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Editorial Reviews
The title Battle Circus comes from the way the mobile field units can strike their tents, move to a new battle area, then set them up again like circus roustabouts in nothing flat. And, like circus daredevils, these heroes risk life and death on a daily basis.
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Customer Reviews
"Battle Circus" while never being in the top range of Bogart films over the years delivers a vivid and well documented story set during the Korean war, 30years before the famed TV series MASH tackled the same topic. This film tells the story of one such MASH unit responsible for the care of the allied forces wounded at whatever front the fighting takes them. It focuses on the love /hate relationship that develops between cynical world weary unit doctor Major Jed Webbe (Humphrey Bogart) and dedicated unit nurse Lieut. Ruth McGara. While not love at first sight the story develops so that both these very different individuals learn just a little about life from each other. That is why the casting of Bogart and Allyson , much criticised at the time of release, I feel works so well. Tow contrasting types learning off each other to become better people. These two skilled performers have a great flow in their scenes together and while it is not like a teaming of Bogart and Bacall or Bogart and Hepburn or even Allyson and Peter Lawford it works very well. Both are very believable in the roles and bring a realism to their delivery that further aids the films story in painting a picture of the futility and horror of war.
Indeed "Battle Circus" has often been accused of playing up the romance to the detriment of the real war story happening in Korea. I feel that it offers a good balance and for a film made in the fifties it provides in some cases a very vivid view of the emotions and horrors that the Korean war produced. It portrays a sympathetic view of the ordinary Korean citizens caught up in the fighting and the plight of catured North Korean soldiers who are simply frightened more than being dangerous enemies.June Allyson's big scene when she confronts a terrified North Korean Prisone rof war who has armed himself with a grenade in the hospital is a very thrilling piece of action and she rises to the dramatic requirements of the scene superbly. The scenes as the camp has to pack up and move to the next war zone and when the camp itself comes under attack from the enemy are very graphically depicted and really give you a sense of the hardships endured by all during these times. The final piece of action as the wounded are moved in a convoy through rugged terrain often under enemy fire are very exciting and never once try to soft peddle the hardship of war.
"Battle Circus" will never be one of the great war stories but I find it a very well done and enjoyable saga, well acted and very honest in its attempts to show all the different sides of the war. It does play up the romance and it shows the humour too but equally it depicts the frustrations and fears encountered by all during this conflict after which our world was never the same. Enjoy Bogart and Allyson in their only teaming on screen.
They really do not make movies like this anymore. The romance between the doctor and the nurse seems stereotypical and doomed to fail, but with the chemistry between the two and the intelligence of the characters, it seems it might just work out despite everything working against them. There is a certain amount of hope projected that is rarely seen today. Too bad; it makes for a great ending and a great film.
Besides the ground vehicles trucking the MASH unit all over, there are numerous shots of the H-13 Sioux medevac chopper. There is also a sequence at the beginning intended to show MiGs strafing the compound, but it is confusing when F-86 Sabres are being used with clearly identifiable USAF markings. I almost thought I was seeing a friendly fire incident until I realized the context.
Even if you are a fan of the MASH tv series, it is still interesting to see the real thing.
