The Private War of Major Benson is 1955 American military comedy film starring Charlton Heston, Julie Adams, Sal Mineo and Tim Hovey, about a tough-talking U.S. Army officer who must shape up the JROTC program at Sheridan Academy, a Catholic boys' military academy, or be forced out of the Army.

The films basic premise was used twice in the following 40 years; Hard Knox (1984) and most notably Major Payne (1995), another Universal picture.

Major Barney Benson, a hard-bitten combat soldier of World War II and the Korean Conflict with a Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star, and a 2nd Award of the Combat Infantry Badge, runs afoul of the Army bureaucracy with his theories concerning troop training in peacetime.

He is hard on the boys, who respond to his unforgiving approach by sending a petition to the father of Cadet Hibler, who has influence with a Congressman and through him, with the Pentagon, demanding his removal.

Compelled by custom to coach the Sheridan football team, which has not won a game in four years, Benson teaches the boys the Notre Dame T system, works them hard, and leads them to the league championship for the first time ever.

After a bad day on the drill field where he is attempting to prepare the cadets for the annual JROTC inspection, Benson hitchhikes into town.

The General informs Major Benson that he has been selected to command a battalion at Fort Benning, with an excellent chance for promotion in a year or so.

Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote, " 'The Private War of Major Benson,' which came to the Plaza yesterday, demonstrates again the rigid precept that you can't win a battle against kids ...