The Young Lions

The Young Lions (1958) is Edward Dmytryk's WWII drama you can watch online on iFILM, following three soldiers — one German, two American — as the war pulls their fates apart.

Lieutenant Christian Diestl fights through the North African desert and slowly stops believing in the flag he serves. Back in the States, two others train for the front: Noah, a shy Jewish clerk worn down by barracks bigotry, and Michael, a Broadway singer far more at home under stage lights than under fire. Their stories run on separate tracks until the war forces them together.

Adapted from Irwin Shaw's bestselling novel, the film pairs Marlon Brando with Montgomery Clift and casts Dean Martin against type in a rare dramatic turn. It runs long and takes its time, which suits a story about ideals that crack at the first shot fired. Stream The Young Lions online on iFILM.