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Showing posts with the label 1968

The Sergeant

Open homosexuality themes back in 60s in feature films like this must hav been a huge deal, especially in this scenario where the setting is military and we all know how sensitive the whole thing can be. The film is a bit confused with its study of latent homosexuality, but its hard for me to actually make a judgement since the situation back then was so different. A dedicated, decorated war veteran, Master Sergeant Callan, is posted in France in 1952. Finding a lack of discipline under the frequently drunk Captain, he takes charge in a tough, no-nonsense manner. But distracting the sergeant is a physical attraction to one of his men, Private Thomas Swanson, that seems at odds with everything in Callan's personality. He makes Swanson his orderly and befriends him socially, but behind his back scares off the private's girlfriend. Callan's confusion and depression grows and he begins to drink. Filled with self-loathing and unable to act on the natural attraction he feels for ...