War Hunt (1962)

Recruits head to the front lines towards the close of the Korean War. The interaction between two of the soldiers...an idealistic newcomer and a psychotic who goes on one-man patrols ... See full summary »

Director:

Denis Sanders

Writer:

Stanford Whitmore

Stars:

John Saxon, Charles Aidman, Sydney Pollack

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Saxon	...	Pvt. Raymond Endore
Charles Aidman	...	Capt. Wallace Pratt
Sydney Pollack	...	Sgt. Owen Van Horn
Tommy Matsuda	...	Charlie the Korean Kid
Gavin MacLeod	...	Pvt. Crotty
Anthony Ray	...	Pvt. Joshua Fresno
Tom Skerritt	...	Sgt. Stan Showalter
William Challee	...	Lt. Colonel
Nancy Hsueh	...	Mama San
Robert Redford	...	Pvt. Roy Loomis

Storyline

Recruits head to the front lines towards the close of the Korean War. The interaction between two of the soldiers...an idealistic newcomer and a psychotic who goes on one-man patrols slitting enemy throats under cover of night...and the orphan boy who comes between them is examined. The Cease-Fire brings the three to a final resolution.

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Plot Keywords:

korean war | boy | u.s. army | megalomaniac | rifle | 

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Taglines:

The Hell of War.

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hinter feindlichen Linien

Filming Locations:

Topanga Canyon, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

T-D Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min 83 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Producer Terry Sanders sent the script to the Pentagon in the hope that they would provide some hardware assistance. The Army objected to many portions of the script including a private soldier being an independent professional killer with his commanding officer's approval, a captain calling a sergeant an idiot and several other scenes which the military felt were too gruesome to be in good taste.

User Reviews

profound and disturbing possibility

War Hunt explores the possibility that a decorated and successful combat soldier can also be a dangerous psychotic killer.

The film is set during the last days of the Korean War. Endore (John Saxon) conducts voluntarily patrols to Chinese outposts, and is valued by his commanding officer. The other platoon members appreciate Endores courage and toughness under fire, and probably love the fact his solitary patrols keep them safe in their own lines. But Endore has his own personal motives for his nocturnal sojourns. He gets to kill people, and he probably enjoys it. As a matter of fact, he most likely is a serial killer. No doubt he is a social outcast in civilian life and would be even in the peacetime army. In any other environment, hed wind up in a prison or mental hospital. Luckily (for him) the Korean battlefront is his element.

John Saxon plays Endore to frightening perfection. Blank, emotionless facial expression. Psychotic stare, just a hint of malevolent violence seething beneath his limited social skills. In the films scariest scene, Endore knifes a Chinese soldier to death unnecessarily, then dances around the body. A ritualized killing. Endore is one scary stranger. Id stay away from him, so would you. Hes the guy we read about in the papers, maybe even joke about nervously.

This crazy mans nemesis arrives in the form of Roy Loomis, a young and frightened recruit. He is shocked and disgusted by Endores actions, but is rebuffed by his CO and squadmates. Loomis isn't worth anything. It's Endore who is valuable, who can kill, who can do the dirty work. Loomis is annoyingly innocent however, and you know there's going to be a big confrontation coming up.

The confrontation arrives in the form of a cease fire.The Korean War is ending, but has Endores war just begun? Check it out and see. Fast moving, suspenseful, frightening. Best line: Endore(explaining how he can sneak up on the enemy without being seen) "Because I'm invisible---the truth blinds you."