Pork Chop Hill
Directed by Louis Milestone
Written by James R. Webb from a book by S.L.A. Marshall
1959/USA
United Artists/Melville Productions
First viewing/Amazon Instant

[box] I was drafted during the Korean War. None of us wanted to go… It was only a couple of years after World War II had ended. We said, ‘Wait a second? Didn’t we just get through with that?’ Clint Eastwood [/box]

The objective is valueless except as a chip at ongoing Peace Negotiations.  This hardhitting film takes a look at the challenges of leading men whose primary aim is not to be among the last casualties of the war.

Lt. Joe Clemens (Gregory Peck)’s platoon is ordered to play a key role in re-taking Pork Chop Hill.  He is supposed to work in concert with a couple of other platoons.  Clemens’s first job is to motivate men who spend all their time glued to the radio for news on progress at the Peace Talks.  Clemens must motivate these by tough talk and brute force.

Once they hit the field, the men are also bombarded with non-stop propaganda “advice” from the Red Chinese.

Perhaps the most discouraging factor is the constant miscommunication from headquarters, which consistently seems to be clueless as to the location of its troops and conditions on the ground. General staff is unable to increase supplies and unwilling to order withdrawal at this sensitive political juncture.  Despite or because of the enormous casualties, though, the troops at last become determined to keep the hill.  With Harry Guardino, Rip Torn, George Peppard, Woody Strode, Norman Fell, Robert Blake, and Martin Landau (in his film debut) as soldiers.

Louis Milestone brings as another anti-war film late in his career.  It is not as epic as All Quiet on the Western Front but hard-hitting for all that.  It made me think about all the paradoxes created by this modern way of fighting and negotiating at the same time.

Trailer