16 reviews
Tense , and brooding warlike movie , well set in Korea though actually filmed in Shepperton Studios , Shepperton , Surrey , England , UK and on location in the mountain of Montejunto , Portugal . Including participation of the Portuguese air force in the flying frames , and bombing scenes . This Korean war (1951-1953) drama is the fare of a British commando in Korea and stands out as one of the best British warlike film of the 50s . A band of Chinese troops track a group of soldiers posing as a large regiment and waiting an Allied contra-attack . Then , they take refuge into a Buddhist temple using it as stronghold but the group is besieged by the Chinese Army . They simply do their best to survive a terrifying situation . Later on , the soldiers are murdered one by one and a stiff-upper-lip lieutenant takes command with rigid orders .
The film is dedicated to the queen of battles , the British Infantry . The producers obtained help for the Department of the British Army and give thanks for its encouragement , advice and active cooperation in the preparation and production of this picture . The film is based on true events , a Chinese communist offensive formed by 350.000 soldiers who vanquished U.N. forces , including Brit infantry and US 8º Army and withdraw across southern . Posteriorly , American Army and UN multi-national troops undergo a contra-offensive and retrieve lost territory until 38 parallel . The story bears remarkable resemblance to ¨Fixed Bayonets ¡¨ (1951, Samuel Fuller) also with a bunch of soldiers who are besieged by Chinese hordes and sheltered in a cave , while in ¨A hill in Korea¨ take refuge at a temple . This one was the first major feature film to portray British troops in action during the Korean War . This one seem to be a conventional story with brief character studio and bolstered considerably by director Julian Amyes's flair for warlike drama and action . Dark and thoughtful and hurriedly made , the movie gains strength as it goes on , and shows a tremendous grasp of the tale as an unit . Excellent performance by all-male actors , boasting and most restrained acting by George Baker -later Tiberius in 'I Claudius'- as the tough lieutenant taking the command responsibility along with a sergeant well performed by Harry Andrews . Top-notch Stanley Baker as brave Corporal and excellent secondaries playing Privates as the coward Ronald Lewis , Percy Herbert , Robert Shaw , special appearance by Stephen Boyd and Michael Caine's film debut as well as uncredited . In fact , Michael Caine was actually a veteran of the Korean War .
Appropriate musical score by Malcolm Arnold -The bridge on the River Kwai- and well conducted by usual Muir Matheson . Atmospheric cinematography in black and white by notorious cameraman and occasionally director Freddie Francis , being partially shot in Portugal with intervention by Portuguese Air Force that participated in the jet flying . Portugal was chosen as the facsimile location to Korea, due to it's geographical similarities , even though Michael Caine who served as technical consultant/actor on the production, begged to differ . Adequate film edition by Peter H. Hunt , habitual editor of James Bond movies and director of 'On her Majesty's secret service' . Amyes's most fluid and strongest film-making lies in this war picture , his only movie because he subsequently directed television movies . The original name was ¨Hell in Korea¨ , but was changed for distribution reasons , except in the U.S. that was titled "Hell in Korea" , resulting to be tremendously exciting and stirring for that reason its rating is 6'5 points , better than average and well worth seeing .
