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After Lee Marvin won his Oscar for Cat Ballou and had great critical and popular success also with Ship of Fools and The Dirty Dozen, this former two part television episode from the Kraft Suspense Theater was edited together for release as a feature film. Sergeant Ryker casts Lee Marvin in the role of a soldier who was convicted of treason during the Korean War and sentenced to hang.

Sergeant Ryker could have been a whole lot better though. It has the look and feel of a made for television film, but more important than that, the editing probably left a lot out.

We come into the story with Bradford Dillman who has just successfully prosecuted Marvin now having doubts about what he did. The military more than most organizations does not like to admit mistakes and Dillman's doubts are raising all kinds of problems for him and for the United States Army.

Dillman has other problems as well, he's falling for Marvin's wife Vera Miles and she him. Still he persists in the quest and does get Marvin a new trial, courtesy of General Lloyd Nolan.

Marvin says he was given a confidential assignment to defect and gather intelligence. Problem is that the officer who allegedly gave him that assignment was killed and no record of it was found.

The trial takes an interesting turn and Dillman does a skillful job for his client. Yet the end of the movie will leave the viewer with a lot of unanswered questions.

Look also for good performances from Norman Fell as the sergeant who gives Dillman some key evidence, Murray Hamilton as Dillman's good drinking buddy and prosecutor Peter Graves.

The release of "Seargant Ryker" on tape was beautifully timed to take advantage of Lee Marvin's 'discovery' after 25 years of character acting. There was a brief shining moment when he won an Oscar, top billing and much better parts. However, this movie is a cobbled-together version of a two-part television drama. This drama originally served as the pilot for the series "Court Martial" which predated "JAG" by a few years. (When 'Court Martial hit the air, it was moved to WWII England, as opposed to the Korean War locale of "Ryker.") A few combat sequences were tacked on to "Ryker" make it look like an action film, which it isn't. It's a talky courtroom drama - but some of the talk is first-rate, as is BradfordDillman's performance as the reluctant defender. He's the one that's on screen most of the time, holding the plot together with the strength of baling wire. Vera Miles was always a competent actress, but never a star; she exuded a likable prettiness. If I sound mild about Miles, it's because she never moved me much. Dillman, on the other hand, did - he labored under a terrible handicap in the movies:he couldn't hide the fact that he had been to school, knew which fork to use, and was obviously bright. He was a better-than-good actor (see the underrated "Circle of Deception") and is definitely worth watching here.

Superior courtroom drama set near the end of the Korean War. An Army sergeant named Ryker (Marvin) is sent by his commanding officer behind enemy lines, posing as a defector. The sergeant is eventually captured by Allied forces and jailed as a traitor. He is to be executed. His one possible alibi, that commanding officer, is now dead. A captain (Dillman) is convinced of Ryker's story, and convinces a general (Nolan) to let the Army retry Ryker, with the captain serving as his defense attorney. Great cast, including Peter Graves as a major itching to see Ryker hanged, and Murray Hamilton as a cynical officer who is convinced nothing can save Ryker. The courtroom scenes are suspenseful, and this two-part Kraft Suspense Theatre show was wisely turned into a theatrical release several years later.

In this legal drama -- not unlike Anatomy of a Murder, A Few Good Men, and Compulsion -- ambiguity permeates the courtroom like humidity in August -- in Florida. Who's right? Who's wrong? No one can tell, yet decisions have to be made. Peppering the proceedings with plot twists and flashbacks that recall film noir and Sergio Leone, the story maintains a quick pace that overcomes its clearly low cost shooting budget. Lee Marvin burns brightest in the film's constellation of great character actors (like Peter Graves, Murray Hamilton, and Norman Fell), largely because of The Big Gray One's tendency to switch from calm menace to scary violence, on a dime. Jaded critics bang and hack at Sgt. Ryker, calling it trite and stale. The film doesn't warrant this sort of hostility. It is simple, direct, and powerful. Who cares if it isn't a re-invention of a very old sort of wheel?

Originally, "Sergeant Ryker" was a two-part installment of "Kraft Suspense Theatre" and it was shown on TV. For some reason, they repackaged the movie and released it in theaters several years later. It also served as a pilot for a TV series, "Court Martial".

This production has a very impressive cast: Bradford Dillman, Lee Marvin, Peter Graves, Lloyd Nolan, Murray Hamilton and quite a few other stars. The story concerns a sergeant (Marvin) who is up on charges of treason and desertion. You learn the Sergeant was behind enemy lines and in a North Korean uniform. He says he was on an undercover mission and the Colonel can substantiate it. However, the Colonel is now dead and left no papers indicating the man was on any mission. The assumption is that he defected and the military folks seem to be in a hurry to execute him. It's up to his lawyer (Dillman) to do his best to extricate him--but the harder he fights, the more his commanding officers imply he'll be sorry!

This film is VERY slow and initially it didn't hold my interest. Fortunately, the trial towards the finale ended up being very exciting and made watching worth the effort. So, when you find your attention waning, just keep watching--it WILL improve!

