A Medal for Benny

Although Dorothy Lamour and Mexican film star Arturo DeCordoba are first billed and Lamour's presence is to insure some box office, therral star of A Medal For Benny is J. Carrol Niash.

Was one of those incredibly versatile players who casts as just about any nationality or ethnic type called for. He reached the high point of his career with an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor playing a simple Mexican American fisherman whose son has gone off to war.

The girl he left behind is Dorothy Lamour but DeCordoba would like to get something going with her and does.

In the meantime Naish who can't get the right time of day from town elders becomes much in demand when it is learned that Benny the son has become a Sergeant York type hero in the war. Only it was at the cost of his life.

Of course the town elders want to exploit the town's new found fame to the max. What happens is for you to see the film for. But Naish while bewildered by all the attention gives everyone a lesson in dignity and pride.

A Medal For Benny also got an Oscar nomination for Best Original Story and one of its writers was John Steinbeck. Notice should be given to character actors Charles Dingle his usual pompous self as the mayor and Frank McHugh as a publicity agent.

Still this is Naish's picture, a real gem from Paramount's B picture unit.