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Hollywood’s Best Korean War Movies
The Korean War was fought from 1950 to 1953. Pork Chop Hill, War Hunt, The Steel Helmet, The Bridges at Toko-Ri, Men in War, I Want You, M*A*S*H are Hollywood’s top films.
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Often called “The Forgotten War,” the Korean Conflict raged with bloody ferocity from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. The Korean War brought into our vernacular such buzzwords as the 38th Parallel, MIG Alley, Pusan, the Frozen Chosen Reservoir, Chicoms and Inchon.
Here are seven “unforgettable” Korean War movies that best capture the essence of the conflict. Fix bayonets!
1. Pork Chop Hill (United Artists, 1959)
Lewis Milestone directed this compelling drama that features elements of the U.S. Army’s 7th Division and their struggle to control an apparently insignificant piece of real estate in the waning days of the Korean War. Based on the book by noted military historian S.L.A. Marshall and expertly scripted by James R. Webb, Pork Chop Hill stars Gregory Peck (Lt. Joe Clemons) and a gallery of young, up-and-coming actors, including Rip Torn (Lt. Walter Russel), Harry Guardino (Pvt. Forstman), Norman Fell (Sgt. Coleman), George Peppard (Cpl. Chuck Fedderson), James Edwards (Cpl. Jurgens) and Martin Landau (Lt. Marshall).
“Pork Chop Hill is a grim, utterly realistic story that drives home both the irony of war and the courage men can summon to die in a cause which they don’t understand…” reported Variety.
- On DVD: Pork Chop Hill (MGM, 1999)
2. War Hunt (United Artists, 1962)
One of the true lost gems in the genre, War Hunt garners most of its fame in that it marks the motion picture debut of Robert Redford in the role of Private Roy Loomis. Also on board are John Saxon (Pvt. Raymond Endore), Charles Aidman (Capt. Wallace Pratt), Sydney Pollack (Sgt. Owen Van Horn), Tommy Matsuda (Charlie), Gavin MacLeod (Pvt. Crotty) and Tom Skerritt (Stan Showalter).
John Saxon is absolutely riveting, playing an American soldier who relentlessly hunts the enemy, embarking on solo night patrols where he silently kills by knife. In one scene Saxon stealthily takes out a North Korean unfriendly, performing a little war dance over the corpse. Providing the moral counterweight to Saxon – who continues his murderous patrols even though the war has ended – is the 26-year-old Redford.
Stanford Whitmore penned the taut screenplay and Denis Sanders directed. Cast member Sydney Pollack later found fame as a director (Jeremiah Johnson, Out of Africa).
“If you want to see one of the most original and haunting war movies in years, don’t miss War Hunt…” urged Bosley Crowther of The New York Times (8/8/62).
- On DVD: War Hunt (MGM, 2003)
3. The Steel Helmet (Lippert, 1951)
WW II vet Samuel Fuller wrote and directed this quirky blood and guts movie that debuted one year after the start of the Korean War. Gene Evans (Sgt. Zack), Robert Hutton (Pvt. Bronte), Steve Brodie (Lt. Driscoll), James Edwards (Cpl. Thompson), Richard Loo (Sgt. Tanaka) and Sid Melton (Joe) head the cast.
The cigar-chomping Evans – the epitome of the tough, grizzled infantry sergeant – is tasked with defending a Buddhist temple from the marauding Red hordes. Under his command is a band of ragtag soldiers, who give the commies hell in realistic battle scenes shot on a meager budget of $103,000.
- On DVD: Eclipse Series 5 – The First Films of Samuel Fuller (Eclipse, 2007)
4. The Bridges at Toko-Ri (Paramount, 1954)
James Michener’s novel was adapted for the big screen by Valentine Davies and directed by Mark Robson. William Holden stars as Lt. Harry Brubaker, a Naval Reserve aviator who is called back into service for the Korean War. Also on board are Grace Kelly (Nancy Burbaker), Fredric March (Admiral Tarrant), Mickey Rooney (Mike Forney), Robert Strauss (Beer Barrel), Charles McGraw (Commander Wayne Lee) and Earl Holliman (Nestor Gamidge).
