Desertören (DVD)

BUILT ON THE REAL-LIFE AND GRAND BOOK BY WILLIAM BRADFORD HUIE

Born into poverty, Eddie Slovik ended up on the wrong side of the law during his youth, which meant he was deemed unfit for the US Army. But as World War II progressed, the army dug deeper into its lists of candidates. When Eddie is finally forced into a soldier's uniform, he knows he will not be able to endure being sent into battle and takes flight. Like 21,000 other American soldiers, Eddie is convicted of desertion. But he is the only one of them to be executed for his crime. Why him? Ever since William Bradford Huie's book "The Execution of Private Slovik" was published in 1954, Hollywood wanted to make a movie out of it. President Eisenhower had tried to stop the book from being published (it was he who, as a general, authorized Eddie's execution), and even getting a film adaptation made proved to be an uphill battle. Frank Sinatra was the first to try, but was persuaded by his friend John F. Kennedy to desist. Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman were also considered before the film finally, after 20 years, went ahead with Martin Sheen as Eddie. His performance has been called by several critics the best of his career. "NOT SINCE KUBRICK'S 'AURLAN'S WAY," I HAVE SEEN A WAR FILM THAT HAS MADE ME SO SHOCKED." SvD

"CAPTIVATING WAR DRAMA. AS SHOCKING TODAY AS WHEN IT WAS RELEASED." Empire

"A RELENTLESSLY SUSPENSEFUL FILM. SEE IT!" Aftonbladet