(thanks, Mind Hunger!) 

Steve McQueen may have been the “King of Cool” in his prime, but if his performance in 1963’s Soldier in the Rain is any indication, he was also a pretty lousy comedian. On the other hand, the film is all Jackie Gleason’s, and he makes it well worth viewing. The film is one of those interesting comedy/drama hybrids that tends to lean too far into either direction when a more subtle middle ground would have worked better. Despite the flaws, this Blake Edwards-produced film has enough laughs and some fine performances throughout. McQueen plays Eustis Clay as a goofball caricature who’s great at whipping up scams that never net him the fortunes he dreams about. Gleason’s Master Sargent Slaughter (no relation to the 90’s TV wrestler) is a career man, heavyset and aging who humors Clay and his crazy schemes partially because they brighten his usually dull days. Continue reading →