Suffering from depression and an impaired self-concept, Ken struggles to come to terms with his disability and his need to accept care from others, including from his fiancée/wife.

Directed by Fred Zinnemann, the film was written by Carl Foreman, produced by Stanley Kramer and co-starred Teresa Wright and Everett Sloane.

[2] During World War II, U.S. Army Lieutenant Ken Wilocek is shot in the back by a sniper, injuring his spinal cord.

In the years that follow, he faces a series of ongoing struggles in accepting his condition, in rehabilitation and in re-entering society.

It also highlights events in the lives of the other men in the Veterans Administration hospital, from a wedding celebration to a sudden death from meningitis.

Ken drives to Ellen's parents' home, some distance from the hospital, takes out his wheelchair and goes up the steep brick front walk until a step blocks him.

According to TCM.com "In addition to Arthur Jurado, a real-life paraplegic who was given a sizable speaking role, many others from Birmingham Hospital were added to the cast, including Dr. Norman Karr, physical therapist Helen Winston and nurses Rhoda Cormeny and Eunice Newberry.

"[3] In an October 16, 1949 New York Times article, "Grim Masquerade", Gladwin Hill described how Brando was spending a month at the hospital, adding that writer Carl Foreman had spent longer than that.

[5] Before the film's release, Director Fred Zinneman wrote an article titled "On Using Non-Actors in Pictures" for the January 8, 1950, edition of The New York Times.

"[8] Variety also gave a favorable review, and noted: "Producer Stanley Kramer turns to the difficult cinematic subject of paraplegics, so expertly treated as to be sensitive, moving and yet, withal, entertaining and earthy-humored.