Dix hommes pour l'enfer

There have been some very good Korean War flicks..."Target Zero" really isn't one of them. Instead, the film is pretty dull...as well as ridiculous.

The film begins with a small band of American soldiers finding a hot blonde (Peggy Castle) as they try to get back to their unit. This part of the film really annoyed me, as the well-coiffed lady NEVER would have been in this situation and it seemed beyond just a bit contrived. Soon, they come upon a British tank and its crew and a bit later they come upon an American Lieutenant and some more men. Together, this rag-tag group of men...and a woman...need to fight their way back to safety.

This film seemed pretty dull and offered little in the way of excitement. It also had some silly dialog and never seemed the least bit credible or interesting.

Good depiction of the Korean war. Desperate, cut-off UN troops must fight their back to a strategic hill where they hope to be relieved. The action is good with all the elements of the war, a fanatical enemy, little support for UN forces, and freezing winter conditions. Though the love interest may have been unnecessary the film is realistic, especially depicting the plight of civilians and well acted. Surprising that there is no DVD/VHS release as other Korean war films are available. The naval gunfire support using real footage is good though the accuracy achieved somewhat imaginary. The tone of the film is grim and gritty throughout. Reminiscent of "Combat" in look and feel. Highly Recommended.

... from Warner Brothers and director Harmon Jones. After a major battle leaves United Nations forces scattered, an unlikely squadron forms: an American army platoon led by Lt. Flagler (Richard Conte), a British tank crew led by Sgt. Kensemmit (Richard Wyler), and stranded American aid worker Ann Galloway (Peggie Castle). This meager outfit must try to survive in hostile conditions long enough to rendezvous with allied forces. Also featuring Charles Bronson, Chuck Connors, L. Q. Jones, John Alderson, Terence de Marney, John Dennis, Angela Loo, Joby Baker, Abel Fernandez, Strother Martin, Don Oreck, and Aaron Spelling.

This low-budget war picture is of note purely for the interesting cast of future film and TV stars, including Bronson, Connors, Jones, Martin, and TV mega-producer Aaron Spelling as Private Strangler. The conflict here goes beyond the UN forces vs the Communists, as it also includes tank commander Wyler resenting American Conte because an American made time with Wyler's sister during WW2. Not very compelling drama. Castle's character seems to exist purely to add a female to the cast, a trend that I've noticed with more than war film. Some of the action scenes work well, while others look like bad television. There's a lot of awful rear-screen work, too.

It's Korea 1952. The war has descended into a grinding morass. There are various soldiers and non-coms of the coalition trying to survive the unrelenting death machine. Ann Galloway's car gets blown off a ridge. She's picked up by a British tank crew driving an American Sherman. They encounter a squad of American soldiers led by Lt. Tom Flagler who aims to head for a hill which has been surrounded after the push by the Chinese.

The dialogue is stale and the actors don't always help. Peggie Castle is more notable for her perfect hair and beautiful face. She has an overly dramatic breakdown scene. Charles Bronson has a minor role but at least, he delivers his self-contained brute. The filming and the acting are all pretty flat. There is some real action with real machinery. It's not exciting due to its old filming techniques. Mowing down the enemy is done with the old style dying. It's all rather old fashion.

Usually Leonard Maltin and I agree on movies....

Not this one. I have seen it perhaps four or five times. An American unit, sitting astride a strategic hilltop, plugging the Main Line of Resistance, is over-run and wiped out. Only a patrol and some stragglers picked up along the way are able to reach the now-undefended hilltop in time.

I found this story to ring true....with good characterizations and plot developments. Sure, the enemy is the two-dimensional Yellow Menace....that's standard with fifties-era movies.....but the mix of up-and-coming young actors is in itself worth the time to view this film.

A good story, well-acted, worthy of a look. And quite useful to someone trying to get a real look at war in Korea after the conflict settled into a stalemate. I recommend it.