''The Private War of Major Benson'' is 1955 comedy film starring

Charlton Heston Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter; October 4, 1923April 5, 2008) was an American actor and political activist. As a Hollywood star, he appeared in almost 100 films over the course of 60 years. He played Moses in the epic film ''The Ten ...

Julie Adams Julie Adams (born Betty May Adams; October 17, 1926 – February 3, 2019) was an American actress, billed as Julia Adams toward the beginning of her career, primarily known for her numerous television guest roles. She starred in a number of ...

, Sal Mineo and

Tim Hovey Tim Hovey (June 19, 1945 – September 9, 1989) was a former American child actor during the 1950s. He later became a musician, road manager and an audio engineer for rock bands. Acting career Born in Los Angeles, California, Hovey was dis ...

, about a tough-talking U.S. Army officer who must shape up the JROTC program at Sheridan Academy, a Catholic boys'

military academy A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps. It normally provides education in a military environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned. ...

, or be forced out of the Army. The film was shot on St. Catherine's Military School campus in 1955, with cadets as the actors in all but the leading roles.

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Americ ...

chose St. Catherine's cadets and location for their humorous comedy about the challenges facing the new commandant of a military school by the antics of a group of grade school cadets. The picture featured a full battalion of St. Catherine's students. The film has not been remade, but its basic premise was done twice in the following forty years, such as ''Hard Knox'' (1984) for TV and most notably with '' Major Payne'' (1995), which was also filmed by Universal Pictures.

Cast

as Maj. Barney Benson *

as Dr. Kay Lambert * William Demarest as John *

as Cadet Tiger Flaherty * Sal Mineo as Cadet Dusik * Tim Considine as Cadet Hibler *

Nana Bryant Nana Irene Bryant (November 23, 1888 – December 24, 1955) was an American film, stage, and television actress. She appeared in more than 100 films between 1935 and 1955. Biography Bryant was born 1888 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She appeared in ...

as Mother Redempta *

Milburn Stone Hugh Milburn Stone (July 5, 1904 – June 12, 1980) was an American actor, best known for his role as "Doc" (Dr. Galen Adams) on the CBS Western series '' Gunsmoke''. Early life Stone was born in Burrton, Kansas, to Herbert Stone and the for ...

as General Ramsey

Reception

Screenwriters Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Story.''The Private War of Major Benson'' - Awards
at IMDb

References

External links

* * 1955 films 1955 comedy films American comedy films Films scored by Henry Mancini Films about educators Films directed by Jerry Hopper Films set in California Films set in schools Films shot in California Military humor in film Universal Pictures films Films set in boarding schools Films with screenplays by William Roberts (screenwriter) 1950s English-language films 1950s American films {{1950s-comedy-film-stub