The Korean War was a tragedy for its participants. There were more collaborators and deserters in this war than ALL other American wars COMBINED. Why? Because the American leadership that got the US involved in a non-winnable war in the first place, failed all the honorable thousands of men under their command in the Korean theater of war. Only Douglas McArthur was able to salvage a tie through his military expertise.

This war was Truman's biggest failure, the Pentagon's biggest failure, and the State Department's biggest failure up to that point in time of American History. Sergeant Ryker (well-played by Lee Marvin) is an American soldier convicted of collaborating with the enemy. The film goes on to describe his circumstances and trials, with Brad Dillman as his defense attorney. Dillman is also very good in the film.

The film shows military justice for what is really is in real life; extraordinarily mediocre. Military justice is to justice as military music is to music; mediocre at best. The film has some things in common with "A Few Good Men", but not overwhelmingly so. What is very clear is that this conflict was a great tragedy for all that served in it.

The Korean War has been dubbed Americas's forgotten war. So many unanswered questions were buried along with the 50 thousand men who died there. Occasionally, we are treated to a play or movie which deals with that far-off, ghostly frozen graveyard. Here is perhaps one of the finest. It's called " Sergeant Ryker. " The story is of an American soldier named Sgt. Paul Ryker (Lee Marvin) who is selected for a top secret mission by his commanding officer. His task is to defect to the North Koreans and offer his services against United Nations forces. So successful is his cover, he proves invaluable to the enemy and given the rank of Major. However, he is thereafter captured by the Americans, put on trial as a traitor and spy. Stating he was ordered to defect, he sadly learns his commanding officer has been killed and has no evidence or proof of his innocence. He is convicted and sentenced to hang. However, his conviction is doubted by Capt. Young (Bradford Dillman), his prosecutor. Convincing commanding Gen. Amos Baily, (Lloyd Nolan) of his doubts, he is granted a new trial and if found guilty will be executed. The courtroom drama is top notch as is the cast which includes Peter Graves, Murray Hamilton and Norman Fell as Sgt. Max Winkler. Korea was a far off place but the possibility of convicting a Communist and hanging him hit very close to home in the 1950's. Due to its superior script and powerful message, this drama has become a courtroom Classic. Excellent viewing and recommended to all. ****

Engaging, riveting tale of captured US army turncoat who has to prove his innocence to avoid the hangman. Paul Ryker dodges friendly fire in a seemingly doomed attempt to convince a military court that he was actually a US spy on a secret mission in Korea. In the vein of classic courtroom dramas, "Sergeant Ryker" is an extremely well crafted mystery, ably guided by an outstanding cast, director Kulik's constant momentum, and effective plot twists and turns.

This film was originally made for television in 1963 (released theatrically in '68 to capitalise on Marvin's ascendance) and spawned the short-lived TV series 'Court Martial' also starring Dillman, spot-on as the doubting defence attorney, whose attentions sometimes stray to the personal plight of Ryker's supportive, yet somewhat distant wife, played with aplomb by Vera Miles. Rounding out the frontline is Peter Graves for the prosecution, and Norman Fell and Murray Hamilton in key supporting roles.

Marvin's interpretation of the Paul Ryker character is a balanced depiction of a simple but dedicated man whose normally laid back demeanour is challenged by the desperate circumstances in which he's placed. Marvin switches perfectly from resigned indifference, to impassioned denial of the charges, giving a convincing, often intense performance that is the highlight of this otherwise small-scale drama. It's this performance that should elevate the film to a platform where it occupies a place on the best-ever lists of courtroom dramas.

However, despite its apparent obscurity, 'Sergeant Ryker' (released as 'Torn Between Two Values' on VHS in Australia) still remains a taut and compelling examination, like a book that you just can't put down. Highly recommended.

Sergeant Ryker is accused of being a traitor during the Korean War, a hanging offense. A long drawn out court-marshal ensues during which time the Sgt. must remain in a military jail. After much investigation the defense attorney attempts to exonerate the doomed non-com with an eleventh hour ploy. Very good picture.

Sgt Ryker is to be executed if it is the will of some military who see him as an evil traitor. In the war against Korea he was sent behind the fine lines and now that there is no record of it and the former commanding officer is dead, things get tight for him when it is learned that Ryker has good friends among "the Reds" . Great movie!

It just is, if you don't agree, you are incorrect. Lee Marvin is in his bag for this film as he performs the greatest courtroom scene in cinema history. Simpletons may look to "You can't handle the truth!" as the pinnacle of courtroom screeching, but Marvin's testimony on direct once he snaps really has not been topped. The twists throughout this movie keep the case interesting as you uncover more details, and giving the exposition as a flashback keeps an otherwise slow genre at a comfortable pace. It's not Marvin's best (Point Blank), but it is the best JAG court drama I've seen due to great performances, characters you care about and question, and a plot that keeps you guessing till the credits roll.