Huk, grito de muerte

Just read the biography of Ed Ramsey, entitled "Lt. Ramsey's War." Digging into movies reflecting that era, I found "Amigo," which I do not recommend. So I decided to suffer through "Huk!," because Ramsey had some run-ins with the communist element as did all our allies in WWII. I knew that Montgomery would be really bad in a 50's melodrama and he did not let me down as he did the worst Clark Gable imitation ever seen. But even in a 50's melodrama you get to see the transition of the protagonist. Going to stay away from spoilers best I can but if you can get through the imperialism, sexism, racism and all the other isms that were accepted in the 50's, the character development of the author is upheld here. Still only a five for me but this is one movie for all who are interested in our history with the Philippines as depicted by Hollywood.

Like Evan Hunter, Stirling Silliphant ploughed his trade by writing novels, having them adapted for the screen, and writing episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents'. His first adaptation was at the age of 37, so he spent a few years living life before he achieved success.

Before watching this film, it might be good to acquaint you with the period portrayed in "Huk!". It seems during WWII, a guerilla group calling itself 'Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon' (or, 'Huk', for short) was created to fight the Japanese takeover of the Philippines. Following the war, some of these Huk guerillas continued fighting, as their aim was to replace the new Filipino government with a communist one. As a result, there was a period from about 1946-1954 when the government and Huk foces battled for control of much of the country...with the government eventually prevailing. The film "Huk!" is set during the latter portion of the Huk guerilla war.

When the story begins, the local Huk guerillas had been attacking various rich plantations. Following the murder of his father by these terrorists, Greg (George Montgomery) returns to the Philippines to get his father's affairs in order and to protect the family's plantation.

Despite the film using actual Filipino actors, which was a major plus for a Hollywood film of this time, the story was disappointing. Why? Well, much of it is that George Montgomery had almost no charisma at all and the characters no especially developed....leaving everyone looking and acting more like caricatures than real people. Overall, it is still watchable and the action isn't bad.

This film delivered just what I needed on a Saturday afternoon at my local cinema in the 1950's when I was 9-years old. Obviously the politics behind the whole thing weren't a big focus for me back then although the action was.

Seeing this film 50 years later, I can see the rough spots in the story and in the acting, but the location is authentic and the action scenes are still spectacular if a little bloodless by today's standards - or lack of them.

Greg Dickson (George Montgomery) returns to his family plantation in the Philippines to sell it after Huk guerrillas have killed his father. He meets up with a boyhood friend Bart Rogers (John Baer), his wife Cindy (Mona Freeman) and Bart's father, Stephen (James Bell). The Rogers are determined to stick it out and hold off the Huk.

Although I now know a little more about the Hukbalahap Rebellion, not that much about the Huk's motivation is explained in the film. They tend to turn up to spoil the fun just as Greg seems to be putting moves on Bart's wife Cindy.

Greg who is a breezy character, finds that Bart has issues stemming from wartime experiences. Finally, the back-stories are pushed aside and the Huks attack. After a final battle, Greg changes his mind about leaving the Philippines, and stays to help the locals rebuild their lives.

The action scenes are the stars of the show. The Filipino extras threw themselves into their roles enthusiastically. The scene as the canoes head towards the ferry transporting civilians to safety rivals the similar battle on the water in the lavish "The Sand Pebbles" 10-years later.

George Montgomery was an actor I new well during the 50's, his movies were perfect Saturday afternoon matinée fare, I probably knew him better than Marlon Brando at the time.

What an interesting guy, not so much for his acting - he was stretched in the scenes where he had to show too much emotion - but for the other things he did. He was an artist and a craftsman; a sculpture and a cabinetmaker, and he was pretty good. He had also been a heavyweight boxer, he was a big dude, and could obviously handle himself.

"Huk!" doesn't avoid too many clichés, but with its authentic locations and terrific action, it was a cut or two above some of the more studio bound adventure movies of the day.

Huk was the shortened version of the Communist guerrilla movement in the post war Phillipines who had finally gotten their delayed independence from the USA in 1946. Many of them were the guerrilla fighters who had fought the Japanese occupation. In that they were similar to the Vietminh in French Indo-China,the Chinese Communists and many other native insurgency. When this independent film came out in 1956 the war had already come to a halt a year earlier. It allowed for George Montgomery, Mona Freeman, and the rest of the cast to film in the locations of some the very savage fighting.

Unlike a lot of the revolutionary movements post World War II this one came up very short though it was bloody while it lasted. It also had no western combat troops involved, the Filipinos beat them back on their own. They had a most remarkable president at the time named Ramon Magsaysay who combined social reform with military action, the better to take away the appeal of the Huks. The full name was Hukbalahap for the group.

The Phillipines area an archipelago of over a thousand islands and this story concerns the action on one of those islands. George Montgomery who grew up in the Phillipines on his father's plantation has come home because the Huks have killed his father. He has no interest in the politics of the area, Montgomery just wants to get a good price for the old homestead and clear out.

He makes the acquaintance of Mona Freeman who is now married to his boyhood neighbor John Baer and living on that plantation with his father James Bell who taught school in the area. He likes what he sees and Baer has become incredibly aggressive. There's a reason for that which I won't go into further.

Filipino cinema stars Teddy Benevides who plays a Filipino army major and Mario Barri who is the local Huk leader lend some local authenticity to the story. I was in the Phillipines in 1999 and the country is lush, green, and beautiful as I remember it. The final action sequence is a battle with the Huks attacking a river steamer filled with fleeing refugees that Montgomery, Freeman, and Baer are taking to safety. It is well staged and will leave you on the edge of your seat.

As for President Magsaysay who does get a mention in the film, he was killed in a plane crash the following year. I was 10 years old at the time and I remember just as it was for Anwar Sadat of Egypt a great deal of mourning for him in this country, more than usual for a foreign head of state.

You won't get too much of the background of the Huk rebellion, but the film Huk is a fine action film for those who crave such things.