Directed by
Jerry Hopper.
A too-tough Army major gets himself sent to run an ROTC program at a Santa Barbara military school after he calls unwanted attention to the military by mouthing off to a prominent news magazine. When he arrives to his new post, the major is shocked to find it run by nuns and that his new troops are school children. His assignment is to make "men" out of the rambunctious recruits so that the school can keep from losing its ROTC certification. At first the hard-as-nails major treats his young charges with all the tenderness of a old army boot and the boys, tired of his constant barrage of insults and demands, come to hate him. Further complicating matters is the major's disconcerting romantic feelings for the school's lovely doctor. Unfortunately, she isn't about to put up with his ultra-macho guff anymore than the children are and before this romantic comedy is through, the major learns important lessons about the value of humanity in dealing with others. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Review by All Movie Guide
All Movie Guide
lost interest.
An amiable if unspectacular formula comedy, The Private War of Major Benson at least gives
Charlton Heston one of his rare shots at comedy. And surprisingly, Heston is pretty good here. Certainly, it helps that the character of Benson is one that emphasizes the macho, hard-headed, stubborn side of the actor. That he is able to play this as easily for laughs as he is for drama is fortunate indeed, and it gives
Benson a great deal of fun. Of course, Benson ultimately has to change – this is a comedy, after all – and Heston does very well in making the change of heart believable as well. He also has a nice rapport with co-star
Julie Adams, which is not always the case with his love interests. For her part, Adams is aces here; a very talented and attractive actress, she somehow didn’t have the right spark to become a star, but she usually turned in very good performances, and this is one of her best. The supporting cast, including little
Tim Hovey, crusty
William Demarest and sensitive
Sal Mineo, are also quite good. Where
Benson falls down is in the script. It’s lively and amusing enough, but it’s predictable, trite, often unbelievable and sometimes just plain sappy.
Jerry Hopper’s direction is adequate, but a stronger hand was needed to raise the film above the limitations of the script. Even with its flaws,
Benson is still enjoyable. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide