Customer Reviews

Pork Chop Hill [VHS]

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gregory Peck stars as Lt. Joseph Clemons, who in the spring of 1953 leads Company K of the 7th U.S. Infantry in a bloody frontal assault on "Pork Chop Hill", which has been recently captured and occupied by Red Chinese troops. The Real Joseph Clemons, who'd attacked the heavily-defended hill with 135 men and had retaken it with only 28 of his men surviving, served as technical advisor throughout the filming of "Pork Chop Hill". Gregory Peck gave one of his best performances as Lt. Clemons, and throughout his career he often played officers in war movies ("Guns of Navarone", "Twelve O'Clock High", "The Purple Plain", "Captain Newman, M.D.", etc.).

Director Lewis Milestone, who'd already directed the World War 1 masterpiece "All Quiet on the Western Front" as well as the underated World War II classic "A Walk in the Sun", made "Pork Chop Hill" perhaps the definitive Korean War film, and wisely chose to cast many unknown actors (with the exception of Gregory Peck of course) in an attempt to create a more believable war movie. The battle scenes were superb and grimly realistic, and the friendly fire, lack of reinforcements, and inaccurate communication system were all portrayed correctly. It's hard to believe that this excellent and realistic movie was completed in just 40 days. In short, the acting, directing, and filming couldn't have been better.

The MGM dvd of "Pork Chop Hill" has an awesome picture and sound quality, and the bonus features include the original trailer as well as an eight-page booklet with plenty of historical trivia and behind-the-scenes info. "Pork Chop Hill" is a grim portrait of the absurdity and tragedy of war and is a definite must-see for every American.

"Pork Chop Hill" from 1959 is a grim but riveting look at an actual battle, near the close of the Korean War. Lewis Milestone, who already had left quite a distinguishable mark on Hollywood, directed this, his third entry into what may be considered his anit-war trilogy. "All Quiet on the Western Front"(1930), his academy award winning look at the horrors of WWI, and "A Walk In the Sun" made in 1945, his WWII entry, were the first two.

Gregory Peck stars as Lt. Joe Clemons, who is ordered to lead an Army Company to hold "Pork Chop Hill". The hill is insignificant to the outcome of the war, and not only that, but the war is all but over. Knowing this, the men are not exactly gung-ho to risk their lives. They are pinned down and outnumbered by the enemy, shells going off all around, they lack water, food, medical supplies, communication is practically nil, and were also taunted by psychologically destructiove messages, broadcasted by the Chinese. There was great loss and sacrifice of life and limb, yet the powers that be, commanded they "hold that hill". And so they did.

War Buffs and Film Buffs alike will well appreciate the authenticity of the battle, and the superb way it was shot. The black and white cinematography, adds to the starkness and bleakness of the situation these infintry men faced. Peck turns in a masterful performance and the film is also known for so many young talented actors involved that would go on to be stars and great character actors. The cast includes, George Peppard, Harry Guardino, Rip Torn, Woody Strode, Martin Landau, Harry Dean Stanton, and Robert Blake(who oddly enough can't seem to find his gun). And that is just to name a few.

It's an eye opener and wonderful tribute to these Korean War Heroes, who didn't get quite the attention or accolades of those from other wars. A must have addition to your Gregory Peck, or great war films collection.

Enjoy...Laurie

Even tho this movie was made in 1959 it still measures up to todays standards of war pictures made, and in most cases is better than what they have out there today. The director was very accurate in the setting and the history behind the battle from what I read about Pork Chop Hill and what my father told me, who was in the 2nd Infrantry division during the Korean War and fought at Old Baldy.The cast of actors are good in there portrayal of the every day soldier concerns and fears,and finally the propoganda that the Chinese broadcasted over the speakers is deadly accurate from what my father told me.

Best korean war movie ever made.Brings back many memories,good and bad

If you are looking for a movie that demonstrates the mettle of American soldiers and leaders trapped in a desparate struggle against the odds, then this movie delivers.

While Saving Private Ryan has become something of a standard for reviewers of the war genre, Pork Chop Hill was one of its hard hitting predecessors. It did not need to show the blood and gore to get the point across... the brutality is apparent.

Gregory Peck also puts in what I think to be one of his best performances as the tough and dedicated lieutenant given a mission that wartime leaders hope they never get. "Fight what could be the last battle of a war", and all the while fighting your own chain of command to get the resources necessary to win. You get a taste of the politics behind the final days of the war... though for those who have served in Korea since the "Armistice", we all know the war never really ended.

To boot, you get numerous appearances by "soon to be" big names in hollywood. If you see someone that looks familiar despite the grime and grit on their faces, chances are, you are correct. Keep your eyes open.

Finally, the battle scenes are incredible and raise your blood pressure. You will experience "emotional" highs and lows as the battle for Pork Chop Hill wages on to the "end". Hills changes hands quite often during the final months of the Korean War, as our valient veterans could attest, but their courage was well preserved in this often overlooked movie.

Do not pass on this one.

