Young Lions

DVD Features:

Audio:

• Stereo - English
• Mono - English, French
• Subtitles - English, Spanish - Optional

Additional Release Materials:

• Trailers - Original Theatrical Trailer

Interactive Features:

• Interactive Menus
• Scene Selection

Description by OLDIES.com:

Academy Award-winning actor Marlon Brando captures the extraordinary contradictions and complexity of a decent man who winds up as a Nazi officer. The Young Lions tells the story of World War II from both sides. The American, represented by Montgomery Clift and Dean Martin. And the German, made tragically vivid by Brando. Based on the novel by Irwin Shaw, The Young Lions is a provocative, insightful movie. It is also one of Brando's all-time best.

Product Description:

Director Edward Dmytryk's sprawling, ambitious WWII drama, based on the acclaimed Irwin Shaw novel, stars Marlon Brando as Christian, a German ski instructor who idealistically joins Hitler's army, fights in the North African desert, and gradually loses faith in his country and humanity in general. Parallel stories take place across the Atlantic, as a tipsy Broadway star (Dean Martin) wrestles with his conscience and cowardice, since his connections keep him out of the draft. Another thread follows sensitive Jewish draftee Noah (Montgomery Clift) as he encounters anti-Semitism both from his fellow G.I.s and the parents of the girl he loves (Hope Lange). Eventually, all three men meet near the end of the war in the most tragic circumstances.

The film suffers from a somewhat rambling, episodic structure, but is more than redeemed by great black-and-white photography and the superb performances of the three leads. Brando looks great, and his German accent is a delight; Clift brilliantly conveys his trademark anguish as Noah. As for Martin, this was his first big dramatic role after leaving comic partner Jerry Lewis, and his performance amazed an initially doubtful public. He was a hit, as was the film.

Plot Synopsis:

A handsome German ski instructor turned Nazi, a forlorn and romantic American Jew, and a Broadway playboy all meet before the Second World War and then again during the war in this classic drama.

Plot Keywords:

Character Study | Drama | Recommended | Theatrical Release | World War II

Production Notes:

• Theatrical release: April 2, 1958.
• Swedish actress May Britt, Swiss actor Maximilian Schell, French actress Dora Doll and Italian actress Liliane Montevecchi all made their U.S. film debuts with THE YOUNG LIONS.

Cast and Crew: