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Synopsis:
After accidentally bombing an orphanage while flying a plane in WWII, a minister (Rock Hudson) suffering from tremendous guilt leaves his profession to fight in the Korean War.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Airplanes and Pilots
• Biopics
• Dan Duryea Films
• Douglas Sirk Films
• Korean War
• Orphans
• Rock Hudson Films

Review:
The same year he released his film The Tarnished Angels (1957) — about a boozy reporter (Rock Hudson) who falls for the wife (Dorothy Malone) of a stunt pilot (Robert Stack) — Douglas Sirk made this adaptation (also starring Hudson) of a memoir by Dean Elmer Hess, known for his leadership in the “Kiddy Car Airlift” of hundreds of orphans from war-torn Korea. Given the current plight of Ukrainian refugees and the chaotic withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan last summer, it’s especially harrowing watching dramatized footage of this operation:

… though it’s questionable how much of a role Hess himself actually played in the evacuation, given that (much to Sirk’s consternation) he was overly involved in the making of the film and the crafting of his image. The screenplay itself is pure Americana hokum of the 1950s, showing Hudson leaving behind a beautiful housewife (Martha Hyer):

… while also sparking (unintentional) romantic flames with an ethereally beautiful Korean-Indian woman (Anna Kashfi) who ends up caring for the orphans Hudson finds running around his base:

Perhaps most cringe-worthy is the inclusion of a bearded elderly Christian Korean (Philip Ahn) who dispenses pearls of wisdom to Hudson at just the right moments (“In order to save, at times we must destroy”):

At least Dan Duryea has a fun comedic role as a sergeant who gets to cleverly steal candy and gum from the Navy (!):

… and Hudson acquits himself nobly as the handsome pilot who “redeems” himself.

Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:

• Rock Hudson as Col. Dean Hess
  
• Fine Technicolor cinematography
  

Must See?
No, though Sirk fans will likely want to check it out.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• TV Guide Review
• TCM Article

Synopsis:
During the Korean War, a platoon tasked with tricking the Communists into thinking their forces are not retreating navigate icy cold conditions while a fearful corporal (Richard Basehart) worries that his superiors — including hard-nosed Sgt. Rock (Gene Evans) — will die and leave him in charge of his men.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Cowardice
• Korean War
• Richard Basehart Films
• Sam Fuller Films
• Soldiers

Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary writes that this “action-filled, intelligent war movie” — “written and directed by Sam Fuller” — clearly shows Fuller’s “war experience” given “the believable dialogue between soldiers and the intricate military strategy they conceive.” He notes that this “film is about the responsibility of being a soldier; it doesn’t matter if a soldier is scared or brave, for heroics will come about only if one one does the job.” He asserts that while there are “many fine moments,” there are “none better than when all the soldiers put their bare feet together for protection against frostbite and one foot, which no longer has feeling, has no claimaint.”

I would argue that the minefield scene — in which Basehart is forced to test his own mettle, inch by harrowing inch — is right up there in terms of most memorable moments:

Peary challenges us to “try to pick… out” James Dean (in his first, uncredited role), which is possible with careful scrutiny:

Overall, this compact thriller tells an effectively authentic tale of survival and bravery under extreme duress, and remains well worth a look.

Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:

• Fine performances by the ensemble cast
  
• Lucien Ballard’s cinematography
  

Must See?
Yes, as a nifty wartime action flick by a master director.

Categories

• Good Show
• Important Director

Links:

• IMDb entry
• DVD Savant Review
• TCM Article