1963 - SOLDIER IN THE RAIN, odd but very well made comedy drama

Ralph Nelson was the director but Blake Edwards was the writer/producer of Soldier in the Rain and it's loaded with his sensibility.  The film is a mixture of comedy and drama about the friendship between two soldiers on an army base. 

This film is extremely well acted.  Jackie Gleason is the overweight Army staff sergeant who is friends with the goofy Steve McQueen a supply sergeant who seems to not have all of his oars in the water.  Tuesday Weld is a little piece of jail bait they get involved with who is more than just an empty headed blonde.  All three of these actors really brought their "A" game to this film.

Gleason is remembered as a comedian but he was capable of giving very sensitive performances when he needed to.  Steve McQueen's career evolved into an anti-hero action star but he was a trained New York actor.  Tuesday Weld had talent but never really got past her sexpot image.  

It's difficult to know what to make of this film, it jumps from comedy to drama to tragedy and it's all well done it just doesn't seem to have a point to it other than as a character study about two different kinds of men who just happen to be friends.

96 minutes, written by Blake Edwards and Maurice Richlin.