James Cagney portrays "Capt. Flagg" heading up an American marine unit in France nearing the close of World War One, where he finds himself unexpectedly facing off against his longtime rival, "Sgt. Quirt," played by Dan Dailey. Despite their differing positions, they frequently find themselves on equal footing – often spurred by alcohol and a shared pursuit of the same woman. This particular lady is “Charmaine” (Corinne Calvet), though neither man knows she has her own plans, with her father also determined to see her married. The story that follows balances the harsh realities of wartime with moments of levity, but Cagney seems held back by John Ford’s direction, and the film progresses in a rather formulaic way, lacking enough action to fill its nearly two-hour length. I thought Sterling Hayden might have been more suitable as an adversary for "Flagg," though the interactions between Dailey and Cagney do provide some energy. The story occasionally brings to mind the psychological toll of war, but mostly I found this a disappointing project from everyone involved; it isn’t particularly amusing and won't stick with me for long.

Source on TMDB