{"id":81873,"date":"2022-03-05T20:23:58","date_gmt":"2022-03-06T03:23:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=81873"},"modified":"2022-03-05T20:29:43","modified_gmt":"2022-03-06T03:29:43","slug":"battle-hymn-1957","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=81873","title":{"rendered":"Battle Hymn (1957)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing so terrible as war.&#8221; <\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Poster-186x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"186\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-81874\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Poster-186x300.png 186w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Poster-634x1024.png 634w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Poster-79x128.png 79w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Poster-167x270.png 167w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Poster.png 689w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 186px) 100vw, 186px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nAfter 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.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Airplanes and Pilots<\/li>\n<li>Biopics<\/li>\n<li>Dan Duryea Films<\/li>\n<li>Douglas Sirk Films<\/li>\n<li>Korean War<\/li>\n<li>Orphans<\/li>\n<li>Rock Hudson Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThe same year he released his film <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=53832\"><em>The Tarnished Angels<\/em> (1957)<\/a> &#8212; about a boozy reporter (Rock Hudson) who falls for the wife (Dorothy Malone) of a stunt pilot (Robert Stack) &#8212; Douglas Sirk made this adaptation (also starring Hudson) of a memoir by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dean_Hess\">Dean Elmer Hess<\/a>, known for his leadership in the &#8220;Kiddy Car Airlift&#8221; 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&#8217;s especially harrowing  watching dramatized footage of this operation: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson-Orphans.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson-Orphans.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"362\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-81877\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson-Orphans.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson-Orphans-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson-Orphans-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson-Orphans-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson-Orphans-604x256.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>&#8230; though it&#8217;s questionable how much of a role Hess himself actually played in the evacuation, given that (much to Sirk&#8217;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): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hyer.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hyer.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"362\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-81878\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hyer.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hyer-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hyer-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hyer-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hyer-604x256.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>&#8230; 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:  <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Kashfi.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Kashfi.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"362\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-81879\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Kashfi.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Kashfi-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Kashfi-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Kashfi-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Kashfi-604x256.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>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 (&#8220;In order to save, at times we must destroy&#8221;): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Ahn2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Ahn2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"362\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-81882\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Ahn2.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Ahn2-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Ahn2-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Ahn2-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Ahn2-604x256.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>At least Dan Duryea has a fun comedic role as a sergeant who gets to cleverly steal candy and gum from the Navy (!): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Duryea.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Duryea.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"362\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-81880\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Duryea.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Duryea-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Duryea-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Duryea-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Duryea-604x256.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and Hudson acquits himself nobly as the handsome pilot who &#8220;redeems&#8221; himself. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"362\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-81883\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson2.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson2-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson2-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson2-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson2-604x256.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Rock Hudson as Col. Dean Hess<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"362\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-81875\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Hudson-604x256.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine Technicolor cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Evacuation.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Evacuation.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"362\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-81876\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Evacuation.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Evacuation-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Evacuation-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Evacuation-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Battle-Hymn-Evacuation-604x256.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though Sirk fans will likely want to check it out. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0050171\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.com\/movies\/battle-hymn\/review\/2000345069\/\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/68195\/battle-hymn#articles-reviews?articleId=1313993\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing so terrible as war.&#8221; 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) &#8212; about a boozy reporter (Rock Hudson) who falls for the wife&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=81873\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-81873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=81873"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81896,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81873\/revisions\/81896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=81873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=81873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=81873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}