Rivalen (1958)

Rivalen: Directed by Delmer Daves. With Frank Sinatra, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Leora Dana. Toward the end of World War II, two American soldiers fighting in Southern France become romantically involved with a young, American woman. Her background will reveal more about them than her.

“Kings Go Forth (1958)u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI shouldnu0026#39;t have loved this movie as much as I did. But it touches on those basics of love and life and rivalry and goodness I couldnu0026#39;t help be manipulated. And itu0026#39;s set in Villefranche, one of my favorite places in the world, and itu0026#39;s set during WWII, when life for Europe was its most on fire. And there I was, crying and loving it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Kings Go Forthu0026quot; is actually a slightly late in the game WWII flick that shifts attention at first to luxuriating soldiers in the south of France just as the war was ending. Itu0026#39;s not as much about war (though there are some remnants of fightings which are tense). Itu0026#39;s more about a bunch of decent guys, two of them in particular, and their misunderstandings. And itu0026#39;s about love. The south of France and the Mediterranean is about as decent a setting for romance as you get. Itu0026#39;s idealizing (everyone loves the Americans in their Jeeps, which must be half true, but not entirely), and itu0026#39;s all sunny weather and champagne. Except that love is never easy, and it gets more and more intense, sad, and profound. Yes, profound.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTony Curtis is terrific as usual. As Brit Harris he is charming, funny, and clever. Natalie Wood in one of many great roles between u0026quot;Rebel Without a Causeu0026quot; and u0026quot;West Side Storyu0026quot; is rather perfect, except maybe her French accent. But she represents, as Monique Blair, something perfectly innocent and yet ravaged by war. The other lead, the main character Sam Loggins, is played by Frank Sinatra, and Loggins also loves Blair. At first Loggins is noble and lets Harris win the girlu0026#39;s heart, but then it gets complicated.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThere is a fabulous last war scene for the climax, featuring a special mission needing just two men–our leads, now enemies and distrustful. But in the heat of their battle, Harris gives some real wisdom about character, and Loggins shows true compassion. Itu0026#39;s war, the worst and the best of it. And itu0026#39;s the worst and best of love, too, with an ending just slightly hanging in mid-air.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDirector Delmer Daves pulls off a lot of great, nicely felt films. They often lack an edge of innovation or of real probing triumph, but this is one of those that brings a lot of issues, including racism at its simplest, to a believable story. Donu0026#39;t brush this movie off. And donu0026#39;t be put off by the first twenty minutes or so when the establishing scenes seem like just another good war film. This one goes places, at least for the romantic.”