Ski Troop Attack (1960)

An American patrol has to cross behind enemy lines by skis in order to blow up an important railroad bridge. The task is made harder by conflicts between the platoon's veteran sergeant and ... See full summary »

Director:

Roger Corman

Writer:

Charles B. Griffith

Stars:

Michael Forest, Frank Wolff, Wally Campo

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Michael Forest	...	Lt. Factor
Frank Wolff	...	Sgt. Potter
Wally Campo	...	Pvt. Ed Ciccola
Richard Sinatra	...	Pvt. Herman Grammelsbacher
James Hoffman	...	German Ski Patrol
Chan Biggs	...	German Ski Patrol
Tom Staley	...	German Ski Patrol
David Mackie	...	German Ski Patrol
Skeeter Bayer	...	German Ski Patrol
Wayne Lasher	...	German Ski Patrol
Sheila Noonan	...	Frau Karl Heinsdorf (as Sheila Carol)

Storyline

An American patrol has to cross behind enemy lines by skis in order to blow up an important railroad bridge. The task is made harder by conflicts between the platoon's veteran sergeant and its inexperienced lieutenant and by constant attacks by pursuing German troops.

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Plot Keywords:

american | behind enemy lines | ski chase | hero kills a woman | alps | 

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Taglines:

They Turned a White Hell Red with Enemy Blood!

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Genres:

Action | War

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

8 April 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

Assalto della fanteria di montagna

Filming Locations:

Deadwood, South Dakota, USA

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

63 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Roger Corman had his actors positioned for a ski run down a mountain of virgin snow. When he called for action on his bullhorn, however, the sound waves started an avalanche. No one was hurt, but Corman was frustrated by this unplanned event. There was only one thing he could do. Corman raised the bullhorn to his mouth and ordered his crew to "Stop that snow!"

User Reviews

Best of Corman's early dramatic efforts.

Another moment when the low rating for a film at IMDb doesn't make sense.

A tight, taut, tough-minded little war movie, this is Corman on a low budget at his absolute best. Most of Cormans problems in his early years derived from a lack of knowing where to cut scenes and move on, and a fatal dependence on the performances of inadequate actors. The editing here is very crisp - even the use of documentary footage is handled well, although its grain admittedly never meshes with that of the film as a whole. And while the acting remains unexceptional, it never becomes excessive in an amateurish way, and it fits with the overall gritty realism of the picture.

Corman benefits here from a surprisingly strong story and script that leaves its thematic issues open to interpretation. The issues receive temporary resolution by the end the hard way - through combat, as is most often the case in a war.

I'm not saying this is a forgotten masterpiece, but it is certainly worth a view, and at 63 minutes hardly threatens to tax one's patience.