Nicholas Ray was never known for being a subtle director. His films were full of explosive, violent characters that struck out at their environments and the bystanders that inhabited them. But in Bitter Victory, Ray becomes so heavy-handed that he almost smashes the film in two. The film follows an Allied commando mission during the Western Desert Campaign of World War II. The objective: recover a stash of secret documents vital for the war effort from a German fortress. The leaders: Major Brand, a distinguished soldier with limited knowledge and experience of the desert, and Captain Leith, a volunteer who knows the desert like the back of his hand. Brand and Leith are immediately at odds with one another. Brand doesn't like Leith because of his unpolished nature. Leith loathes Brand for his arrogance. As can be expected, things don't go as planned during the mission. The papers are recovered, but many of their men are killed and wounded. During their flee into the desert, Brand is revealed to be a coward. And from that point on, Ray makes sure that every single member of his unit reminds him. Leith mocks him every single chance he gets. His soldiers look on with distaste as he tries to lead them. I can understand that Ray was trying to make a point about heroism, bravery, and masculinity. But he goes about with such intensity that it borders on hilarity.
6/10
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