Men in War (1957)

During the Korean War, a battle-worn lieutenant and his platoon are behind enemy lines, and have orders to march to Hill 465 for possible relief.

Director:

Anthony Mann

Writers:

Philip Yordan (screenplay), Ben Maddow (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Ryan, Aldo Ray, Robert Keith

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Ryan	...	Lt. Benson
Aldo Ray	...	Montana
Robert Keith	...	The Colonel
Phillip Pine	...	Sgt. Riordan (as Philip Pine)
Nehemiah Persoff	...	Sgt. Lewis
Vic Morrow	...	Cpl. Zwickley
James Edwards	...	Sgt. Killian
L.Q. Jones	...	Sgt. Davis
Scott Marlowe	...	Pvt. Meredith
Adam Kennedy	...	Pvt. Maslow
Race Gentry	...	Pvt. Haines
Walter Kelley	...	Pvt. Ackerman
Anthony Ray	...	Pvt. Penelli
Robert Normand	...	Pvt. Christensen
Michael Miller	...	Pvt. Lynch

Storyline

In Korea, on 6 September 1950, Lieutenant Benson's platoon finds itself isolated in enemy-held territory after a retreat. Soon they are joined by Sergeant Montana, whose overriding concern is caring for his catatonic colonel. Benson and Montana can't stand each other, but together they must get the survivors to Hill 465, where they hope the division is waiting. It's a long, harrowing march, fraught with all the dangers the elusive enemy can summon. Who will survive?

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Plot Keywords:

korean war | u.s. military | u.s. army | based on novel | march | 

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Taglines:

The part of the military machine that bleeds !

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 April 1957 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Tag ohne Ende

Filming Locations:

Malibu Canyon, Malibu, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$500,000, 31 December 1957

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,500,000, 31 December 1957

Company Credits

Production Co:

Security Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It is supposed that at the beginning of the film the radio man having put his handset of the radio on his shirt that he should not be calling Sunrise six. Often you can do so by just keying the handset while it is attached to your webbing so not needing to remove it unless you get a response or no longer needing to give your hand/ arm a rest or to free your hand to do something else.

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Goofs

Robert Ryan (Lt Benson) was 47 years old when this film was made, at least twice as old as a real Army lieutenant would have been.

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Quotes

Lt. Benson: Battalion doesn't exist. Regiment doesn't exist. Command HQ doesn't exist. The U.S.A. doesn't exist... We're the only ones left to fight this war.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits are shown over the image of several soldiers wearing helmets.

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Connections

Featured in Dear Mr. Wonderful (1982)

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Soundtracks

Men in War
(uncredited)
Music by Elmer Bernstein
Lyrics by Alan Alch
sung by male chorus

User Reviews

One of my favorites

No director I know made the scenery as much a dramatic player as Mann did. Whether it was the West in the great Westerns he directed or the imaginary Korea of this movie, it seemed as though you were in the scene yourself watching from a tree. The movie is calm, almost contemplative, and even though you could argue the soldiers were stereotypes, they were so believable and so well acted, they seemed part of the scenery as well. The danger in the movie is everywhere and nowhere at the same time, and the men die as most men do in war, carelessly, and almost wastefully. The actors are superb, totally believable, and in the case of Robert Keith heart-breaking. I recommend this film to anyone, it's simply the best largely unknown war film ever.