Pork Chop Hill **** (1959, Gregory Peck, Harry Guardino, George Shibata, Woody Strode, James Edwards, Rip Torn, George Peppard) – Classic Movie Review 3502

Director Lewis Milestone’s tough and distinguished 1959 Korean War movie places a battle for control of a strategic hill in Korea is the centre of the action.

It is notable for a series of strong and credible performances from a stalwart cast headed by Gregory Peck as Lt. Joe Clemons, Harry Guardino as Pvt. Forstman, Rip Torn as Lt. Walter Russel, George Peppard as Cpl. Chuck Fedderson and George Shibata as Lt. Suki Ohashi.

The cast also includes Woody Strode, James Edwards, Barry Atwater, Robert Blake, Martin Landau, Norman Fell, Harry Dean Stanton, Bob Steele, Lew Gallo, Cliff Ketchum, Biff Elliot, Charles Aidman and Gavin McLeod.

Adapting the book by Brigadier General S.L.A.Marshall USAR, James R Webb’s screenplay successfully hammers home the theme of the futility of war, Sam Leavitt’s black and white cinematography is urgent and impeccable, while the action is handled in an explosive fashion by director Milestone.

All in all, this is a magnificent war film from the maker of those other classics All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), A Walk in the Sun (1945) and Halls of Montezuma (1950).

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3502

Link to home page for more reviews derekwinnert.com