One plaque displayed the letters "ECXXI' that seemed o be Roman numerals, although the letter "E" was never used as a number during Roman times.A hearse bearing a casket and mug-faced mobsters is pursued by a police car with sirens blaring, on a wet dark street.It has often been noted that Sirk's film came at the same ime as George Stevens' epicGiant (1956)- another tale of a Texas family with Rock Hudson.Shears lacks a commitment or adherence to any specific code or ideal other than to himself - and toward his own survival.In the pre-credits sequence, the unlikeable Sergeant curtails the late night carousing of his troops in a Korean brothel-bar.