No Man Is an Island (1962)

A decent but unexceptional war film, No Man Is an Island is based upon a true story but feels entirely fantasized -- indicating that either truth is stranger than fiction or that, as is so often the case, the movie makers decided to "improve" upon the truth. The result is a story that is only occasionally the gripping adventure and character exploration that was intended. That said, those moments when Island does click are powerful and engaging, making one wish that Island had been a more consistent film. Perhaps much of the fault lies with John Monks Jr.'s direction. His work is not bad, but it's fairly routine. There's too little spark, too much willingness to settle for "good enough." Island also falls a bit short due to its leading man. Jeffrey Hunter is not a bad actor, but he's a little too "Hollywood" for this part. He knows what his big scenes are, and he plays them big -- rather than playing them real. This approach works in part by giving the scenes impact -- but it creates a lack of genuine reality. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide