Overview
Three soldiers navigate the harrowing realities of war, facing their own personal battles amid the chaos.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- somber
- conflicted
- serious
- classic film night
- historical drama viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a well-acted, expansive World War II drama whose ambitious interwoven perspectives are weakened by a formless and superficial structure.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film alternates among German officer Christian Diestl and American soldiers Noah Ackerman and Michael Whiteacre.
Christian increasingly rejects the Nazi war effort while the American characters confront antisemitism, cowardice, and personal responsibility.
The 167-minute 20th Century Fox production presents World War II across multiple theaters and national perspectives in black and white.
Noah Ackerman faces antisemitism at home and in the army while trying to establish dignity as a Jewish-American soldier.
Films like The Young Lions, and why
The Best Years of Our Lives
shared world war ii drama, interwoven soldier perspectives, and moral disillusionment
From Here to Eternity
shared large-scale world war ii combat drama and ensemble treatment of soldiers under pressure
The Big Red One
shared black and white war filmmaking, multiple perspectives, and conflicted military characters
Movie Details
- Director
- Edward Dmytryk
- Release Date
- 1958-04-02
- Runtime
- 167 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (150)
Cast
- Marlon Brando
- Montgomery Clift
- Dean Martin
- Hope Lange
- Barbara Rush
- May Britt
- Maximilian Schell
- Dora Doll
- Lee Van Cleef
- Liliane Montevecchi
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Young Lions about?
- Three soldiers on opposing sides of World War II confront prejudice, cowardice, and the collapse of moral certainty.
- What is The Young Lions like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Young Lions as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Young Lions violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Young Lions as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Young Lions?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a well-acted, expansive World War II drama whose ambitious interwoven perspectives are weakened by a formless and superficial structure.
- Which films are like The Young Lions?
- Films with a similar feel include The Best Years of Our Lives, From Here to Eternity, and The Big Red One.
- How long is The Young Lions?
- The Young Lions runs 167 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Young Lions?
- In United States, The Young Lions is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
