Rod Steiger again proves his greatness Throughout a career that spanned 47 years (1955-2002), Rod Steiger turned in many great performances. One such is the Sergeant. Here, Mr. Steiger followed up his oscar winning performnace in "In the Heat of the Night" to play a homosexual G.I. platoon 1st sergeant who has a crush on one his men. Steiger portrays the tormented character who has made a heroic career of being in the army and who fights a losing battle in keeping his homosexuality supressed. When I saw this film in 1968 I was 17. The issue of homosexuality was never discussed in public and was ignored. It was very brave to present this film in 1968 and it did not do that well. The final scene was an obligatory suicide by the Steiger character after he is outed by a drunken display of grief over the rejection by the soldier he is infatuated with.
The film is shot in b&w which helps maintain the dark and shadowy story it tells.
A very "heavy" influence on a young teen in '68 This film upset me deeply as a 17 year old in '68. I already easily identified with the Rod Steiger character, though I was a very slick and handsome kid. Hardly an old "troll" like the sergeant. Other films came out around that time like "The Boys In The Band." I usually saw these films on dates and would hear my girlfriend's squirming utterances over certain scenes. Bottom line was, that none of these films back the "dark ages" of the 50s & 60s, painted a very pleasant picture of homosexuality. It was an uphill and very difficult path and acceptance of myself. Not a choice. No friggn' way! Today's gay kids are totally spoiled rotten. I was a bit too young for "Stonewall" in NYC, but our generation did all the hard work. Many of us died of AIDS. Kids today are very fortunate. Yeah...I think this movie is a classic and should be seen by those who know little of those difficult years.
A Review of "The Sergeant" Starring Rod Steiger Every person who has questioned the "Don't Ask -- Don't Tell" policy of the Clinton administration should see this movie. It squarely addresses the issue of homosexuality in an authoritarian environment where lower-ranked people have no defense agaist sexual predation. I cannot believe that the issues presented in this film have not been central to the debates on this issue.
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