The Long Gray Line

 

Director John Ford was one of the finest directors of the twentieth century. He was known for his westerners and book adaptations, but he would also stray away from those genres to do something really special, and in 1955 he did just that - The Long Gray Line. It's a true story about an Irish immigrant, Marty Maher (Tyrone Power) who in 1898 comes to west point looking for a job and is hired as a civilian employee, working as a waiter. After working non-stop with hardly any pay, Marty decides to sign up for the U.S. Army. Maher is soon noticed by Captain Koehler (Ward Bond) for his fine boxing skills and hires him as a fitness instructor. Maher continues to work his way up in the ranks and eventually becomes a non-commissioned officer. His accolades become so well known, he even gets invited to the White House to meet President Eisenhower and earns the respect of top generals, like George Patton. It's a remarkable story, a real tribute to our military and all people looking for the American dream.