The Private War of Major Benson

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The Private War of Major Benson
Film poster by Reynold Brown
Directed by	Jerry Hopper
Screenplay by	William Roberts Richard Alan Simmons
Story by	Joe Connelly Bob Mosher
Produced by	Howard Pine
Starring	Charlton Heston Julie Adams William Demarest Sal Mineo Tim Hovey
Cinematography	Harold Lipstein
Edited by	Ted J. Kent
Music by	Henry Mancini
Distributed by	Universal-International
Release date	August 2, 1955 (1955-08-02)
Running time	105 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

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 film was shot on St. Catherine's Military School campus in 1955, with cadets as the actors in all but the leading roles. Universal-International chose St. Catherine's cadets and location for their humorous comedy about the challenges facing the new commandant of a military school by the antics of a group of grade school cadets. The picture featured a full battalion of St. Catherine's students.

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