Up from the Beach Reviews

On June 7, 1944, the day after the Allied invasion of Normandy, a squad of American soldiers under Robertson liberates a number of French civilians held hostage by the retreating Germans and captures the German commander, Goring. The soldiers receive orders to accompany the civilians to the beach, where they are to be evacuated from the battle zone to England. At the beach, however, beachmaster Justice knows nothing about any evacuation and, although sympathetic, he sends the group back to the village. Later they make the walk to the beach two more times, but each time confusion and lack of communication make their trips futile. Hungry, they are allowed to steal some army provisons while MP major Crawford generously looks the other way. The Germans begin shelling the village and the captured German, Goring, who is not a bad sort, suggests they take shelter in the vault under the church. Goring leads the way and is killed by a booby trap left behind by his own retreating troops. Eventually the bombardment lifts and Robertson and the squad join the advancing army, with the French civilians singing "The Marseillaise" to them as they march through the streets of the town. This interesting war drama concentrates not on the battles, but on the problems of civilians who awaken one day to find the war outside their doors. Good performances, especially memorable supporting turns by Justice and Crawford, and an intelligent script that rarely sinks to the obvious put this film a notch above the run of war films.