The Bridges at Toki-Ri features some superb flying sequences and a realistic look at combat operations aboard an aircraft carrier. Producers filmed the shipboard scenes on the USS Oriskany and the USS Kearsarge.
William Holden is shot down in one scene, and remarks that he’s just a lawyer from Denver. “Then what are you doing in a smelly ditch in Korea, sir?” helicopter pilot Mickey Rooney queries.
The Bridges at Toko-Ri won a well-deserved Oscar for Best Special Effects. “One of the best of modern war pictures…” crowed Bosley Crowther of The New York Times (1/21/55).
- On DVD: The Bridges at Toko-Ri (Paramount, 2001)
5. Men in War (United Artists, 1957)
Philip Yordan and Ben Maddow wrote the gritty screenplay and Anthony Mann directed. Robert Ryan plays Lt. Benson, whose Army platoon is cut off during a retreat. Benson and his fellow survivors attempt to make their way to Hill 456 with the North Koreans on their heels.
Joining Ryan in the cast are Aldo Ray (Sgt. Montana), Robert Keith (The Colonel), Phillip Pine (Riordan), Nehemiah Persoff (Lewis) and Vic Morrow (Cpl. Zwickley). Morrow would later star as Sgt. Chip Saunders in the WW II television drama Combat! (1962-67).
Men in War – loosely based on the WW II novel Day Without End by Van Van Praag – features strong characterization, excellent battle scenes, nasty enemy snipers and even a near fragging involving a junior officer and a noncom.
- On DVD: Men in War (Geneon, 2005)
6. I Want You (RKO, 1951)
Scripted by Irwin Shaw and directed by Mark Robson, I Want You examines the impact of the draft on small-town America at the start of the Korean War. Dana Andrews (Martin Greer), Dorothy McGuire (Nancy Greer), Farley Granger (Jack Greer), Peggy Dow (Carrie Turner), Robert Keith (Thomas Greer), Mildred Dunnock (Sarah Greer), Ray Collins (Judge Turner) and Martin Milner (George Kress Jr.) head the cast.
Andrews plays the prosperous WW II vet who reluctantly heeds the call to duty once more. Farley Granger plays the son, who is none too happy about the prospect of being drafted and sent to the ROK.
“A straight recruiting poster would be more convincing and pack more dramatic appeal,” reported Bosley Crowther of The New York Times (12/24/51).
- Currently available on VHS only
7. M*A*S*H (20th Century-Fox, 1970)
M*A*S*H’s origins date back to the Korean War and Dr. H. Richard Hornberger (1924-1997), who served as a surgeon with the 8055th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. Hornberger – using the pseudonym “Richard Hooker” – later authored M*A*S*H: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, published by William Morrow & Company in 1968.
Budgeted at $3.5 million, M*A*S*H was scripted by Ring Lardner Jr. and directed by Robert Altman. Much of Lardner’s screenplay – which ironically won an Oscar – was altered by Altman or simply ignored by the cast who improvised their own lines.
M*A*S*H follows the raucous adventures of three Army surgeons at the fictional 4077th. Donald Sutherland (Hawkeye Pierce), Elliott Gould (Trapper John McIntyre) and Tom Skerritt (Duke Forrest) play the freewheeling docs, with Robert Duvall (Frank Burns), Roger Bowen (Henry Blake), Sally Kellerman (Hot Lips O’Houlihan) and Gary Burghoff (Radar O’Reilly) along for the ride.
Irreverent, bawdy, gory and oftentimes tasteless, M*A*S*H spawned the popular 1972-83 television series of the same name.
- On DVD: M*A*S*H Two-Disc Collector’s Edition (20th Century-Fox, 2006)
