Should be seen with Steel Helmet, not only a Korean War film directed by Sam Fuller, but staring a man who never got screen time Gene Evans. Evans is one of those people, probably mostly forgotten now, but should really get a retrospective. Those who have seen this film, will no what I am talking about when I mention the classic scene with Evans in Fixed Bayonets. Good Audio Commentary on this disc.

A much forgotten old style war movie. Very good combat scenes. Gene Evans and Skip Homier were very good as supporting characters. Michael O'Shea was good as the tough sergeant. Somehow even in the twenty-first century Richard Basehart seems a little too upper classed to be a dogface. This was also good because they had a Greek enlisted man in the platoon whose girlfriend ran a pool hall in Pittsburgh. "Hey Greek" that's what the guys called him--you were allowed to be politically incorrect in 1951.

In the early Winter campaigns of the Korean War, American troops were ill prepared, ill equipped and surprised by first, the North Korean invasion and, when the invasion faltered and the North was forced into retreat, the second invasion led by tens to hundreds of thousands of Chinese Army troops. The intervention of China forced the American retreat from the North.

"Fixed Bayonets" is about a U.S. Army unit having to fall back to the South. One smaller unit is left behind as the rear guard, to cover the retreat and give the impression that the larger unit was still in place. The movie is about the men in this rear guard. The heroes, the cowards, those unsure of themselves and those over confident. It's well acted, with many familiar faces. The violence is subdued by modern standards, but with this film the men's struggles with themselves and each other are more important than those with the enemy around them.

If nothing else, "Fixed Bayonets" will give you a better idea of the Forgotten War.

If you can suspend your disbelief, and you can ignore the painted background of snowy mountains and the fake cavern in which most of the movie develops, you'll find that Fixed Bayonets! is a very good movie.
Based on some critics I read previously, I was expecting a typical American war movie where the Americans are depicted as flawless heroes while the enemy is shown as stupid, malevolent sub-humans. Not so. This is a plain story where soldiers are, well, just soldiers. At least as far as I can perceive, there is no political agenda or in your face heroism discourses. Though not much background is provided for each of the soldiers, I felt empathy for each of them. Stereotypes? Maybe, but depicted in a very natural, convincing way. Particularly likeable are the two main protagonists: Gene Evans as the wise sergeant-mentor Rock and Richard Basehart (who even looks quite handsome!) as the conflicted corporal Denno. Anyone who has been in an unexpected position of leadership where you have to make important decision concerning other people will be moved by his conflict. There are several scenes full of a dramatic tension that are hard to match: watch for the mine rescue field; just awesome. In a sentence, totally recommended. I'll get also "Steel Helmets" to continue my exploration of Sam Fueller's films.

As a veteran my taste in combat movies is prioritized by some authenticity, which this has, especially the gritty stuff civilians can not be made to understand. And the brotherhood that surpasses blood. With the desperate sacrifices done involving life and death while teens, aspects not covered in the john wayne romanized versions, but is the center piece of this movie.

This is a Korean war movie, realistic in all aspects. The division has to retreat before being surrounded, so they are left with few options as to the withdrawal. A decision to leave a rear guard is their only option, with as few men left behind as possible. So about 30 men are chosen for the job. The movie revolves around 1 man who is an officer candidate school washout who is afraid to literally pull the trigger. He also fears leadership responsibilities, while he is only a corporal, he is 4th inline to be in command of this oversize platoon. This movie was produced by Samuel Fuller a combat veteran which leads to its authenticity.

The korean war....hmmm!.....a solid movie by an excellent, underrated actor. great!

Excellent movie for the war buff. Great service.