6.7/10
98
2 user 2 critic

Hold Back the Night (1956)

| Drama, War | 29 July 1956 (USA)
Hold Back the Night Poster
A Marine officer tells his squad the story behind a bottle of liquor that he always keeps with him but never drinks from.

Director:

Allan Dwan

Writers:

Walter Doniger, Pat Frank (novel) | 1 more credit »

Stars:

John Payne, Mona Freeman, Peter Graves | See full cast & crew »
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Photos

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Edit

Cast

Cast overview:
John Payne ... Capt. Sam McKenzie
Mona Freeman ... Anne Franklin McKenzie
Peter Graves ... Lt. Lee Couzens
Chuck Connors ... Sgt. Ekland
Audrey Dalton ... Kitty
Robert Nichols Robert Nichols ... Beany Smith
John Wilder ... Tinker
Robert Easton ... Ackerman (as Bob Easton)
Stanley Cha Stanley Cha ... Kato
Nicky Blair Nicky Blair ... Papiro
John Craven ... Maj. Bob MacKay
Nelson Leigh ... Lt. Col. Toomey
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

A bottle of Scotch carried by WW2 veteran Captain Sam MacKenzie of the U.S. Marine Corps provides the 'glue' that keeps this story together. Its value rests squarely in its symbolism - a good-luck charm and an object of hope, as well as loyalty. The bottle of Scotch itself was received by Sam MacKenzie in 1942, during a furlough home from the Pacific War. It was supposed to be enjoyed by Sam and his fiancee, Anne but was saved by the two of them for a happy reunion after the war. It's now 1950, at the outset of the Korean War and Captain Sam MacKenzie, commander of the Easy Company, still carries his Scotch bottle with him, as a good-luck charm. The story-line flashes-back to several instances when Sam almost opened his Scotch bottle. During the savage fighting in winter-frozen Korean Peninsula, Sam has to keep his company together while the enemy harasses the United Nations forces during a temporary retreat. At numerous times, Sam is tempted to open his Scotch bottle to either ... Written by nufs68

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

scotch | bottle | flash back | korean war | american officer | See All (33) »

Taglines:

In Frisco, Guadalcanal, Melbourne, Korea ... you'll hear about Capt. Sam MacKenzie ... and you'll hear it best from a woman !

Genres:

Drama | War

Certificate:

See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

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Edit

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 July 1956 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Teufelskommando See more »

Filming Locations:

Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Allied Artists Pictures See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »

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User Reviews

Pain for Payne ?
7 December 2008 | by searchanddestroy-1 – See all my reviews

Strangely, I have this one in my library since the late 80's. And I realize only now that it's really a rare film. No one has commented it yet and it is on any lists on any dealers in the USA.

What a shame.

It's a strange, weird, abashed movie. But not disappointing one. A war movie about the Korean war - till here nothing new - and the "relationship" between a soldier - Payne - and a bottle of liquor he always carries with him. And since WW2, as I remember...

Of course, through this "friend", and the "souvenirs" stuck to it, he lives everything again: friends, women, beautiful and difficult moments of his life. It's not a real actionner, but a rather solid drama.

A very strange one. Like a TWILIGHT ZONE episode. And it seems, as far as I remember, that there was an episode around this topic. But I am not sure. Sorry.

I hope this little movie will be aired again, for the happiness of gem searchers.

And this was also an Allan Dwann film.
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