The Big Red One

A hardened, unnamed sergeant leads four young infantrymen of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division ('The Big Red One') through campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, Normandy, and into the heart of Germany. The film presents a series of episodic combat vignettes drawn from writer-director Samuel Fuller's own wartime service. It balances brutal violence with dark absurdist humor.

The U.S. 1st Infantry Division fought in nearly every major American campaign in the European and Mediterranean theaters, including Operation Torch in North Africa, the invasion of Sicily, D-Day at Omaha Beach, and the advance into Germany, including the liberation of concentration camps.

Semi-autobiographical, drawn from Fuller's real service with the division; characters are fictional composites of his wartime comrades.

Montgomery's Eighth Army broke the Axis line west of Alexandria and began the pursuit that ended in Tunisia.

A massive artillery barrage opened Operation Lightfoot, followed by a grinding infantry and armoured battle through minefields. Operation Supercharge broke through in early November and Rommel withdrew.

Directed by Samuel Fuller

Cast: Lee Marvin, Mark Hamill, Robert Carradine, Bobby Di Cicco

Positioned at 1942–1945 within the World War II phase of the war, as part of the 1st Infantry Division campaigns across North Africa and Europe. This is entry 85 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• 1st Infantry Division
• North Africa
• D-Day
• Samuel Fuller
• European campaign

• 

  The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel

  1942–October 1944

• 

  Sahara

  June 1942

• 

  Tobruk

  September 1942

• 

  Days of Glory

  1943–1944

• 

  Five Graves to Cairo

  Summer 1942

• 

  Twelve O'Clock High

  1942–1943