The film is dedicated to the queen of battles , the British Infantry . The producers obtained help for the Department of the British Army and give thanks for its encouragement , advice and active cooperation in the preparation and production of this picture . The film is based on true events , a Chinese communist offensive formed by 350.000 soldiers who vanquished U.N. forces , including Brit infantry and US 8º Army and withdraw across southern . Posteriorly , American Army and UN multi-national troops undergo a contra-offensive and retrieve lost territory until 38 parallel . The story bears remarkable resemblance to ¨Fixed Bayonets ¡¨ (1951, Samuel Fuller) also with a bunch of soldiers who are besieged by Chinese hordes and sheltered in a cave , while in ¨A hill in Korea¨ take refuge at a temple . This one was the first major feature film to portray British troops in action during the Korean War . This one seem to be a conventional story with brief character studio and bolstered considerably by director Julian Amyes's flair for warlike drama and action . Dark and thoughtful and hurriedly made , the movie gains strength as it goes on , and shows a tremendous grasp of the tale as an unit . Excellent performance by all-male actors , boasting and most restrained acting by George Baker -later Tiberius in 'I Claudius'- as the tough lieutenant taking the command responsibility along with a sergeant well performed by Harry Andrews . Top-notch Stanley Baker as brave Corporal and excellent secondaries playing Privates as the coward Ronald Lewis , Percy Herbert , Robert Shaw , special appearance by Stephen Boyd and Michael Caine's film debut as well as uncredited . In fact , Michael Caine was actually a veteran of the Korean War .
Appropriate musical score by Malcolm Arnold -The bridge on the River Kwai- and well conducted by usual Muir Matheson . Atmospheric cinematography in black and white by notorious cameraman and occasionally director Freddie Francis , being partially shot in Portugal with intervention by Portuguese Air Force that participated in the jet flying . Portugal was chosen as the facsimile location to Korea, due to it's geographical similarities , even though Michael Caine who served as technical consultant/actor on the production, begged to differ . Adequate film edition by Peter H. Hunt , habitual editor of James Bond movies and director of 'On her Majesty's secret service' . Amyes's most fluid and strongest film-making lies in this war picture , his only movie because he subsequently directed television movies . The original name was ¨Hell in Korea¨ , but was changed for distribution reasons , except in the U.S. that was titled "Hell in Korea" , resulting to be tremendously exciting and stirring for that reason its rating is 6'5 points , better than average and well worth seeing .
A Hill in Korea (AKA: Hell in Korea) is directed by Julian Amyes and adapted to screenplay by Anthony Squire, Ronald Spencer and Ian Dalrymple from the Max Catto novel. It stars George Baker, Harry Andrews, Stanley Baker, Michael Medwin, Ronald Lewis, Stephen Boyd and Victor Maddern. Music is by Malcolm Arnold and cinematography by Freddie Francis.
Out of British Lion Films, film is based on real events. Story follows a small group of British soldiers serving in the Korean War, who while out on routine patrol find themselves boxed in on all sides by the Chinese army. Against the odds the men, from different walks of life, must stand together to stand any chance of survival.
A Hill in Korea is more concerned with the conflict amongst the group of soldiers than it is with the enemy. 16 men, 10 of which are National Service conscripts, laugh, bicker, get scared and stand tall in readiness for what fate has in store for them. The upper crust and the working class thrust together makes for potent character dynamics, and of course it's a time when heroes and villains are born. This is a place where men apologise for getting injured, where they are told to fire their weapon instead of making love to it! And a place from which we know some will not return...
One of the very first films to deal with British troops in Korea (if not the first?), it inevitably has a familiarity about it if you be someone who often indulges in the War genre. However, the traditional flavours make this very appetising and the screenplay isn't shy of intelligence. Be it "friendly fire" or monologues about the futility of it all, film doesn't cop out. It's also very funny, with some absolute zingers delivered with caustic obviousness. Then there's the roster of great British actors that fill out the cast, with even the likes of Michael Caine (a real life servant in Korea) and Robert Shaw in secondary support slots. While Amyes keeps his camera up close for impact and Francis tones down the lighting to keep things sombre.
Well worth seeking out by fans of Brit war movies. 7/10
Out of British Lion Films, film is based on real events. Story follows a small group of British soldiers serving in the Korean War, who while out on routine patrol find themselves boxed in on all sides by the Chinese army. Against the odds the men, from different walks of life, must stand together to stand any chance of survival.
