The Sergeant (1968)
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Synopsis of The Sergeant
Long before "don't ask, don't tell," this melodrama made a mishmash of the issue of homosexuality in the military. Rod Steiger stars as Master Sergeant Albert Callan, a hero of WWII who is stationed at a U.S. Army base in France in 1952. A gruff, tough taskmaster, Callan turns the base from a shambles run by the alcoholic Captain Loring (Frank Latimore) into a model of efficiency and discipline -- though the lazy troops resent Callan for his efforts. Callan's been hiding his attraction to men for some time, and his eye is turned toward his attractive clerk, PFC Tom Swanson (John Phillip Law). Callan jealously refuses to grant Swanson permission to visit his French girlfriend (Ludmila Mikael) -- and even orders the younger man to stop seeing her. At first, Swanson interprets Callan's odd behavior as loneliness and forgives it, but after Callan kisses him, Swanson understands that his superior's attentions are sexual. Rebuffed, Callan tortures Swanson with unfair punishments and criticisms, earning his subordinate's animus. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast of The Sergeant
- Rod Steiger - Master Sgt. Albert Callan
- Ludmila Mikael - Solange
- Elliott Sullivan - Pop
- Philip Roye - Brown
- Memphis Slim - Nightclub Singer
- John Phillip Law - Pfc. Tom Swanson
- Frank Latimore - Capt. Loring
- Ronald Rubin - Cpl. Cowley
- Jerry Brouer - Sgt. Komski
- Gabriel Gascon - Solange's Brother-in-Law (uncredited)
- Director(s):
- John Flynn
- Writer(s):
- Dennis Murphy
- Producer(s):
- Richard Goldstone
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