Its central character is an obsessed, driven, and bloated police captain ("a lousy cop") - a basically tragic figure who has a "touch of evil" in his enforcement of the law.]Based upon the controversial, published, semi-fictional 1935 novel of the same name by Humphrey Cobb, this anti-war film emphasizes the wide, hierarchical gap between those who take orders and fight the wars in muddy trenches, and those that give the orders and are isolated from the real ravages of war.To hide and mask his own scent, Owen cut the crane""s fuel line to spray and douse himself with gasoline.Don""t cry, Marcia.You won""t be lonely.I""ll be close always.The story then returns to the present.The story of he tragic romance encourages the young lover to contemplate her own love life and career - she decides to accept love over career and reconciles with Kip.