The Hill
Directed by Sidney Lumet
Written by Ray Rigby from a play by Rigby and R.S. Allen
1965/UK
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Seventh Art Productions
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Trooper Joe Roberts: We’re all doing time. Even the screws.[/box]
A POW film with a difference – both the prisoners and guards are British soldiers. Strong cast makes for a powerful picture.
The British have built a camp in the Libyan desert to deal with deserters, thieves and other criminals among the ranks in the North African campaign of WWII. The commandant is a figure head. The real power at the camp is brutal R.S.M. Wilson (Harry Andrews). Wilson’s aim is to use grueling punishment to turn his charges into real soldiers. As the story starts, a new guard, Staff Sergeant Williams (Ian Hendry), reports for duty. Williams is just a sadist.
Five new prisoners have also reported. Among them are Jacko King (Ossie Davis) who must deal with Williams’ racial hatred and Joe Roberts (Sean Connery), whose crime was to physically attack a superior who insisted on sending his men into a hopeless battle. The most dreaded punishment at the camp is to force men to run up and down a man-made hill carrying heavy packs in the blazing sun and heat. Williams does this with such gusto that he kills a man. The rest of the film deals with the rebellion of the prisoners, led by Roberts. With Michael Redgrave as the medical officer.
This is strong stuff, expertly directed by Lumet. I wasn’t expecting the ending. All the performances are excellent. Recommended.
Despite the film’s lack of commercial success, Sean Connery considered it a personal triumph, as it led to more challenging acting roles in the future. The actor was always concerned that he would be typecast as James Bond.
