An vorderster Front

It is said that the Korean War is the "Forgotten War." Most movies about it were made in the decade or so after the war, with the notable exception of M*A*S*H. Spielberg, Hanks, and Stone seem to be in no hurry to commemorate this conflict like the endless modern World War II and Vietnam movies. And if America's role in the war is mostly forgotten, almost no one remembers the UN allies, including Great Britain.

"A Hill in Korea," or "Hell in Korea," was made in 1956, about 5 years after the end of active combat. It portrays the travails of a patrol of mostly national servicemen (draftees) led by an inexperienced lieutenant and a pair of career NCOs. Naturally, they end up confronting an overwhelming Chinese force and are eventually besieged in a Buddhist monastery on a steep hill. A desperate battle ensues, reminding one much of the stand in "Sahara" or the very similar "The Steel Helmet," which was filmed 5 years earlier.

The film is mostly cliché, similar to a lot of US Korean War films. Only about three characters have any development about their home lives and dreams, usually just before they exit the scene for good. There is a very minor sub-plot with the radio operator who is ostracized after throwing away the unit radio. And there is a lot of good action. Unfortunately, this is one of those almost forgotten films that appears to have been poorly preserved and the version I saw was really low quality.

Other than action, what makes this film stand-out is the cast. You see stalwarts like Harry Andrews and Stanley Baker, rising stars like George Baker and Stephen Boyd, and the future 'M,' Robert Brown. It also featured some very young future superstars named Michael Caine and Robert Shaw. Altogether it features two future knighthoods and no less than 4 MBE/OBE/CBE holders. The cast alone makes this film worth a look.

As a side note, the film makes some points about the plight of the National Service men who were drafted to a war virtually unknown in the UK. Four years later the UK ended National Service for good and returned to a professional army. It is not overdone, but the film clearly was intended to raise questions about the post-WWII continuation of conscription.

It's a small film but great in its making. The overwhelming credit of it is its absolutely perfect almost naturalistic realism, filmed in Korea and taking part of all the hardships of the soldiers at very close quarters. You get to know each of the soldiers individually, and MANY of them make unforgettable impressions. More of a curiosity is the presence of a very young Michael Caine among them as the youngest and the only blond one. He isn't noticed much and isn't seen much, but he is actually in it; while also Robert Shaw makes a very early and very palpable presence. The main characters though are Harry Andrews as stalwart and dominating in his imposing stature as ever, and Stanley Baker as the toughest and hardest of them. You don't like him, but in the end you must wonder if he wasn't right after all, while of course there is also the martyr, all lost and making his situation constantly more awkward in succeeding in doing everything wrong.

The settings are also quite impressing with the Buddhist monastery as a refuge, like a Korean Alamo for a last stand, but here there are actually some survivors; while the greatest quality of the film is the indivdual close-up attention given to everyone of these forgotten heros.

A war film starring Ronald Lewis, Stanley Baker, with no women characters, it sounds a gritty war film in the line of THE LONG, THE SHORT AND THE TALL, YESTERDAY'S ENEMY, another war movie starring Stanley Baker, or any Robert Aldrich or Samuel Fuller's films like plots. Rough, tough, brutal, virile stories about soldiers friendship, brotherhood of arms, sacrifice, bravery...And it is. I don't know the director but it is a pure delight to watch this war feature in the tradition of the small budget war features, focusing on characters, their relationships, their feelings.... Don't miss this one please, but I know it is a very hard to find item. And the most fascinating for me was having Stanley Baker and Robert Shaw together, bcause I have always associated them very close in my spirit; as Paul Newman and Steve McQueen, same kind of actors for same kinds of characters in the movies.

A Hill in Korea (AKA: Hell in Korea) is directed by Julian Amyes and adapted to screenplay by Anthony Squire, Ronald Spencer and Ian Dalrymple from the Max Catto novel. It stars George Baker, Harry Andrews, Stanley Baker, Michael Medwin, Ronald Lewis, Stephen Boyd and Victor Maddern. Music is by Malcolm Arnold and cinematography by Freddie Francis.

Out of British Lion Films, film is based on real events. Story follows a small group of British soldiers serving in the Korean War, who while out on routine patrol find themselves boxed in on all sides by the Chinese army. Against the odds the men, from different walks of life, must stand together to stand any chance of survival.

A Hill in Korea is more concerned with the conflict amongst the group of soldiers than it is with the enemy. 16 men, 10 of which are National Service conscripts, laugh, bicker, get scared and stand tall in readiness for what fate has in store for them. The upper crust and the working class thrust together makes for potent character dynamics, and of course it's a time when heroes and villains are born. This is a place where men apologise for getting injured, where they are told to fire their weapon instead of making love to it! And a place from which we know some will not return...

One of the very first films to deal with British troops in Korea (if not the first?), it inevitably has a familiarity about it if you be someone who often indulges in the War genre. However, the traditional flavours make this very appetising and the screenplay isn't shy of intelligence. Be it "friendly fire" or monologues about the futility of it all, film doesn't cop out. It's also very funny, with some absolute zingers delivered with caustic obviousness. Then there's the roster of great British actors that fill out the cast, with even the likes of Michael Caine (a real life servant in Korea) and Robert Shaw in secondary support slots. While Amyes keeps his camera up close for impact and Francis tones down the lighting to keep things sombre.

Well worth seeking out by fans of Brit war movies. 7/10

Stalwart little "Sunday Afternoon" war film with all the right ingredients - excellent cast of British character actors with requisite mix of seasoned pro's (Andrews, Landis, Maddern) and young up & comers (Boyd, Shaw, Caine), simple but gripping plot with salty "it's-a-dog's-life-in-the-army-but-orders-is-orders" dialogue, well staged action scenes, "friendly" US planes bombing British troops etc etc. Well worth an hour or so of your time.