The Way Ahead

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The Way Ahead

1944,

1h 46m,

War

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Watchlist

100%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

72%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Put in charge of a group of disgruntled British soldiers in the midst of World War II, Lt. Jim Perry (David Niven) tries to find a way to both train and unite the men. While Sgt. Fletcher (Billy Hartnell) attempts to take a forceful approach with the troops, Perry looks for the right mix of his own gentle temperament and the demands of a leader. When the soldiers eventually find themselves in Africa facing General Rommel's impressive forces, they must find a way to fight together.

Wolcott Gibbs

The New Yorker

Oct 15, 2021

Its great virtue is that it is written about a group of quite commonplace men who have to endure the dirty, tiresome, and murderous business of war as best they can rather than about the picturesque band of heroes usually dispatched from Hollywood.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

Direction by Carol Reed is competent, and undoubtedly accounts for the underlying genuineness of the picture as a semi-documentary.

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Mar 25, 2006

4/5

A warm and touching tribute to the British Army infantryman.

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David Hanna

Illustrated Daily News (Los Angeles)

Jul 9, 2021

Meticulous in its avoidance of Hollywood heroics and refreshingly simple in its few romantic touches.

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MFB Critics

Monthly Film Bulletin

Jan 28, 2019

From a thorough, thoughtful and lively script by Eric Ambler and Peter Ustinov, this is an outstanding piece of film-making from the viewpoint of production, direction, camera-work and acting.

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John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

Jul 26, 2012

7/10

Carol Reed directed this 1944 war film from a script by Eric Ambler and Peter Ustinov.

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George L

Aug 15, 2018

Quite possibly the best David Niven film ever, this World War II propaganda piece from Britain features solid performances from a worthy cast of character actors of the era, resentful of the army at first for its encroachment into the freedom of their civilian lives but growing into a competent troop of soldiers itchy for combat. I've seen American films like this and it was nice to compare the two. There is no bloodshed throughout the film and of course it ends heroically. In all this is a rousing feature for the boys at home.

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Carol Reed

Director

David Niven

Lieutenant Jim Perry

Stanley Holloway

Pvt. Ted Brewer

Raymond Huntley

Pvt. Herbert Davenport

James Donald

Pvt. Evans Lloyd

John Laurie

Pvt. Luke

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Synopsis

Put in charge of a group of disgruntled British soldiers in the midst of World War II, Lt. Jim Perry (David Niven) tries to find a way to both train and unite the men. While Sgt. Fletcher (Billy Hartnell) attempts to take a forceful approach with the troops, Perry looks for the right mix of his own gentle temperament and the demands of a leader. When the soldiers eventually find themselves in Africa facing General Rommel's impressive forces, they must find a way to fight together.

Director: Carol Reed
Screenwriter: Eric Ambler, Peter Ustinov
Production Co: Two Cities Films Ltd.
Genre: War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 22, 2018
Runtime: 1h 46m

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