Customer Reviews

Men in War

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Anthony Mann's "Men in War," along with Sam Fuller's "Steel Helmet," is the most realistic, tough-as-nails war film made in the '50s.

This is ANTYTHING BUT your standard Hollywood treatment. "Men in War," along with Mann's famous Westerns is a demonstration model of the 'vulgar subtlety' with which Mann subverts Hollywood convention to craft a masterpiece.

And what can you say about Robert Ryan? Easily one of the greatest actors of all time, and one of the coolest. Ryan OWNS this film like he owned Ophuls' Noir film "Caught," (even outshining James Mason in that one) and Aldo Ray steps up to Ryan's challenge with a truly phenomenal performance. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

"Men in War" makes one wish Anthony Mann had directed more war films. This is an excellent, character-driven story. It is a prime example of the mature, unflinching kind of war film that began to appear after the Korean conflict. Undeservedly neglected, this picture ranks with Lewis Milestone's "Pork Chop Hill" and Robert Aldrich's "Attack". And it is the progenitor of "Platoon" and "The Thin Red Line". with their complex characters and situations.

Every actor seems to give his best, with exceptional moments from Robert Ryan, Aldo Ray and Robert Keith, as a shell-shocked Colonel. And it is always good to see the admirable Pine, Morrow, Persoff and Edwards. The film has a stark, yet pleasing black & white look which is appropriate for the bare bones conflicts the story sets forth. Moreover, "Men in War" features a very fine score by Elmer Bernstein, utilizing an authentic Korean folk song.

Korea. September 6, 1950. Lt. Benson (Robert Ryan) has one objective: to get what's left of his platoon out of this bloody mess alive. The rest of the army has retreated and Benson's platoon is now cut off from communication and surrounded by an unseen enemy that lurks in the trees and bushes. Benson keeps on trying to reach HQ by radio, but they get no answer. Because HQ no longer exist. Battalion doesn't exist. Regiment doesn't exist. Division doesn't exist. The USA doesn't exist. The only thing that's real to these doomed men is the hellish situation they're faced with. They know that they really don't have a chance of surviving, but they refuse to give up hope.

Their truck is busted, so they have to carry their own ammunition and supplies on their backs. But out of nowhere a U.S. jeep appears with two soldiers, one a shell-shocked colonel (Robert Keith), and the other a sergeant (Aldo Ray) who's dedicated to protecting his beloved colonel at all costs. Benson commandeers the jeep by force and uses it to haul the platoon's ammo, and the colonel and sergeant come along "for the ride." It isn't long before Benson realizes that the sergeant is an experienced combat veteran who seems to know all the tricks of the clever North Korean enemy, so he uses the sergeant to help him get his men back to American lines.

But when they come to their destination (after losing a few men to snipers, artillery, and landmines), Hill 465, they discover that it's no longer occupied by U.S. forces. Instead, the North Koreans are well entrenched and have several bunkers with multiple machine-guns. At this point, Benson has just 12 men left, and the only way to reach the American lines is to go straight through the entrenched Koreans. So he orders a suicidal frontal assault and throws everything he's got at the hill. Even the colonel and sergeant join in the assault, as it quickly becomes obvious that the only way they'll make it out alive is to work together to blow up the enemy bunkers.

1957`s "Men in War" was directed by Anthony Mann, a legendary director who could do wonders with a low budget. Already a master at film noir and psychological westerns, he also proved to be quite gifted at making a war movie. "Men in War" is very grim and has strong noir overtones. In fact, the Film Noir Bible ranks it as #55 in it's list of the most significant noir films of all time. The only thing I'd change is the ridiculous song that's played at the end, but otherwise this is a near-flawless classic, with great performances from Robert Ryan and Aldo Ray. Recently released at a bargain price from Geneon Entertainment, the picture quality is superb. The audio has some background noise in some places but is mostly excellent. Unfortunately, there are no bonus features, not even scene selection. There isn't even a menu. Still, at this low price I can't complain much. If you enjoy war movies then you'll definitely want to add this gem to your collection.

