THE POST OF HONOR
By
About Max Gerard and his various battle cries against power. Starting in the low-ebb 1930's Max' first target is unemployment and poverty and joining the Young Communist League of America is his answer. In between handing out pamphlets he falls in love with tubercular, imbued-with-brotherhood, Stella Mason. With rioting and ideals being batted around, Max withdraws his original fervor, decides that communist is a group philosophy which suppresses the individual. He fights in the Spanish Civil Was and World War II and continues fighting in civil life when issues like anti-Semitism and bureaucracy are to be dealt with. There are several dramatic and powerful scenes that are well up to the restrained intensity of Irwin Shaw; Max' defense of a synagogue during a drunken orgy; his non-conformity in the Army when he defies a superior on pro-labor grounds and ends up with K.P.; his dealings with a nurse on board a hospital ship. There are also cliches and platitudes, particularly in the Communist League stage, but on the whole this is strong, energetic, purposeful stuff.