Pork Chop Hill

If you like war movies , one of the best. Shows you what some combat was like in the Korean war."Pork Chops Been Lost; Get Your Company ready to Counter-Attack ! " a Day later Gregory Peck says "Look I've got maybe 30 spent men ! Interjected by a visitor Captain "You've Lost a Hundred Men !?" [ A rifle company in the army then had 130 odd officers and men ] Peck; "It hasn't been any Picnic up here ! " I need Water, Ammunition, Food, and Reinforcements !. The enemy is Jamming my radios ! I expect a Heavy enemy Counter-attack at Dusk ! If we can't be reinforced; I can't hold the hill, then we should be withdrawn !" The enemy loudspeakers." I want you to live , GI ! Those guys in washington are taking out your girlfriends and wives; while you die here ! unload your rifles and walk towards us with your guns over your head and we will spare you ! Other wise I can't save you, when the Bugles start ! [ First you hear one enemy Bugle, then you hear 3 enemy Bugles in Stereo, then you hear one enemy company charging, then you hear 3 enemy companies charging ! Will Peck and what's left of easy company Survive ? ]

The most remarkable thing about this Korean war movie is there does not appear to be one single Korean, North or South, in it.

In "Pork Chop Hill" Gregory Peck is a commanding presence as Lt. Joe Clemons, a weary junior officer tasked with taking and holding a militarily insignificant hill while political machinations go on in the background. This is a story based on the grim reality of the Korean Conflict, and director Lewis Milestone is able to simultaneously humanize and lionize Clemons. I am not a totally impartial reviewer it should be noted, as I am a former USAF pilot as is Clemons' son, whom I count among my close friends.The film, in black and white, is visually foreboding and the atmosphere of desperation and pending death is omnipresent. None of this should come as a surprise as Milestone was already famous for "All Quiet on the Western Front". Milestone and Peck apparently disagreed on points related to the depiction of Clemons, but Clemons' presence is definitely felt in his role as an advisor to the production, and I have no doubt that the front line tension and battle scenes were enhanced by his role in the background.The movie features numerous now-famous actors, though many were only beginning their careers then. Harry Guardino, George Peppard, Norman Fell, Martin Landau (in his debut performance), and Rip Torn are among the stars seen here, all doing excellent work, sometimes in unexpected roles. This is a film that is both horrifying and heroic, and I found it genuinely compelling. It gets my highest recommendation.Joe Clemons not only survived the Korean War (definitely not a foregone conclusion; I'm sure you'll agree after seeing the movie) but became a very successful businessman in Hawaii before retiring to North Carolina. He passed away in 2018.

First off, I must admit I don't like Gregory Peck. But, this is one of the most realistic movies about battle I have ever watched.To set the stage, this is the story of a battle during the last moments of the Korean conflict. American/UN authorities do not wish to expend lives on a final battle that has no meaning. However, they also do not wish to give up terrain to the Communist forces and risk "losing face" against an enemy determined to "gain face" at their expense for the bargaining table.An American position on a hill is overrun and Lt. Joe Clemon's King Company is charged with the task of getting it back and holding it. The first phase of the movie shows King Company's assault on the hill and the taking of a small portion of the trench system. In this, there are mistakes made on the American side which cause casualties as well as possible "friendly fire" (it's not resolved in the movie for certain - which is how war actually works). There is an fascinating dilemma in the use of the small reserve Lt. Joe Clemon posesses and the timing of its commitment.The second phase involves the attempt to hold the hill when the American commanders send reinforcements, then change their minds (afraid of, again, sending more men to die in a meaningless action) and withdraw them, leaving King Company so weak that it cannot hold the ground won while also not allowing them to withdraw!Phase three involves the decision at the highest levels of command to reinforce "Pork Chop Hill" and hold it - almost too late and, certainly, too late for many of the men of King Company who fall in combat.All throughout the movie, the viewer of this film is struck by the paralysis of commanders in the face of this situation at the end of the war. They're afraid to make any decision, either to reinforce at the risk of more American dead or to allow King Company to withdraw. Instead, they do nothing in what can be pointed out as a failing of command at the highest levels of US government and military during the Korean War. They do not wish to lose, but they do not wish to commit the resources necessary to win.This is a very stark and gritty drama devoid of the modern special effects that detract from the basic issues of men in combat. We see courage, professionalism, blunders, fear, cowardice, tragedy and sheer luck and how all these things combine in battle.This is an excellent war movie and is more than deserving of five stars.

