Review of Pork Chop Hill (1959) by Lee M — 24 Dec 2015
Welcome to the meat grinder.
While the United States and Korean diplomats are working on negotiating an end to the Korean War, the troops for both countries remain at war on the ground. The American troops are given an impossible mission to take Pork Chop Hill for no other reason than moral victory. That doesn't feel like a good reason to the US troops who know the war could end any minute now; and even if they take the hill, once at top they can be easily surrounded and attacked. The troops reluctantly pursue the hill.
"They're behind us. Every Where. Millions of them...".
Lewis Milestone, director of All Quiet on the Western Front, Mutiny on the Bounty (1962), Ocean's 11, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, Les Miserables (1952), and A Walk in the Sun, delivers Pork Chop Hill. The storyline for this is very compelling and has some interesting characters and scenarios. The acting is solid and the cast includes Gregory Peck, Rip Torn, Robert Blake, Harry Guardino, George Peppard, and Bob Steele.
"When I get home I'm going to live in an elevator going up and down.".
I was excited to discover this was recently coming on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and had to DVR it. This was a very solid war movie. It isn't my favorite war genre film, but Peck is excellent in his role. This delivers a unique perspective of the Korean War that makes it a must see but isn't good enough to be a must own for your DVD collection.
"You're no good up here with one arm.".
Grade: B.
This review of Pork Chop Hill (1959) was written by Lee M on 24 Dec 2015.
Pork Chop Hill has generally received positive reviews.
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