MartinHafer This is a very unusual film for Charlton Heston, as he plays a hard as nails major that is forced to be the commandant of a boys military school. Seeing his gruff and perfectionistic ways meet the reality that these are only children makes this a cute film and HIGHLY reminiscent of Clifton Webb's MR. SCOUTMASTER--another great family film about a grumpy old guy who is eventually tamed by the boys. Sure, this makes the film awfully predictable, but sometimes I am just a sucker for a little bit of sentimentality--provided it is paired with some comedy to keep it from being too schmaltzy--as in the case of this film. Also, like MR. SCOUTMASTER, the real star of the film is a very small and very endearing little boy--played in this film by an adorable Tim Hovey. The bottom line is for all this to work, the film had to be well-written and the writers DID earn an Oscar nomination for Best Original Story. So see this film--and MR. SCOUTMASTER--two excellent family films that are lots of fun regardless of your age.FYI--This film was later remade as MAJOR PAYNE.

smithy-8 "The Private War of Major Benson" is Charlton Heston's best comedy. He is supported by a beautiful leading lady (Julie Adams), a bunch of talented kids, and Milburn Stone. This is Julie Adams best comedy and movie. She was never given the chance in movies.The movie is funny and every scene is needed. Mr. Heston once said this was his only comedy hit. He made another funny comedy in 1962, "Pigeon That Took Rome", where he was in the Army again.

labnfn The film is overall a delightful comedy with the best actors being the children. Mr. Heston makes an effort to appear less imperious than usual, and partly succeeds. The script and children were of such quality, I think that a number of other actors may have played Major Benson with success, e.g., James Whitmore, James Stewart, Glenn Ford, and others.

ivan-22 Forget "I was a teenage Moses", this may well be Heston's magnum opus. For once women are not second fiddle, quite the contrary. Any movie with Sal Mineo is worth watching. I haven't seen them all, but those I've seen have been quite good. Tim Hovey is another estimable thespian. His end came too soon, but his life seems to have been a happy one. This is a very happy, cheerful movie which can teach movie makers a thing of three about simplicity and naturalness.