A Hill in Korea is more concerned with the conflict amongst the group of soldiers than it is with the enemy. 16 men, 10 of which are National Service conscripts, laugh, bicker, get scared and stand tall in readiness for what fate has in store for them. The upper crust and the working class thrust together makes for potent character dynamics, and of course it's a time when heroes and villains are born. This is a place where men apologise for getting injured, where they are told to fire their weapon instead of making love to it! And a place from which we know some will not return...
One of the very first films to deal with British troops in Korea (if not the first?), it inevitably has a familiarity about it if you be someone who often indulges in the War genre. However, the traditional flavours make this very appetising and the screenplay isn't shy of intelligence. Be it "friendly fire" or monologues about the futility of it all, film doesn't cop out. It's also very funny, with some absolute zingers delivered with caustic obviousness. Then there's the roster of great British actors that fill out the cast, with even the likes of Michael Caine (a real life servant in Korea) and Robert Shaw in secondary support slots. While Amyes keeps his camera up close for impact and Francis tones down the lighting to keep things sombre.
Well worth seeking out by fans of Brit war movies. 7/10
- hitchcockthelegend
- Sep 28, 2013
- Permalink
The Korean war seems to have posed a bit of a problem with film makers . It wasn`t untill Vietnam that screenwriters and directors tried to profound statements on the nature of conflict and wear their anti war sentiments on their sleeves. To all intents and purposes you could rewrite any Korean war film script without any problem . Indeed you could change the place names and you`d have the exact same story , and that`s the problem with A HILL IN KOREA , it could be set during the North African campaign of 1941 or the Burma campaign of 1942 or the Italian campaign of 1944 and it`d be the exact same film. The only telling difference is if it`d been set during the Second World War it would have starred John Mills.
It`s the casting of this film that makes it memorable, we have early roles for stalwarts of British cinema in the 60s and 70s: George Baker , Harry Andrews, Stanley Baker and Percy Herbert . And very early appearances by Robert Shaw , Stephen Boyd and Michael Caine ( Caine actually being an UN soldier in the Korean war ) who would all make it big in Hollywood. Sadly that`s the only memorable aspect on this film about " The forgotten war " . Forgotten that is except for the people who survived it
It`s the casting of this film that makes it memorable, we have early roles for stalwarts of British cinema in the 60s and 70s: George Baker , Harry Andrews, Stanley Baker and Percy Herbert . And very early appearances by Robert Shaw , Stephen Boyd and Michael Caine ( Caine actually being an UN soldier in the Korean war ) who would all make it big in Hollywood. Sadly that`s the only memorable aspect on this film about " The forgotten war " . Forgotten that is except for the people who survived it
- Theo Robertson
- May 5, 2002
- Permalink
It's 1951, and the Allies are on the retreat from the Yalu, with massive Chinese forces pursuing them south. A small unit of British troops is sent to reconnoitre a Korean village, and gets caught by two advancing Chinese battalions.
For all the formulaic treatment of soldiers maintaining a chirpy stoicism in adverse combat conditions, this film does have a certain gritty realism. George Baker as the rookie lieutenant burdened by command, and Harry Andrews as the tough old sergeant, are first-class. Don't blink, or you'll miss a very young Michael Caine as Private Lockyer, lamenting the death of Corporal Ryker (Stanley Baker).
The film works as a simple narrative of men under fire, but it certainly has some shortcomings. The narration which launches events may save the time and effort of explaining the plot, but would it not have been better for this information to emerge naturally out of the drama? When the hut explodes, there is a very obvious jump-cut. During the interval needed to get the actor out of the danger area, someone jolted the camera! Would the Chinese soldiers, even with their advantage in limitless canon-fodder, attack so recklessly across open, flat ground? At one point, close-ups are inserted to enhance the human reactions of the soldiers, but the trouble is, the lighting conditions do not match those of the master shot. Once the British soldiers retreat to the temple on the hill, the whole proceedings become totally studio-bound, with Shepperton fibreglass passing for buddhist architecture. The air strike relies too heavily on monotonously-repeated library footage of American planes. When the ending comes, it is a surprise in the wrong sense - the resolution is unconvincing, almost as if the film-makers didn't know how to extricate the soldiers. Surely a few bombs wouldn't clear the Chinese away for miles around?
