Darby's Rangers (1958)

I love this movie so much

Fresh and Exciting

Excellent but underrated film

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

This is one of my favourite war movies of the '50s, and it's based on a true story.The movie begins in a US Army command where Colonel William Orlando Bardy is assigned as the chief of the first ranger Battalion in 1942 (formed in Scotland), and while the Rangers have tough training, they get along with some lassies. Then they fight successfully in North Africa, Sicily, and Anzio in the Battle of Cisterna (with only 7 men, out of 767, left alive). And, in the end, we see bits of the remaining rangers after war (Darby leaves Anzio boarding a landing craft, and two of the central characters get married to their girlfriends).I loved the cast; James Garner (in his first leading man role) is excellent as Colonel William Orlando Darby, and also Jack Warden as his sidekick, top Sergeant Saul Rosen (who also narrates the movie). And there are some up-and-coming actors; Murray Hamilton as Sims Delancey; Stuart Whitman as Sergeant Hank Bishop, that gets along with proper Wendy Hollister; Corey Allen as the sleazy lover boy that falls for the older Sheila Andrews, the wife of an Archeology professor; Edd Byrnes is good as Lt. Arnold Dittman, and goes to struggle with his girlfriend (Angeline de Lotta)'s illness; and Peter Brown (in one of his first movies) gives his best role to date, especially in the scene when he is conflicted after killing a German sniper.By the way, it's a nice and entertaining World War II movie, and maybe one of the best made in the 1950s! Recommended to all movie buffs like me!

Routine, by-the-numbers war film made on an off-day by the great William A. Wellman. It's no better, and somewhat worse, than other WW II films of that era, with some sappy and contrived love stories thrown in. Although Wellman hadn't made "B" pictures for years, that's just what this one comes across as--far too much of it is shot on sound stages (apparently to save money on location shooting) which makes it look cheap, as does the surfeit of poorly integrated newsreel stock footage, and what little action there is isn't particularly well done. The script is, to be honest, awful, and the acting--other than Garner, whose first major role this was and who's quite good and Edd "Kookie" Byrnes, who plays an arrogant young West Point officer on his first combat assignment--is for the most part pedestrian, with the tired stereotypes you see in pretty much every war picture: the slow-witted hillbilly, the fast-talking city slicker, the weary veteran sergeant, etc.Overall, it's slow and boring, with some unnecessary comedy relief thrown in and too much attention paid to the GIs' love interests. Not one of Wellman's better films, by a long shot.

Darby's Rangers -or The Young Invaders ,to give it the title under which it was shown in Great Britain - is a lengthy world war two movie about the formation of the US Rangers ,its initial training at the hands of the British in Scotland and its success in battle both in Africa and Europe .It also devotes some considerable time to the private lives of the troops especially there involvement with women On neither level is it particularly engrossing with the battle scenes clearly being staged on a studio set which renders them somewhat artificial looking and unconvincing while the platoon members are just not interesting enough to make me care greatly what happens to them The acting is routine Garner is under used and such young performers as Peter Brown and Ed Byrne lack the experience and charisma to hold the screenGood to see the British accorded some respect in a US war movie but otherwise this is routine fare indeed

Typical wartime flick for the period. Reliable late-night fare. Gather up your favorite snack and enjoy.