Lewis Milestone's last war film, quite underrated (perhaps because it depicts the Korean war) but a better reflection in it's time of the gritty and gruelling nature of battle.Reportedly cut in post-production against the director`s wishes, it is based on the real events of a battle from 1953 when the US Army`s 7th Infantry Division recaptured a strategic point from the communist forces.It still stands up well as a more realistic portrayal of war with a good cast of (today) recognisable actors who later went on to have distinguished careers in film.Milestone pulls off his trademark camera-run-along the-trenches shot that gave such power to his first (unsurpassed) war film – still to good effect.A fine film that still impresses despite more recent – and more visceral – depictions of battle.The UK DVD has no extras, but provides a well mastered black and white print.

This is one of the best films concerning the Korean War. It follows 135 American soldiers as they attempt to take a large hill from it's entrenched Chinese defenders. It's fairly grim and realistic for it's time and although there is no Saving Private Ryan type gore there are some disturbing scenes. Once the action starts it barely lets up until the end . Look out for some up and coming actors in small parts , George Peppard, Martin Landau ,Harry Dean Stanton. Gregory Peck puts in a great understated performance as the officer in charge told to take his men into a fight where he knows many of them will be killed. The Swedish bluray has great picture quality for a film from 1959 ( I was very happy with it ) and plays fine in English without any subtitles, there are very thin black bars at the side of the picture, I believe this is to give the correct aspect ratio. You also get a dvd version of the film. . The bluray I was sent has a slightly different sleeve with a 15 cert at the bottom left and of course the text is not in English. There haven't been many good films about the Korean conflict , other notable efforts are , Fixed Bayonets, the Steel Helmet, Men in War and A Hill in Korea ( one from a British point of view ) , You could also try The Glory Brigade , One Minute to Zero and Retreat , Hell. For a modern Korean film, 71 - Into the Fire is very good and is a lot more bloody.

Filmed in 1959 with the cooperation of the US Army and directed by Lewis Milestone (All quiet on the western front), this is the portrayal of an actual battle in Korea. I don't know much about the actual battle, so I shall refrain from commenting on the realism (or lack thereof) of the battle.The tone of the film is one of weary resignation bordering on despair among the US soldiers. You get the feeling that they are fed up and just want to go home. Despite this, they trudge forward to do their job as infantrymen. The battle sequences are in turn relentless and gripping with good special effects. Another nice touch is that the enemy is given a face and a voice in the form of a propaganda broadcaster whose facade starts to crack.When watching this film one needs to bear in mind that it should not be taken at face value. Read between the lines. The Pentagon was and is very sensitive in just how the armed branches and the conflicts they participate in are portrayed. To get away with such a clear example of an anti-war message is no small feat.For me, this film was a nice surprise. See it!

This film is probably the most realistic war film I have ever seen . Based on an actual event in the Korean war it brought home the absolute futility of that particular war. The action scenes are constantly to the fore and are first class and bring home both the soldiers great bravery and the cowardice of some. Also it does not fall into the trap of being gung-ho, helped by some very good acting by the cast especially Gregory Peck. It also shows the sheer frustration felt by the allied delegates at the Peace Conference.Altogether a film worth seeing.

The story tells of the waste of human life in conflicts. It is exciting and at the same time frightening. I did find it a little confusing though as there wasThis is a DVD that tells the story of the bravery of the fighting men and the lack of support for them from those negotiating the end of the war. They were not concerned for the lives of the soldiers but on how it looked politically. It is worth the price and it gives an insight into what happens at peace talks!