I've seen very little of Kirk Douglas, especially as a young man. Seeing him in this, the resemblance to his son Michael is striking. However, it's hard to see Michael playing this role because it seems like he's always got a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.
I also found the apparent proximity of the commander's quarters to the front line very interesting. This movie is incredibly highly regarded, and I was a little bewildered by it, but it deserves credit for not following the formula, and for Douglas's performance that allows it to convey that tone.
