Charlton Heston is an actor usually cast in very serious roles, and it’s because he pokes fun at his commanding, stoic persona in the comedy The Private War of Major Benson (1955) that the film works so well. It’s not that the normally grim Heston yuks it up like Bob Hope or Jim Carrey; exactly the opposite is true. Heston plays the Major Benson role of a tough Army infantry instructor as straight as an arrow’s flight. It’s the ways in which that flight is deflected which prove amusing.

Following an unflattering publicity portrait while drilling his troops, Major Benson is reassigned as commandant of a Catholic military school for boys. Unaware of the true nature of the school, Benson arrives utterly unprepared to deal with the juvenile cadets, particularly one precocious youngster named Tiger Flaherty (scene stealer Tim Hovey). Benson also falls head over heels for the hot school doctor (Julie Adams).

Naturally, Benson teaches the cadets about responsibility and honor, while they teach him about humanity. It’s all charming and very pleasant, so much so that the film’s original story was nominated for an Academy Award. Today, it must be admitted, the film is somewhat dated. The setting of a military school for boys operated by the Army but run by a dozen or so nuns is odd — but that’s also a strong comedic element. And like quite a few other movies from long ago, the protagonist’s pursuance of the heroine is downright predatory. Benson’s advances toward the comely doctor are no longer politically correct (were they ever?), but viewers should remember that times were different then.

The film’s charm is present whenever Benson and the cadets interact. The disparity between his high-handed methods and their youthful exuberance provides many amusing vignettes, which are delicately directed by Jerry Hopper. The majority of the youths are portrayed by actual cadets from St. Catherine’s military school in Anaheim, CA, where the film was lensed, but leading the cadets is young Sal Mineo (who the same year co-starred in Rebel Without a Cause) while Don Haggerty and adorable Tim Hovey are other prominent youngsters. Tim Hovey is the main reason why I enjoy this movie so much; whenever he is onscreen the movie gains energy and vitality.

The Private War of Major Benson is not a great movie, nor an important one. It is a prime example of the type of comfortable, feel-good romps which many viewers prefer over Hollywood’s serious side. It’s well-made, quite enjoyable and certainly worth the time it takes to watch it.  My rating:  ✰ ✰ ✰.  (8:4).