Never So Few

Director: John Sturges

Overview

In this gritty war drama, a philosophical American commander (Frank Sinatra) enlists the aid of Burmese jungle fighters to help him and his dwindling number of troops rally against the Japanese. The story is based on a Tom T. Chamales novel.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/28/2017
UPC:	0888574474911
Original Release:	1959
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	2:04:00
Sales rank:	26,511

Special Features

Closed Caption; Includes: Theatrical Trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Frank Sinatra	Actor
Gina Lollobrigida	Actor
Peter Lawford	Actor
Steve McQueen	Actor
Paul Henreid	Nikko Regas
Brian Donlevy	Gen. Sloane
Dean Jones	Sgt. Jim Norby
Charles Bronson	Sgt. John Danforth
Philip Ahn	Nautaung
Robert Bray	Col. Fred Parkson
Kipp Hamilton	Margaret Fitch
John Hoyt	Col. Reed
Whit Bissell	Capt. Alofson
Richard Lupino	Mike Island
Aki Aleong	Billingsly
Maggie Pierce	Nurse
Ross Elliott	Dr. Barry
Leon Lontoc	Laurel
Charles Bateman	le pilote
John Bryant	l'aide du général Sloan
Spencer Chan	le marchand
Henry Amargo	Actor
Rayford Barnes	Actor
W.T. Chang	Actor
Isabel Cooley	Actor
Richard Johnson	Capt. Danny de Mortimer
Noel De Souza	Actor
Hugo Friedhofer	Composer
Harold Fong	Chinese Peasant
James Hong	General Chao
George Khoury	Headwaiter
Guy Lee	Bye Ya
Rollin Moriyama	Scout
Leo Needham	Pilot
George Takei	Soldier in Hospital
Irene Tedrow	Head Nurse

Technical Credits

Millard Kaufman

Tom T. Chamales

John Sturges	Director
Millard Kaufman	Screenwriter
Edmund Grainger	Producer
Robert R. Hoag	Special Effects
Lee LeBlanc	Special Effects
Tom T. Chamales	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

From all reports, the book from which Never So Few is adapted is a gripping read, and one that raises some interesting questions about appropriate behavior during times of war by men in dangerous and stressful situations. Unfortunately, the film of Few is at best only a moderately effective war movie, and one which pays only lip service to the ethical quandaries it raises. Part of the problem is that the film keeps working in fits and starts without ever really catching fire, and most of those fits and starts are due to the filmmakers' decision to let a ridiculous love story keep interrupting the action. Things are not helped by the fact that there is next to no chemistry between the purported lovers, Frank Sinatra and Gina Lollobrigida. Sinatra also seems a bit uncomfortable in the film, as if he didn't really "get" the role and so alternates between overdoing and shrugging his way through it. The rest of the men are good, including Peter Lawford and Richard Johnson. But it's some of the (then) "smaller" names that get the attention here, including a very young Dean Jones (far from his Disney self) and Charles Bronson. But the best performance by far is from Steve McQueen; it's only a supporting role (originally intended for Sammy Davis Jr.), but he grabs hold of the screen when he's on it and makes a very definite impression. Director John Sturges finds some moments that are memorable, but this is far from his best work.