"Men in War" may just be the best pschological study of combat ever made and should be considered a cult classic (and probably is) even if it is a cult of one. Anyone who claims this is a "Standard war film set in Korea" might also claim "The God Father" was a standard gangster movie or "The Wizard of OZ" was a standard children's flick. "Men in War" is a concise, classic study of combat that just happens to be set in the Korean War. Anthony Mann's direction impacts every aspect of humanity subjected to sustained combat. Amid the horror we see from the all-but-doomed patrol kindness, depravity, valor, self-interest, despair, hope, and, finally, relief without joy. In short we see how desperation exponentializes human emotion. The unusual camera angles give it a Film Noir "look" that highlights the conflicts and tragedies played out by the forlorn platoon. Robert Ryan and Aldo Ray are the perfect dueling co-protagonists who show that our toughest fights are not always with the ones defined as the enemy. The movie is all very real, all real personal, and all very difficult to watch sometimes because of the graphic truths, not the least of which is the insight into the final thoughts of several doomed souls. There is no going back with this film. Once you watch it you are hooked. It would be best for some esteemed critics to actually watch it once before reviewing it.

This has to be one of the most underrated war flicks of all time. Next to Pork Chop Hill with Gregory Peck, this is the best Korean War film I've seen. Robert Ryan was the perfect cast as the war weary Lieutenant trying to lead his platoon back to battalion HQ. Those who rate this movie average must be fans of Rat Patrol. This movie is a must see.

The image and sound quality is great. It's hard to give better praise than the other reviewers. I would only add that none of solidiers portrayed fit into the stereotypes of the typical war movie. Also, Ryan and Ray give exceptional performances. Geneon [Pioneer]

this is a true overlooked masterpiece from anthony mann,and one of the finest war movies made!
1950,korea, a group of men is traped behind the lines after a retreat that goes bad. now they must make their way to a hill and the rest of their men,through the enemy lines and more traps and ambushes that you can shake a stick at. robert ryan,one of the best actors to ever grace the screen OWNS this movies as the leader of the group that is joined by a very good (maybe his best )aldo ray as a sgt. worried about his shell shocked colonel and can't stand ryan. the way they fight each other but still pull together to get "home" is the touchstone of this grim war tale that will keep you on pins till the end!! check it out!!!!!!!

"Men in War" tries to walk the fence rail between the two basic genres of war film and, for the most part, succeeds. Robert Ryan and Aldo Ray are beautifully cast "enemies on the same team". Ray is particularly good - 100% believable as Sgt. Montana, a man who has developed his "blood lust" a bit too far. There is plenty of action for the shoot-em-up freaks, but the film is also an excellent psychological study of two men, one grudgingly but doggedly following "The Book", and one much more attuned to what is expiditious, as opposed to what is "correct", if anything can be correct in the world of front-line combat. Also excellent are Robert Keith as the strangely "sick" senior officer, (beautifully underplayed), and Vic Morrow turns in his usual solid performance as a terror-stricken kid that Sgt. Montana has a blind spot for. Not a perfect multi-level film, but a good one that moves crisply with no lags. If war films are your preference, this is a good popcorn cruncher.

Excellent,all the cast perform their parts well, great action sequences and some amazingly tense scenes.The film begins with the troops hiding in a large hollow ,surrounded by tall grass. Wrecked vehicles lie strewn across the area and only the sound of the wind can be heard.Probably the most climactic scenes I will ever see. This is one of my all time favourites.

A small group of battle-worn American soldiers in Korea must make a tedious march a few miles to re-establish contact with the rest of the troops. They are beset with problems, comandeering a jeep from a recalcitrant soldier (played by gravel-voiced Aldo Ray) and his shell-shocked captain; then, there is the ever-present enemy which starts ticking them off, one by one, in a variety of insidious ways.
Tedious as their march is, every moment of "Men in War" is engrossing. Attention to quirky commonplace (as is done in "Das Boot") puts this war film on the human level. Each soldier, even the wordless Koreans are individuals.
The characterizations of Robert Ryan and Aldo Ray as two very different kinds of soldiers (and men) are superb.
Why, oh, why did Robert Ryan, one of the best film actors of all time, never win an Academy Award? All the no-talents who got their trophies (count 'em), but not a one for Ryan! In every role Ryan becomes the character he is portraying; he draws you into his travail. In "Men in War" Ryan gives another Academy Award performance.
One little caveat-look out for the song (yuk!) at the end.