Ronald Lewis plays Wyatt, the misfit who didn't want to be a soldier and who gets everything wrong. This character is needed in one sense, because there has to be some internal tension within the British camp, but Wyatt is not well done. His apostasy is overly-dramatic, and his immolation utterly unbelievable. This attempt to inject gaudy emotion into a basically stiff-upper-lip story just doesn't come off.
Verdict - Interesting 1956 British 'take' on recent war which ultimately succeeds, despite its flaws.
For all the formulaic treatment of soldiers maintaining a chirpy stoicism in adverse combat conditions, this film does have a certain gritty realism. George Baker as the rookie lieutenant burdened by command, and Harry Andrews as the tough old sergeant, are first-class. Don't blink, or you'll miss a very young Michael Caine as Private Lockyer, lamenting the death of Corporal Ryker (Stanley Baker).
The film works as a simple narrative of men under fire, but it certainly has some shortcomings. The narration which launches events may save the time and effort of explaining the plot, but would it not have been better for this information to emerge naturally out of the drama? When the hut explodes, there is a very obvious jump-cut. During the interval needed to get the actor out of the danger area, someone jolted the camera! Would the Chinese soldiers, even with their advantage in limitless canon-fodder, attack so recklessly across open, flat ground? At one point, close-ups are inserted to enhance the human reactions of the soldiers, but the trouble is, the lighting conditions do not match those of the master shot. Once the British soldiers retreat to the temple on the hill, the whole proceedings become totally studio-bound, with Shepperton fibreglass passing for buddhist architecture. The air strike relies too heavily on monotonously-repeated library footage of American planes. When the ending comes, it is a surprise in the wrong sense - the resolution is unconvincing, almost as if the film-makers didn't know how to extricate the soldiers. Surely a few bombs wouldn't clear the Chinese away for miles around?
Ronald Lewis plays Wyatt, the misfit who didn't want to be a soldier and who gets everything wrong. This character is needed in one sense, because there has to be some internal tension within the British camp, but Wyatt is not well done. His apostasy is overly-dramatic, and his immolation utterly unbelievable. This attempt to inject gaudy emotion into a basically stiff-upper-lip story just doesn't come off.
Verdict - Interesting 1956 British 'take' on recent war which ultimately succeeds, despite its flaws.
It is said that the Korean War is the "Forgotten War." Most movies about it were made in the decade or so after the war, with the notable exception of M*A*S*H. Spielberg, Hanks, and Stone seem to be in no hurry to commemorate this conflict like the endless modern World War II and Vietnam movies. And if America's role in the war is mostly forgotten, almost no one remembers the UN allies, including Great Britain.
"A Hill in Korea," or "Hell in Korea," was made in 1956, about 5 years after the end of active combat. It portrays the travails of a patrol of mostly national servicemen (draftees) led by an inexperienced lieutenant and a pair of career NCOs. Naturally, they end up confronting an overwhelming Chinese force and are eventually besieged in a Buddhist monastery on a steep hill. A desperate battle ensues, reminding one much of the stand in "Sahara" or the very similar "The Steel Helmet," which was filmed 5 years earlier.
The film is mostly cliché, similar to a lot of US Korean War films. Only about three characters have any development about their home lives and dreams, usually just before they exit the scene for good. There is a very minor sub-plot with the radio operator who is ostracized after throwing away the unit radio. And there is a lot of good action. Unfortunately, this is one of those almost forgotten films that appears to have been poorly preserved and the version I saw was really low quality.
Other than action, what makes this film stand-out is the cast. You see stalwarts like Harry Andrews and Stanley Baker, rising stars like George Baker and Stephen Boyd, and the future 'M,' Robert Brown. It also featured some very young future superstars named Michael Caine and Robert Shaw. Altogether it features two future knighthoods and no less than 4 MBE/OBE/CBE holders. The cast alone makes this film worth a look.
