a_chinn Recycling the well worn "Sands of Iwo Jima" formula of a disparate group of new recruits getting trained at boot camp, coming together as a team, and then taking to the battlefield, "Darby's Rangers" offers nothing new, but is entertaining for fans of these type of WWII films. It's a durable formula that's can work well (i.e. Clint Eastwood's "Heartbreak Ridge") or can be so bad that it becomes a parody of itself (i.e. John Wayne's "The Green Berets"). With a veteran film director at the helm, William Wellman, and a strong cast (James Garner, Jack Warden, Peter Brown, Stuart Whitman, Murray Hamilton, and David Janssen) you have the makings for solid entertainment, which is exactly what "Darby's Ranger" delivers with Garner leading his squad into North Africa and Italy for exciting WWII action. The downside to the film is that the portions of the story focused on Garner's command level politics and the infantrymen's liberty romances are less than interesting.

bellino-angelo2014 This is one of my favourite war movies of the '50s, and it's based on a true story.The movie begins in a US Army command where Colonel William Orlando Bardy is assigned as the chief of the first ranger Battalion in 1942 (formed in Scotland), and while the Rangers have tough training, they get along with some lassies. Then they fight successfully in North Africa, Sicily, and Anzio in the Battle of Cisterna (with only 7 men, out of 767, left alive). And, in the end, we see bits of the remaining rangers after war (Darby leaves Anzio boarding a landing craft, and two of the central characters get married to their girlfriends).I loved the cast; James Garner (in his first leading man role) is excellent as Colonel William Orlando Darby, and also Jack Warden as his sidekick, top Sergeant Saul Rosen (who also narrates the movie). And there are some up-and-coming actors; Murray Hamilton as Sims Delancey; Stuart Whitman as Sergeant Hank Bishop, that gets along with proper Wendy Hollister; Corey Allen as the sleazy lover boy that falls for the older Sheila Andrews, the wife of an Archeology professor; Edd Byrnes is good as Lt. Arnold Dittman, and goes to struggle with his girlfriend (Angeline de Lotta)'s illness; and Peter Brown (in one of his first movies) gives his best role to date, especially in the scene when he is conflicted after killing a German sniper.By the way, it's a nice and entertaining World War II movie, and maybe one of the best made in the 1950s! Recommended to all movie buffs like me!

cbobcant This is one of my favor war movies. The story of Darby and his Rangers has a special place for me. This movie shows a man, who is driven to see his idea for a special fighting force come to life. Now there are some things that people see as goofs or problems with this movie. I mean the tanks are not real Panzers, but come on it is the late 50's and making every detail as real as possible is not going to happen because movie budgets are not that big. There are no summer blockbusters and if they are they are few and far between. As to some of the scenes being done on a sound stage in Hollywood again that magic word budget. If you want to enjoy a tale of men in war then this is enjoyment. True James Garner is not on camera all that much well he was in command and you don't see the commander that often in the field. It was nice to see what you would call an ensemble cast in this movie. I know that Edd Byrnes and Peter Brown were the heartthrobs of the movie. Stuart Whitman and Murray Hamilton were the cynic tough guys. Jack Warden was the hard-bitten old veteran from earlier wars. There is the comic relief guys. Of course you have to have the sleazy guy that everybody hates in Corey Allen's character. The Brits, who are old hands at a dirty business. So clichéd it may be but who cares it is a good if not great little war film.

pete36 "Darby's Rangers" is the story of an US elite unit during WWII on the European front. We get to see their rough training, initial actions, numerous encounters with women and a final big battle in which they allegedly played a major role : the landings in Anzio, Italy. The training segment is well done, but again hampered by the love interludes. Things finally seem to get going when they set off for their first landings in Algeria in 1942, when they had to fight French Vichy troops (but as with the Germans, the enemy is hardly seen in this movie). Then it's off to Sicily and then Italy, where they encounter some fierce opposition from Jerry.I have to admit :I really do not know what to think of this movie : the battle scenes are rather well-staged, although mostly shot an a sound stage. There is a harrowing scene when they have to move between some German panzers, some close combat in an Italian village, etc... So everything is there to make a good typical 50's war drama: the perfect all good-guy commander (Garner), his side-kick sergeant (Warden) and a whole bunch of colorful characters as the dapper Rangers, not to forget a high number of love interests. But unlike some previous efforts by director Wellman in the war movie genre, as the classic "The Story of GI Joe" (on war correspondent Ernie Pyle)and the supremely "Battleground" (on The Battle of the Bulge), this almost drowns in its own clichés. Especially the love interludes come over as rather silly and almost ruin the picture.What's left is a so-and-so war movie, with all the right ingredients but somehow it just doesn't work. An average time-passer but that's all.