Battle Circus

Unusual star teaming in neat war story
I always tend to enjoy films where the casting is a bit off beat and where the leads are not at fist glance a likely combination. Such is the case in "Battle Circus" with the once off and very unlikely combination of Humphrey Bogart, veteran star of many tough guy roles at Warners, and June Allyson the 40's sweetheart of MGM. I must say it makes for an interesting and surprisingly compatiable star teaming.

"Battle Circus" while never being in the top range of Bogart films over the years delivers a vivid and well documented story set during the Korean war, 30years before the famed TV series MASH tackled the same topic. This film tells the story of one such MASH unit responsible for the care of the allied forces wounded at whatever front the fighting takes them. It focuses on the love /hate relationship that develops between cynical world weary unit doctor Major Jed Webbe (Humphrey Bogart) and dedicated unit nurse Lieut. Ruth McGara. While not love at first sight the story develops so...

All is Fair in Love and War
Battle Circus is a war film that is set on the borderline of war. It follows the activities of a hospital near the front where wounded soldiers and prisoners go for aid. Humphrey Bogart plays a stubborn and war-worn surgeon who has an eye for a nurse played by June Allyson. The two have suprisingly good chemistry with each other, possibly because they were friends in life. Some might say this film is a lot like MASH, but it reads more like classic Hollywood than modern television.

They really do not make movies like this anymore. The romance between the doctor and the nurse seems stereotypical and doomed to fail, but with the chemistry between the two and the intelligence of the characters, it seems it might just work out despite everything working against them. There is a certain amount of hope projected that is rarely seen today. Too bad; it makes for a great ending and a great film.

Note to aviation enthusiasts
This film has a much more frank sexual tone compared with movies made during WW2. It is also less gung-ho and more questioning. For a medical war film, it still refrains from showing any gore.

Besides the ground vehicles trucking the MASH unit all over, there are numerous shots of the H-13 Sioux medevac chopper. There is also a sequence at the beginning intended to show MiGs strafing the compound, but it is confusing when F-86 Sabres are being used with clearly identifiable USAF markings. I almost thought I was seeing a friendly fire incident until I realized the context.

Even if you are a fan of the MASH tv series, it is still interesting to see the real thing.

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