There’s a thin red line between the sane and the mad, or so goes the saying. These sentiments weigh heavily on Private Doll, facing the horrors of war for the first time. Having left behind his wife of just eight days, Doll is determined to do whatever it is required to stay alive and to maintain his sanity. As he battles Japanese soldiers however, he is also engaged in a battle with one of his own, a sadistic and tough Sergeant (Jack Warden), who is starkly contrasted to the thoughtful Doll. This explosive dramatization of the American assault on Guadalcanal in World War 2 is a thoughtful study on the effects of war on innocent and not so innocent minds, and the apparent meaninglessness of it all. Cast includes Keir Dullea and Jack Warden. Based on the novel by James Jones.
Content notification
Our collection comprises over 40,000 moving image works, acquired and catalogued between the 1940s and early 2000s. As a result, some items may reflect outdated, offensive and possibly harmful views and opinions. ACMI is working to identify and redress such usages.
Learn more about our collection and our collection policy here. If you come across harmful content on our website that you would like to report, let us know.
How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
309876
Language
English
Audience classification
PG
Subject categories
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Sadism in moving pictures
Armed Forces, Military, War & Weapons → World War, 1939-1945
Armed Forces, Military, War & Weapons → World War, 1939-1945 - Psychological aspects
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Sadism
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Sadism in moving pictures
Feature films → Feature films - United States
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Sadism
Literature → American literature - Film and video adaptations
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Black and White
Holdings
VHS; Access Print (Section 1)