The Execution of Private Slovik

I must admit I was not all too familiar with the life and death of Mr. Slovak. As I watched his life develop under the brilliant acting of a young Martin Sheen, it became aware to me this young man only wanted to be happy and safe in life. He was not a fighter, but a lover of life.

After his reformatory days, Eddie is keen on getting his life together and getting a good job, and a fine woman. He gets both eventually, Antoinette was a definite match for him made in Heaven. They complimented each other perfectly. The draft board ultimately selects Eddie and he is off to training before you know it. You can sense the fear growing in Eddie already, not only because of his new warrior status, but because he is separated from his lovely new wife.

In the days that follow, he is sent to the front lines and comes under fire, which scares Eddie so much he decides to be a deserter, rather than face almost certain death from enemy fire. His zest for life picks up when the Canadians befriend him, but is reunited with his unit where he ultimately goes AWOL once again. This time, Eddie turns himself in and sign a confession stating his guilt. If only poor Eddie had broken parole back home and done a few months. He would've never been in that situation. But as Eddie said in a letter to his wife; "I never had a streak of luck".

Upon his courts-martial, Eddie is convicted of the charges of desertion in three separate ballots, and sentenced to death. Even then, the reality hasn't sunk in to his head yet. There is always the hope he will be reunited with his love. It isn't until the very end, where Eddie shows his true bravery, that he accepts nervously his fate.

I loved this film tremendously. As stated earlier, Martin Sheen made the movie true to life, as it should have been in the memory of Mr. Slovik. The special effects were lacking to today's standards, but hey, we're talking about a 1974 film here. The other actors, such as Ned Beatty and the actress who played Eddie's wife, we're also worth mentioning, they did a more than fine job. Also, the Major who presided over Eddie's execution and final drama was very convincing. He had many different emotions and a job to do, which conflicted with each other, and it showed.

Finally, this film brings out many deep thoughts and emotions brought on by the superb acting and storyline. I highly recommend this film to anyone who is a lover of WWII, drama, and the condition of being human. It can also be considered a tragedy in a sense. I salute Mr. Slovik, may he rest in peace.


An ageless story of Generals and Grunts.   October 10, 2003
Overlance76 (wood ridge, NJ United States)
7 out of 15 found this review helpful

One and a half million men were rejected for psychological reasons during WWII. Hundreds of thousands suffered combat fatigue during combat.(Depends whose counting.) A confused General slaps soldiers in a field hospital for breaking under the stress of war. (We all learn that it is only a matter of time before all would break.) The medical men say breaking is normal and Generals say it is an act of cowardice. All this sound and fury boils down to this...Private Slovick the only man to be killed by his country for being human and too honest.
Not one man in the firing squad that was made up of his buddies missed when they fired. Think you would have?