As a side note, the film makes some points about the plight of the National Service men who were drafted to a war virtually unknown in the UK. Four years later the UK ended National Service for good and returned to a professional army. It is not overdone, but the film clearly was intended to raise questions about the post-WWII continuation of conscription.
"A Hill in Korea," or "Hell in Korea," was made in 1956, about 5 years after the end of active combat. It portrays the travails of a patrol of mostly national servicemen (draftees) led by an inexperienced lieutenant and a pair of career NCOs. Naturally, they end up confronting an overwhelming Chinese force and are eventually besieged in a Buddhist monastery on a steep hill. A desperate battle ensues, reminding one much of the stand in "Sahara" or the very similar "The Steel Helmet," which was filmed 5 years earlier.
The film is mostly cliché, similar to a lot of US Korean War films. Only about three characters have any development about their home lives and dreams, usually just before they exit the scene for good. There is a very minor sub-plot with the radio operator who is ostracized after throwing away the unit radio. And there is a lot of good action. Unfortunately, this is one of those almost forgotten films that appears to have been poorly preserved and the version I saw was really low quality.
Other than action, what makes this film stand-out is the cast. You see stalwarts like Harry Andrews and Stanley Baker, rising stars like George Baker and Stephen Boyd, and the future 'M,' Robert Brown. It also featured some very young future superstars named Michael Caine and Robert Shaw. Altogether it features two future knighthoods and no less than 4 MBE/OBE/CBE holders. The cast alone makes this film worth a look.
As a side note, the film makes some points about the plight of the National Service men who were drafted to a war virtually unknown in the UK. Four years later the UK ended National Service for good and returned to a professional army. It is not overdone, but the film clearly was intended to raise questions about the post-WWII continuation of conscription.
- historian63
- Jun 29, 2021
- Permalink
- mark.waltz
- Dec 6, 2021
- Permalink
A Hill in Korea is a typical British war film, shot in crisp black and white and with Portugal doing a rather good job of standing in for the Korean countryside. The plot sees a British platoon cut off by Chinese forces and forced to take refuge on a hill which they must defend to the last man in the face of overwhelming attacks.
You know these sorts of films by now: half of the conflict comes from the besieging enemy, the other half from divisions within the group, as various characters crack or show their true heroic nature. And the low budget seems to work hand in hand with the plot of these films, helping to make them feel tense and claustrophobic. A Hill in Korea has a lot of casual racism in it, which was a bit of a surprise, but the all-star cast makes it worthwhile.
George Baker (TREAD SOFTLY STRANGER) is a dependable presence as the lieutenant leading the platoon, and Harry Andrews is once again the gruff sergeant - a role he seemed destined to play throughout his career. Ronald Lewis makes an impact as the guy going out of his mind, and others like Percy Herbert, Michael Medwin, and Stephen Boyd flesh out the rank and file troops. Best of all is the chance to see Robert Shaw and Michael Caine, both uncredited early on in their careers.
You know these sorts of films by now: half of the conflict comes from the besieging enemy, the other half from divisions within the group, as various characters crack or show their true heroic nature. And the low budget seems to work hand in hand with the plot of these films, helping to make them feel tense and claustrophobic. A Hill in Korea has a lot of casual racism in it, which was a bit of a surprise, but the all-star cast makes it worthwhile.
George Baker (TREAD SOFTLY STRANGER) is a dependable presence as the lieutenant leading the platoon, and Harry Andrews is once again the gruff sergeant - a role he seemed destined to play throughout his career. Ronald Lewis makes an impact as the guy going out of his mind, and others like Percy Herbert, Michael Medwin, and Stephen Boyd flesh out the rank and file troops. Best of all is the chance to see Robert Shaw and Michael Caine, both uncredited early on in their careers.
