The Sergeant

Rod Steiger stars in this moving, sensitive military drama shot inFrance about the relationship of two soldiers. Stationed at a U.S. Armybase in France in 1952, World War II hero Master Sergeant Albert Callan(Steiger) turns the outpost from a shambles run by the alcoholic CaptainLoring (Frank Latimore) into a model of efficiency anddiscipline--although the lazy troops resent Callan for his efforts. WhenCallan's attraction to men surfaces upon meeting his attractive clerk,Tom Swanson (John Phillip Law), Callan jealously refuses to grantSwanson permission to visit his French girlfriend (Ludmila Mikael). Atfirst, Swanson interprets Callan's odd behavior as loneliness andforgives it, but after Callan kisses him, Swanson understands that hissuperior's attentions are sexual. Rebuffed, Callan tortures Swanson withunfair punishments and criticisms, eventually earning his subordinate'sanimus.