When World War 2 breaks out, the British Army is unprepared for it. Undermanned, under-trained, inexperienced and lacking in technology it has much ground to catch up. A typical example of such unpreparedness is the Duke of Glendon's Light Infantry Regiment. Here a young Lieutenant and his hard-nosed Sergeant must shape a platoon of reluctant draftees into a tough, dependable fighting unit.
Directed by Carol Reed (later of The Third Man, Mutiny on the Bounty and Oliver! Fame), starring David Niven as Lieutenant Perry and covering the less glamourous side of war - training - The Way Ahead is fairly original, realistic and entertaining without being overly profound, powerful or memorable. As mentioned, covering the training side does make for a new angle and this shows what goes into making the soldiers that have to fight and win wars.
On the negative side, the film was produced during WW2 so there is a degree of propaganda to it, giving it less weighty feel than it could have had. Some of the scenes towards the end do have a rather jingoistic quality to them.
Overall, it's reasonably good - interesting and entertaining enough.
Directed by Carol Reed (later of The Third Man, Mutiny on the Bounty and Oliver! Fame), starring David Niven as Lieutenant Perry and covering the less glamourous side of war - training - The Way Ahead is fairly original, realistic and entertaining without being overly profound, powerful or memorable. As mentioned, covering the training side does make for a new angle and this shows what goes into making the soldiers that have to fight and win wars.
On the negative side, the film was produced during WW2 so there is a degree of propaganda to it, giving it less weighty feel than it could have had. Some of the scenes towards the end do have a rather jingoistic quality to them.
Overall, it's reasonably good - interesting and entertaining enough.