this movie.. hovey was 2 years older than me.. my dad was career-military.. of course, i placed my dad in the role of charlton heston, myself as tim hovey.. any way, after watching it 10 times, it occurred to me that something was missing from the film.. if you're really busy enjoying the movie, it's not so obvious.. if you've seen it a dozen times, it becomes more obvious.. teachers! there's no teachers in this flick! there's barely any discussion of academics, zilch about teachers they feel strongly about, subjects they love/hate.. what do cadets at a military school talk about? apparently 1) being away from home; 1) wearing uniforms; 3) military protocol; 4) upperclassmen; 5) food; 6) cadet duty; the new commandant..they talk very little about 1) studies; 2) teachers; 3) graduation; 4) tests; 5) tutoring; 6) what school they hope to attend next..of course, the story has to involve few people to maintain the tightness of the plot.. still, it would appear realistic to see heston discuss curricula with a teacher, or observe a couple of classes.. a new commandant would do that, wouldn't he?here's the cast representing the school admin.: the commandant; the principal; the school nurse; the janitor.. other nuns appear, but are not identified as teaching or doing anything in particular..im not critcizing the film.. it's great.. music by mancini, produced by the two guys who produced the 'beaver' show soon after..you gotta love it!

"The Private War of Major Benson" is Charlton Heston's best comedy. He is supported by a beautiful leading lady (Julie Adams), a bunch of talented kids, and Milburn Stone. This is Julie Adams best comedy and movie. She was never given the chance in movies.The movie is funny and every scene is needed. Mr. Heston once said this was his only comedy hit. He made another funny comedy in 1962, "Pigeon That Took Rome", where he was in the Army again.

While channel hopping on TV I came across this movie being shown and had no idea it even existed. It's simply delightful to watch Charlton Heston as Major Benson learn to cope with the youngsters at the academy. I was thinking he rather resembled the "bull in a china shop" until one of the cast in the movie says Benson was like "an elephant on an escalator" which says it all. How regrettable that Heston should have been typecast and only known for serious roles at which he excelled of course, but it's oh so pleasant to see another side of him too, the humorous side.I've only watched the movie for a first time and look forward to future viewings because the witty dialogue overflows from almost every scene. I'll allow the experts to fill in the details for now. An enjoyable film.