Pork Chop Hill [DVD]

Filmed just after the end of the Korean war, this intense and gritty film shows the stupidities of war in all their glory. Gregory Peck puts in a stirring performance as Joe Clemons, leader of a platoon ordered to take Pork Chop Hill.The hill is heavily defended, impossible to take without heavy casualties and strategically worthless. But it must be taken as it is a vital chip in the great poker game that is the peace negotiations. The film is the story of the assault, showing the realities of war in visceral and disturbing detail. It studies the characters of the soldiers, showing them as real human beings with the same emotions as the rest of us, not just the usual heroic stereotypes usually seen in war movies. The action is relentless. There is almost no musical score, just the constant thump of heavy ordinance and the rattle of small arms fire.Peck is excellently cast as the commanding officer, trying to rally his men and drive them up the hill in spite of the huge casualties they are suffering. George Peppard, Harry Guardino and Martin Landau are among the excellent supporting cast, and provide us with some distinctive and memorable characters. The only downside is it ges a little over the top at times with the moralising. An excellent film, well worth watching by any fans of gritty and realistic war films in the vein of `Saving Private Ryan'.This 2004 MGM release is OK. The film has a decent transfer and OK soundtrack. The picture is 4:3 aspect, the sound mono. The only extra is a theatrical trailer. The film is in black and white. Four stars.

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 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.

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.

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!

watched this film back in the 50's or may be early 60's. I new a lot of people who served in the army in "Korea" most of them nation service men who live in the are I lived in. So, this film was real and true up to a point as I new it in those days. As yet I have not see it as am saving it along with a few others to watch over Xmas.

This is an old fashioned war movie, albeit covering less well trod territory, about an assault on a hill in Korea. The story is a bit more political than some, but not in a 'preachy' way. It is solid and dramatic entertainment, with a good build up of tension and a bayonet charge. It is in B/W, but I didn't miss the colour, feeling that the starkness and darkness of B/W worked well for the story. A good one for war buffs.