“The Young Lions” runs two parallel stories that crisscross at pivotal moments. In Germany before World War II, Christian Diestl (Marlon Brando) is a ski instructor to rich Americans like Margaret (Barbara Rush). She is also a friend of Michael Whitacre (Dean Martin) back in New York, though the two will never know of their mutual acquaintance. When war breaks out, Christian has reservations, but is a patriot who will do what his country asks. In New York, Noah Ackerman (Montgomery Clift) meets anti-Semitism in his life in America, but joins the Army when the war begins. Here he also meets Whitacre, who becomes his Army buddy. While both the German and American soldiers have problems and disagreements with their society, including women who see them as symbols, not men, they move toward a climax in Europe. When the Americans come upon a concentration camp, Christian Diestl has already grown disgusted by the situation. Their ultimate encounter creates irony and tragedy