When you need a war won, you go for Gregory Peck. It is always the b&w films where you get the most realism in the battle scenes and the political intrigue equally,in this Korean war true story. Ranks ahead of "Steel Helmet" and "Fixed Bayonets,"(Sam Fuller films) in its violent realism . The only unreal aspect to it: its use of such good-looking dog soldiers, practically emptying the studio lots in screen hunks.The rocky, barren hilltops of Korea are brought to scale effectively by Lewis Milestone. When things get stale around the house, watch this film. Better than 3 cups of Joe.

These words are blasted out over loudspeakers by a communist propaganda agent at the American soldiers scaling Pork Chop Hill. This film has developed something of a cult following among war film buffs because of its almost non-stop action footage. The searing war drama begins with a night assault on a fortified hill occupied by the Chinese communist army. Veteran Hollywood director Lewis Milestone creates a sense of foreboding as the American soldiers assemble to board trucks that will carry them back to yet another critical sector of the front lines. In a larger context, the darkness evokes a sense of awareness among viewers that this is indeed a forgotten war that is not being fought with quite the same determination as World War II. Soldiers file past carrying bazookas, rifles and flamethrowers and the viewer sees them loading long bundles onto the trucks, which on closer inspection are revealed to be stretchers. They'll need them in this fight. Millstone paints his wartime canvas with drifting smoke across a cratered, rubble-strewn landscape from which all foliage has been shorn by near-continuous shelling by both sides. It's fallen upon Lt. Joe Clemons (Gregory Peck) to lead his 135-man company up the mountain to reinforce other units in an effort to drive the enemy from its positions on the crest. Although Peck's portrayal of Clemons is one-dimensional, the intriguing part of the film is following the orders the lieutenant issues to his subordinates during the course of battle. What's more, Clemons utters some truly memorable lines. When the Americans have to fix bayonets, Clemons says, "The Chinese love this eyeball-to-eyeball stuff."

If there is such a list as "Essential War Movies," then Pork Chop Hill should certainly be in the "Top Ten." The film is about patriotism and bravery in the midst of fear and doubt as to why the hill must be taken. The movie takes us back to a period when fighting was done by ordinary men with all of their vulnerabilities as opposed to modern portrayals of the military as fearless, smirking, wisecracking muscle men. This is a guy's movie. All others need not apply.

Pork Chop Hill tells the inspiring, but grim tale of K company's battle to retake Pork Chop Hill during the closing days of the Korean War. A classic war film, it does an excellent job of displaying the bravery of US Army soldiers while also reminding us about the true cost of war.

The battle is fought really for no strategic reason, and the losses inflicted on the US company are immense. Gregory Peck serves as the officer leading the attack, and does a nice job pushing his troops while trying to determine the best method for keeping them out of harms way, as much as possible. A strong cast of others help show the grit and determination that has always characterized the US Army.

There are a lot of pacifist overtones throughout the film, which I was actually okay with. War is an awful thing that should be avoided when possible, and the themes are well done. The enemies psychological operations (talking to the US troops over speakers during the battle) are powerful when talking about the futility of the attack.

If you like military history films, then I highly recommend this one. It is very well done.

In the spring of 1953, a company of the U.S. Army was ordered to assault an otherwise unprepossessing lump of Korean real estate called Pork Chop Hill. It's only value to either side was as a chess piece in the peace talks at Panmunjon, which were stalled on the question of where to pencil-in the cease-fire line. The Americans had occupied it; the Red Chinese had overwhelmed it; and now Gregory Peck (as Lt. Joe Clemons) is ordered to take his 135-man company and re-take it. PORK CHOP HILL is ostensibly based on the actual battle as described in the book Pork Chop Hill, and a qualifier at the beginning even states that most of the names haven't been changed.

As the battle unfolded, I began to mentally compare the production with recent, outstanding, "last stand" epics, specifically WE WERE SOLDIERS and BLACK HAWK DOWN - both also based on true events. PORK CHOP HILL comes up short, but not by much. The obvious difference is that PCH - released in 1959 - is filmed in black and white. This mutes the gore, which, in any case, is positively negligible compared to the grisly and graphic realism of today's simulated combat footage. However, the resulting tension felt by the viewer as Joe's unit is surrounded and faced with impending annihilation is only a click less than that felt during the height of the WWS and BHD on-screen fighting. At one point, Clemons orders a bayonet charge, which, as he says, may be the last one ever carried out by the U.S. Army. Well, the last perhaps until Mel Gibson's character, Lt. Col. Harold Moore, orders his Air Cav troopers to do the same to get out of a tight spot in WE WERE SOLDIERS.

PORK CHOP HILL is anti-war to the extent that it condemns the rear echelon desk jockeys tempted to sacrifice American boys on the altar of political expediency, or just from pure incompetence. It also isn't afraid to show the demoralization within Joe's command, and that not every grunt was itching to go over the top and charge the enemy trenches. In a film made well before the Vietnam debacle, such candidness must have been some sort of cinematic milestone for U.S. audiences used to the gung-ho dramas based on the nation's relatively recent World War II victories.

My sole motivation in watching this film was to see Peck. I can't think of any actor today whose on-screen presence exudes such dignified strength and integrity. I'm so convinced of this fact that I've gone ahead and ordered a biography of the man. We are missing the likes of him (and icons Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda, and Cary Grant).