A richly textured movie (filmed in 1955) about a group of American Marines trained for combat in the Pacific. Van Heflin is their commander who pulls strings to get them a tough combat assignment. Tab Hunter is fine as a "wholesome" gyrene, and Aldo Ray gives the best performance of his career as a rough-hewn leatherneck who falls in love with Aussie Nancy Olson while on leave. Based on a novel by Leon Uris.