Surprisingly, ten years elapsed between the publication of Shaw's novel and the premier of Edward Dymtryk's film version. Photographed in black and white and running nearly three hours, the movie aimed to be an epic depiction of the role of the common man in defeating Nazi Germany. The Young Lions starred Marlon Brando as Christian, Montgomery Clift as Noah, and Dean Martin as Michael. The movie was a popular and critical success. The stark photography — the symbolic use of black, white, and gray — and Brando's performance were the film's highlights.

The movie deviates from the novel in two significant ways. First, it makes Michael and Noah friends from the outset, allowing both of them to survive the encounter with Christian.

Second, it changes Christian's progress from a descent into animality into a growing alienation and despair. By allowing Noah to live and by removing Christian's unredeemed...