*The Private War Of Major Benson (1955) and similar items

Vintage original 11 x 14 in. US lobby card from the 1950's Technicolor military academy-themed comedy/romance, THE PRIVATE WAR OF MAJOR BENSON, released in 1955 by Universal-International and directed by Jerry Hopper. As a disciplinary measure, the Army transfers a heavy-handed Major to an ROTC academy, where he must shape-up cadets and improve the school's overall ratings. The image features an exterior scene on the field of an ROTC academy as Maj. Barney Bernard R. "Barney" Benson (Charlton Heston) talks with Cadet Lt. Gerald Hibler (Tim Considine) on a field while the young cadets watch. It is unrestored in fine condition. Charlton Heston received no salary for this movie, as he took a percentage of the box-office profits instead. This movie was loosely remade with Damon Wayans in 1995 as Major Payne. Tim Considine, who plays the sensitive (if not coddled) cadet who is berated by Major Benson in this film, would later play the battle-fatigued soldier who gets slapped by the title character in Patton (1970). Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher, who co-wrote the screenplay, are best known as the creators of the long running television show Leave it to Beaver (1957).