Men in War *** (1957, Robert Ryan, Robert Keith, Aldo Ray, Vic Morrow) – Classic Movie Review 12,991

‘The part of the military machine that bleeds!’ ‘One more step and I’ll fill your guts with lead!’

Director Anthony Mann’s 1957 war film Men in War is based on the novel Combat by Van Van Praag, and stars Robert Ryan, Robert Keith, Aldo Ray, and Vic Morrow.

Men in War is an adequately compelling, if small-scale and rather cramped-seeming man’s-man Korean War adventure with stranded troops having to attack an enemy stronghold or face disaster. Decent battle sequences and the committed performances of a stalwart cast keep the tired, now over-familiar tale very watchable, the dialogue by credited screenwriter Philip Yordan (front for Ben Maddow) is good, and director Mann is a tower of strength, bringing tension and immediacy to his scenes. Ernest Haller’s black and white cinematography and Elmer Bernstein’s score are notable. Indeed, Bernstein’s score is a special asset.

Overcoming his typecasting, Robert Ryan is excellent as the hard-nosed lieutenant trying to keep his battle-tired platoon alive and Aldo Ray gives an equally strong performance as his sergeant.

Also in the cast are James Edwards, Victor Sen Yung, Philip Pine, Nehemiah Persoff, L Q Jones, Adam Kennedy, Scott Marlowe, Walter Kelley, Robert Normand, Anthony Ray, and Michael Miller.

Opening credits prologue: ‘TELL ME THE STORY OF THE FOOT SOLDIER AND I WILL TELL YOU THE STORY OF ALL WARS. KOREA SEPTEMBER 6, 1950.’

Men in War is directed by Anthony Mann, runs 102 minutes, is made by Security Pictures, is released by United Artists, is written by Philip Yordan (front for Ben Maddow), based on the novel Combat by Van Van Praag, is shot in black and white by Ernest Haller, is produced by Sidney Harmon and Anthony Mann, and is scored by Elmer Bernstein.

It is shot in Malibu Canyon, Bronson Caves and Hill Ranch in California.

It premiered in Los Angeles on January 25, 1957 and was released in the US the following day. It was released in the UK on September 13, 1957.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,991

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com