Universal International Pictures
Not part of a collection.
The Red Ball Express
FROM BEACHHEAD TO BATTLEFRONT! THEY CARRY THE AMMO FOR PATTON'S TANKS!
August 1944: proceeding with the invasion of France, Patton's Third Army has advanced so far toward Paris that it cannot be supplied. To keep up the momentum, Allied HQ establishes an elite military truck route.
- Original title
- The Red Ball Express
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- —
- Revenue
- —
CinemaSerf
Sep 3, 2022 · via TMDB
I am afraid that I never was much of a fan of Jeff Chandler and sadly, here, he adds very little by way of star quality to this pretty routine wartime drama. He is "Campbell" who leads a squad of truck drivers who are given the onerous, and frankly under-appreciated, task of keeping General Patton's Third Army supplied with gasoline as they advance, at break-neck speed, through France. Setting aside the nature of their job, what ensues here has all been seen many times. The platoon must navigate their personal differences, racial prejudices, Nazi attacks, and even a minefield as the pressure on them from above to deliver the crucially needed fuel mounts - despite distinct lacks of central co-ordination from the US Army and of enthusiasm on the part of the enemy to play ball! The supporting cast is dominated by Sidney Poitier, but not in an especially potent fashion - he has a presence as an actor that draws the eye, but the dialogue and narrative of the rest of this rarely draws the ear. It's sometimes quite pithy, though, a dark soldier's humour that does raise a smile now and again but I'm afraid the contribution from Chandler sets the bar pretty low, and low it stays throughout.
SiriusB
Dec 14, 2012 · via TMDB
I first saw this movie over 40 years ago & found it enjoyable. Little did I realize that many years later, I myself would be a military truck driver, which thankfully was better organized than the situation shown in the film. Those men & women had it tough during those days & should be remembered.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Jeff Chandler
Lt. Campbell
Alex Nicol
Sgt. Kallek
Charles Drake
Partridge
Judith Braun
Joyce
Sidney Poitier
Robertson
Jacqueline Duval
Antoinette
Bubber Johnson
Taffy
Davis Roberts
McCord
Hugh O'Brian
Wilson
Frank Chase
Higgins
Gregg Palmer
Tank Lieutenant
John Hudson
Tank Sergeant
Jack Kelly
Heyman
Howard Petrie
General Gordon
George S. Patton
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
George Barrows
Soldier in Bistro (uncredited)
Nan Boardman
French Peasant Mother (uncredited)
Eugene Borden
Dubois -- Antoinette's Father (uncredited)
Sidney Clute
Military Police Captain (uncredited)
Yola d'Avril
Barmaid (uncredited)
Michael Dale
Mechanic (uncredited)
George Dee
French Waiter (uncredited)
Douglas Evans
Brigadier General at Briefing (uncredited)
David Friedman
Mechanic (uncredited)
Thomas Browne Henry
Col. Carter (uncredited)
Bill Hickman
Soldier in Bistro (uncredited)
Clark Howat
Military Police Captain (uncredited)
Robert Karnes
Engineer Captain (uncredited)
Harry Lauter
Lt. Michaelson -- Sentry (uncredited)
Bernard L. Montgomery
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Howard Negley
Major General (uncredited)
John Pickard
Major (uncredited)
Walter Reed
Major (uncredited)
Arthur Space
Colonel at Briefing (uncredited)
Bud Westmore
Makeup Artist
Bob Herron
Stunts
Budd Boetticher
Director
John Michael Hayes
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