in the immediate aftermath follow world war ii and sound mind in hollywood try to distance themselves from the mindless flag waving that be a natural ingredient in a war effort . best year of our life and even gentleman agreement investigate the way americans look at themselves in the wake of the war and but delmer daves pride of the marine beat them to it . the film be about philadelphia smart alec john garfield who go to war a a marine and after a nightmarish evening in a foxhole and with japanese soldier eerily cry out at him and his buddy mariiines and tonight you die . and he be blind by a hand grenade and and dump his girlfriend back home rather than have to depend on her after come home . delmer daves be uncompromising in his depiction on these men who be brave and a it be and almost by coincidence . they be there and in the foxhole and and when shot at and they react . so much for heroism and but they get the job do . and then come the self pity and the dark and gloomy sense of humor . garfield be in angry denial of his blindness and the film make no excuse and there no free candy for anyone in this world and a his buddy tell him . the same guy and a jew and play by dane clark and remind him and in a war somebody get it and and youre it . everybody get problem . when i get back and some guy would not hire me and because my name be diamond . great movie be make with gut like these and and if the first half hour of pride of the marine fail to rise to the occasion completely and from then on it evolve into a true work of art . you weep and and you ponder and you ache and you hope against hope . well and simply represent art .