John T. Ryan ONCE AGAIN, WE betray our age by reporting that we saw this picture while it was playing during its initial release. The venue was the old Ogden Theatre; which was then located at 63rd Street and Marshfield Avenue in the West Englewood (St. Theodore Parish), Chicago, Illinois.BEING IN JUNIOR High School and 12 years old, we tended to view it as just another War Picture; albeit one about the "Korean Police Action, rather than World War II. It probably didn't rate with the more action oriented matinée fodder such as American-International's HELL SQUAD and TANK BATALLION; which played on a double bill at the very same picture show.BUT WHEN ONE revisits the film, as we just did thanks to Turner Classic Movies, we find a very different picture, indeed. To begin with, we have a story based on the true incident of the Korean War, that wastes no time in getting things moving and makes its 97 minute running time go by in a seeming instant.IT WAS THE product of star Gregory Peck's own Melville Productions and Mr. Peck is the only actor of "Star Status" to appear. That is not to say that the cast was not talent laden; for it certainly was that, having assembled a group of supporting players who were either established veterans or young pups, who were on their way up the ladder.EVEN A QUICK GLANCE over the roster would leave even the casual movie buff impressed. The list contains names such as: Harry Guardino, Rip Torn, George Peppard, James Edwards, Bob Steele, Woody Strode, Norman Fell, George Shibata, Robert Blake, Ken Lynch, Abel Fernandez, Gavin Mac Cloud, Martin Landau, Harry Dean Stanton, Clarence Williams III and many others.ONE PARTICULAR INCIDENT in the story concerned Private Franklin (Woody Strode), who is given to a touch of fearful apprehension about being in combat and feigns injury in order to escape the front and return to the rear echelon. Lt. Clemons (Gregory Peck) recognizes the situation and forces Franklin into service. Franklin's behavior continues that way until he is a candidate for a firing squad.BUT, THE LEVEL headed Lieutenant uses some psychology and Franklin redeems himself, serves honorably & even heroically.* THE FILM IS the story of one incident at the last days of the Korean War. Pork Chop Hill offers no advantage to either side, military or otherwise. But its 'importance' lies in the fact that it is there and it becomes a sort of symbol of just how far the negotiating sides (the United Nations forces and the Communist Chinese) would go in securing a truce.SURELY MANY WOULD argue about the classification of PORK CHOP HILL as a film genre. Some say it's a war film, whereas others just as vehemently argue that its 'message' is one of anti-war.WE TEND TO agree with neither as the sentiments of author, producer/star Gregory Peck and Director Lewis Milestone; whom all would agree. It's just a story about the horrors of war, all war. And that really has nothing to do with political belief; although it is usually the pols who get us into these things! TO SUM IT all up, we quote U.S. Army Civil General, William Tecumseh Sherman who so eloquently stated: "War is Hell!" SO BE IT!!

TankGuy Korea,1953.The battle weary Americans believe that an armistice is just around the corner, but the arduous peace talks at Panmunjom say otherwise. Pork Chop hill, which is of ominous significance to both the Americans and the Chinese, is in the firm grip of American forces. This is soon changed however, by a successful thrust from the Chinese, which leaves the hill in Communist hands.Lieutennant Joe Clemons(GREGORY PECK)is ordered to counterattack Pork Chop hill and re-take it.Clemons and his men make a costly advance up the hill, with heavy casualties.The peace talks are constantly prolonged by the Chinese,leaving Clemons unsure as to whether he and his remaining men can hold the hill...The film basically tells the story of the first stage of the battle of Pork Chop hill in Spring 1953.It presents a semi-fictionalised account of this bloody battle, most of the film seems to be historically accurate, whilst other parts are invented for the sake of the plot, which gave the film an engaging edge. At times, PORK CHOP HILL is a mixed bag, but overall an engrossing and gripping flag waver with bite. The main actors turn in tough and ruggedly stupendous performances, but I couldn't help feeling that the actors playing smaller parts were somewhat wooden and stiff. Nearly all of the characters are in Military uniform and as the film is shot in monochrome, one actor is indistinguishable from the other. The steel jawed characters were easy to like, but somewhat dry(which echoes my comment about the stiff acting),so it was hard for me to care when they were killed.However,this sort of worked in the film's favour as it is a cast iron depiction of men in war. Gregory Peck is on fantastic form as the granite edged Lieutenant Joe Clemons, it's one of his greatest performances.Woody Strode was also on stellar form as the hardened Private Franklin.Carl Benton Reid and a young George Peppard also acquitted themselves impressively. Barry Atwater was very rigid, but still great as the firm Lieutenant Colonel Davis. Veteran cowboy actor Bob Steele has a fleeting cameo as the hard nosed Colonel Kern. His short performance was terrific and I would have liked his character to feature more heavily in the film. Look out for a young Martin Landau in his first film performance as a young Lieutenant.The film benefits from a robust and cleverly written script thanks to James R. Webb. The script is based on the factual book penned by Brigadier General S.L.A Marshall who was present at the battle of Pork Chop hill. The dialogue between Lieutenant Clemons and Colonel Davis discussing the strategy for attacking the hill was superb, as was the dialogue in the peace conference scenes. Although in other places it was terribly dry, making the film drag a little. The pacing is alright,although at times the film does feel incredibly slow. Director Lewis Milestone uses tight close-ups to brilliant effect and there is a tense atmosphere throughout most of the film. The battle scenes succeeded in clenching my attention and were impressively shot. The ingenuity and grit of the Soldiers fighting is spectacularly depicted.Although,greater emphasis is placed on the characters, thus most of the action is happening in the background or offscreen.It is firmly restrained and at times,the carnage is only heard rather than seen. The final battle was rather abrupt and anti climatic, but still finger biting and taut nonetheless. I thought the special effects, for example the explosions, were excellent and there's some masterful shots of heavy Machine guns being fired.Overall, PORK CHOP HILL is a staunch effort worthy of praise. It's not without flaws but nothing that would stop me recommending it.The acting, direction and script are really the glue holding the film together. A fine way to pass a couple of boring hours.7.5/10.

Tony Bush A war film that doesn't pull any punches in it's depiction of the inherent futility of war. It's a "lions led by donkeys" affair with Gregory Peck and his men sent on a propaganda mission to secure a strategically irrelevant mound of rock and dirt in the last days of the Korean war.The ensuing slog and mindless carnage, along with the screaming ineptitude of the brass coordinating the debacle from the relative safety of command posts, make for gripping and affecting viewing. Filmed in grainy black and white, it's a tough and stark depiction of a type of warfare the pointlessness of which the world continues to fail to learn by to this day. Most everyone gets blown away. For no good reason.

mw1561 I recently saw this film on television. I usually like Gregory Peck, but he seemed a bit too wooden in this role. Two things stick out in my mind that are so unreal that the film has been diminished.The first thing is the radio announcer. It would have been fairly simple to shhot out the loudspeakers. The announcer seemed so up-to-date on events, it was as if he was on the front line.The second thing is the abrupt ending. AT one moment we're being told that "a million Chinese" are surging up the hill, and the next moment Gregory Peck receives a message that "help is on the way, they should be there any minute". And in the span of about 15 seconds, the "million Chinese" are routed.