tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post8352695539952499864..comments2024-03-28T10:44:41.756-05:00Comments on The War Movie Buff: #39 - PORK CHOP HILLWar Movie Buffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-81588908785265257072022-05-26T22:36:24.184-05:002022-05-26T22:36:24.184-05:00Agree. Nicely put.Agree. Nicely put.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-75779173074946222332022-02-23T09:24:32.800-06:002022-02-23T09:24:32.800-06:00O think there is a slight misunderstanding about t...O think there is a slight misunderstanding about the term B-movie. It was not a comment on the quality of the movie but was a reference to the old studio system. A-movies were the prestige pictures. The had the full backing of the studio where as B-movies were considered less important and were given much lower budgets. He were a lot less scrutinized <br />by the studio heads so the got away with a lot more. Samuel Fuller who directed Steel Helmet was a B movie director but was by no means a 2nd rate director. Steel Helmet is one of my favorite movies and was filmed while the Korean War was going on. Jeff Manionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00784154639852391287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-17035431177774193202021-11-06T12:50:57.898-05:002021-11-06T12:50:57.898-05:00Thank you for your input. You make some great poi...Thank you for your input. You make some great points. As far as the packs, perhaps the men knew the political situation and knew they would not be allowed to keep the hill. That's a cynical joke, by the way. War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-64748804703622616952021-09-12T09:49:25.485-05:002021-09-12T09:49:25.485-05:00This is just a plane good ole war movie! I think i...This is just a plane good ole war movie! I think it does a great job dramatizing the Infantryman's war. It is probably IMHO the best movie (along with" All Quiet On The Western Front") depicting "real" combat, probably the best made up to, & considering the pre CGI world, of that time, 1959.Of course graphic depiction of combat wounds was just something Hollywood was "restricted" from showing in this era. As a former Infantryman myself, I think it was much better then "Longest Day", in fact maybe the best until "Saving Private Ryan". What they really "get right" to me in this film, is the depiction of total confusion at the top levels of command, & especially the frustration by the men at the "sharp end" (ie Lt. Clemmons), telling higher ups one thing but higher ups believing another. You can just feel Lt. Clemmons (as well as everybody else's) frustration. Also "trading"lives for geo political gain.<br />My only "historical accuracy" issue with the film was the Infantrymen moving up the hill without there rucksacks. I may be totally wrong here, & it's been over 30 yrs. since I read SLA Marshall's book "Pork Chop Hill", but it's highly unlikely that they would have been engaged in sustained combat for several days without taking their rucksacks, which is where you would carry your extra ammo, grenades, personal gear, your "world" in one bag, but again I could be wrong here . I know that in many battles during the Vietnam War they would drop rucksacks for localized actions, as did soldiers in the Civil War. The only other historical accuracy issue I had was the carrying of a Browning .30 cal. machine gun with 1 box of ammo. Believe me, (I served in the Army as a machine gunner) these guys would have been draped in belts of ammo, & carrying more than 1 can of ammo. Of course most viewers could care less, let alone notice this, & these are indeed minor observations. One of the scenes I really liked in the film was when the "bazooka" gunner was trying to ditch the gun & an NCO told him not to because the Chinese may find it & may have ammo for it. I just thought that added realism to the film, not to mention was common sense.<br />This film definitely belongs in the top 100, if not the top 10! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-6497073668159721432019-12-10T21:31:42.089-06:002019-12-10T21:31:42.089-06:00Thanks.Thanks.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-12028047289107017932019-12-10T19:15:42.234-06:002019-12-10T19:15:42.234-06:00This is a great soldier's movie. It really con...This is a great soldier's movie. It really conveys the idea that things can go wrong for all sorts of reasons - such as a flank being unsupported because the unit that was supposed to go in there didn't realize that the hill had been lost and didn't approach in attack posture - and the soldiers left in field must do the best with what has been dealt to them.<br /><br />They succeed through heroism and sacrifice, as our soldiers so often do, and then the film does a great job of raising the question we all often have - have those sacrifices been well-spent, or are they being wasted by military mismanagement or misguided political policies? The movie creditably doesn't demonize anyone - everyone we see is trying to make the best decision for the people under their control - leaving it open for thought long after the movie ends.<br /><br />Principally, though, the movie is a tribute to the soldiers who bear all of this and still go out and risk their lives. We are lucky to have such men. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-25473648787257672982019-03-31T22:56:33.019-05:002019-03-31T22:56:33.019-05:00and in 2019 ?
" KOREA, and not the long gone...and in 2019 ?<br /><br />" KOREA, and not the long gone 'world wars' - -<br />--------------- - - has now emerged as the definitive conflict- ---- - - of the 20th century - -<br />------------------------ - - viz a viz the 21st. "<br />IT--II--IT<br />2010<br /><br />The balk of victory was the KEY kickoff milestone<br />for USURY--INTEL's long range, RED CHINA handover TREASON op.<br /><br />TAKE HEED<br /><br />DISCERN<br /><br />and BEHOLD !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-78233767039200689742014-07-27T13:51:55.994-05:002014-07-27T13:51:55.994-05:00Thanks. I don't know how I made that mistake....Thanks. I don't know how I made that mistake. That is embarrassing. I made the correction. I agree with your assessment of the importance of the Korean War.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-61638048969589466512014-07-27T10:34:18.047-05:002014-07-27T10:34:18.047-05:00The Steel Helmet was directed by Samuel Fuller. Th...The Steel Helmet was directed by Samuel Fuller. That millions of South Koreans live in freedom today due to United Nations action to halt Communist aggression is a fact.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-37238917782040243862013-08-12T16:46:46.622-05:002013-08-12T16:46:46.622-05:00I remember asking that same question after seeing ...I remember asking that same question after seeing "The Omen" years ago. And then he made "MacArthur" LOL.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-5318354650979675202013-08-12T14:28:46.187-05:002013-08-12T14:28:46.187-05:00Did Gregory Peck ever make a bad movie you ask. Ye...Did Gregory Peck ever make a bad movie you ask. Yes, try "Beloved Infidel"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-82941606374762875902012-05-17T21:12:49.714-05:002012-05-17T21:12:49.714-05:00That seems unlikely although the South Koreans hav...That seems unlikely although the South Koreans have made some big budget films like Tae Guk Ri. A great movie could be made about the Chosin Reservoir.<br /><br />I wanted to mention in my post a really cool thing in the movie. SLA Marshall is famous for his conclusion that most American soldiers do not fire their weapons in combat. At one point in the movie Clemons referencing this by telling one of the sergeants "half the men are not firing, make them use their weapons." It is nice being one of the very few that got that line.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-31896688789912991982012-05-17T03:21:38.610-05:002012-05-17T03:21:38.610-05:00I know I was astonished about the fact that it is ...I know I was astonished about the fact that it is called a B-movie. I've seen worse that wasn't called a B-movie but I have forgotten almost everything. I watched and reviewed and forgot it. It doesn't say a lot about the movie, just that I might have watched if just after something more memorable. <br />I wonder if there will ever be a big budget movie in the future on this war.allaboutwarmovieshttp://allaboutwarmovies.comnoreply@blogger.com