Bit disappointing really

It seems to me that the British and the Americans make very different types of films about the war. Generally I prefer the British approach which I think tend to be more realistic, gentlmenly and are certainly less gung-ho. Which is why this film seems an odd hybrid of American stars in an almost British style film that for me doesn't work. There is the jerky feel to the film as the scenes clunk together. Shirley Ann Field is very stilted whilst every now and then everything stops whilst Steve McQueen emotes to camera. It very striking that one of the best cinema actors could hit so many wrong notes. Robert Wagner does his stuff well and there are hints that the supporting cast could have made a better film if they didn't have to make space for the stars. Someone else has commented that the film makes more sense if you've read the book so maybe that was the problem - they had to cram in the key points and didn't actually develop the story within the film. I dunno really but it's rather a disappointment.