- Leofwine_draca
- Jun 27, 2016
- Permalink
So says Harry Landis in a wonderful moment.Well it would have been more exciting than the moribund match against Norwich yesterday.Anyway so far as I am aware this is one of only two British films about the Korean conflict,the only other being the Yangtze Incident.It has about all the ingredients that you would expect from a film about a unit surrounded and out of contact with its base.So we have the cheerful comments,the hard man,the coward who dies to redeem himself,the experienced sergeant and the inexperienced commanding officer.They are talking about 60000 watching Arsenal play Chelsea at Highbury.Anyway while there are no real surprises it is well made and fairly entertaining.The beginning of Michael Gaines very long film career.
- malcolmgsw
- Apr 30, 2016
- Permalink
If nothing else this is a good little 50's British actioner. There's actually a couple of hills defended in the film. A smaller one in the first half by 4 of the soldiers and then a larger one in the second half, which is also the site of a Buddhist temple.
This is actually the first British war film I can remember seeing set in the Korean War. As others have mentioned, for a very much "B" feature, it has an A cast list, with the added bonus of seeing Robert Shaw and Michael Caine in a couple of their earliest roles. Keep your eyes peeled for Shaw, as his character doesn't last too long into the film.
It's a relatively brief film and the narrative doesn't delve much into the status of the platoon serving under the UN Flag, nor exploring to a great extent the fact that some of the soldiers were regular army and some were apparently national conscripts. The story really could have been fleshed out more. It's pretty lean and sparse, with very little backgrounding. But punters are unlikely to get bored watching it.
This is actually the first British war film I can remember seeing set in the Korean War. As others have mentioned, for a very much "B" feature, it has an A cast list, with the added bonus of seeing Robert Shaw and Michael Caine in a couple of their earliest roles. Keep your eyes peeled for Shaw, as his character doesn't last too long into the film.
It's a relatively brief film and the narrative doesn't delve much into the status of the platoon serving under the UN Flag, nor exploring to a great extent the fact that some of the soldiers were regular army and some were apparently national conscripts. The story really could have been fleshed out more. It's pretty lean and sparse, with very little backgrounding. But punters are unlikely to get bored watching it.
- spookyrat1
- Apr 8, 2019
- Permalink
- JohnHowardReid
- Nov 8, 2012
- Permalink
This film takes place after the Chinese involvement into the Korean War with them forcing the combat elements of the United Nations south in full retreat. To that effect, one of the British units sent out on a routine scouting patrol is subsequently cut off and as a result the commander of the 17-man platoon "Lieutenant Butler" (George Baker) has to make a number of hard decisions even though he has never experienced combat before. Adding to this problem is the fact that a number of his men are draftees and don't exhibit the discipline of regular professional soldiers. So after being encircled and completely outnumbered, he decides to take up a position on top of a mountain where a Buddhist temple stands with the hope of finding a way to escape before his food and ammunition runs out. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that, even though this film is based on a true story, this seemed like a rather odd Korean War film to me. For example, the terrain didn't resemble Korea very well as it was much too dry and sandy. Additionally, there were a couple of scenes involving small unit tactics which didn't quite seem normal either. But then perhaps I am being a bit too critical. Be that as it may, while I don't think that this was a bad film by any means, for one reason or another I wasn't really wasn't able to get a good feel for it and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Average.
It's a small film but great in its making. The overwhelming credit of it is its absolutely perfect almost naturalistic realism, filmed in Korea and taking part of all the hardships of the soldiers at very close quarters. You get to know each of the soldiers individually, and MANY of them make unforgettable impressions. More of a curiosity is the presence of a very young Michael Caine among them as the youngest and the only blond one. He isn't noticed much and isn't seen much, but he is actually in it; while also Robert Shaw makes a very early and very palpable presence. The main characters though are Harry Andrews as stalwart and dominating in his imposing stature as ever, and Stanley Baker as the toughest and hardest of them. You don't like him, but in the end you must wonder if he wasn't right after all, while of course there is also the martyr, all lost and making his situation constantly more awkward in succeeding in doing everything wrong.
