‘The Private War of Major Benson’: Boys Becoming Men

Charlton Heston plays an unlikely father figure to boys in a military academy.

Tiger (Tim Hovey) plays a young cadet at a military academy, in “The Private War of Major Benson.” Universal-International

NR | 1h 45m | Comedy | 1955

Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher probably wrote their screenplay for laughs, but the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were serious when they nominated it for an Oscar for Best Story.