The settings are also quite impressing with the Buddhist monastery as a refuge, like a Korean Alamo for a last stand, but here there are actually some survivors; while the greatest quality of the film is the indivdual close-up attention given to everyone of these forgotten heros.
The settings are also quite impressing with the Buddhist monastery as a refuge, like a Korean Alamo for a last stand, but here there are actually some survivors; while the greatest quality of the film is the indivdual close-up attention given to everyone of these forgotten heros.
I've never heard so many racial slurs in my life. The British soldiers seem to really hate the chinese and the Koreans. I mean they seem to detest them mightily.
The patrol is usually mowing down Chinese soldiers from high places, so it's not like they're in desperate fights for their lives. What's more, they're complaining about war all the time but their uniforms look in good repair and they actually otherwise look like they're winning a lot of battles. One guy even goes crazy in one scene - from what, I don't know - says it's from the stress, but the movie doesn't show what's so terrible. Probably just the old 50's movie habit of shoving things into scenes haphazardly.
I suppose we're supposed to feel sorry for them or root for them, but they're mostly horrible whiney racists. Are these really supposed to be the heroes? I didn't a jot whether any of them lived or died.
If you watch the movie for Micheal Kaine, you'll be disappointed. Barely a peep out of him and he has bottom billing in the credits.
Honourable Mentions: Without a Clue (1988). Michael Kaine plays Sherlock Holmes in a duo with Ben Kingley. An excellent movie and you'll get plenty of Kaine if that's what you were after here.
The patrol is usually mowing down Chinese soldiers from high places, so it's not like they're in desperate fights for their lives. What's more, they're complaining about war all the time but their uniforms look in good repair and they actually otherwise look like they're winning a lot of battles. One guy even goes crazy in one scene - from what, I don't know - says it's from the stress, but the movie doesn't show what's so terrible. Probably just the old 50's movie habit of shoving things into scenes haphazardly.
I suppose we're supposed to feel sorry for them or root for them, but they're mostly horrible whiney racists. Are these really supposed to be the heroes? I didn't a jot whether any of them lived or died.
If you watch the movie for Micheal Kaine, you'll be disappointed. Barely a peep out of him and he has bottom billing in the credits.
Honourable Mentions: Without a Clue (1988). Michael Kaine plays Sherlock Holmes in a duo with Ben Kingley. An excellent movie and you'll get plenty of Kaine if that's what you were after here.
- fatcat-73450
- Nov 5, 2022
- Permalink
A war film starring Ronald Lewis, Stanley Baker, with no women characters, it sounds a gritty war film in the line of THE LONG, THE SHORT AND THE TALL, YESTERDAY'S ENEMY, another war movie starring Stanley Baker, or any Robert Aldrich or Samuel Fuller's films like plots. Rough, tough, brutal, virile stories about soldiers friendship, brotherhood of arms, sacrifice, bravery...And it is. I don't know the director but it is a pure delight to watch this war feature in the tradition of the small budget war features, focusing on characters, their relationships, their feelings.... Don't miss this one please, but I know it is a very hard to find item. And the most fascinating for me was having Stanley Baker and Robert Shaw together, bcause I have always associated them very close in my spirit; as Paul Newman and Steve McQueen, same kind of actors for same kinds of characters in the movies.
- searchanddestroy-1
- Nov 14, 2023
- Permalink
Stalwart little "Sunday Afternoon" war film with all the right ingredients - excellent cast of British character actors with requisite mix of seasoned pro's (Andrews, Landis, Maddern) and young up & comers (Boyd, Shaw, Caine), simple but gripping plot with salty "it's-a-dog's-life-in-the-army-but-orders-is-orders" dialogue, well staged action scenes, "friendly" US planes bombing British troops etc etc. Well worth an hour or so of your time.