The Hill (1965)

In a North African military prison during World War II, five new prisoners struggle to survive in the face of brutal punishment and sadistic guards.

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writers:

Ray Rigby (screenplay), Ray Rigby (play)

Stars:

Sean Connery, Harry Andrews, Ian Bannen

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Sean Connery	...	Joe Roberts
Harry Andrews	...	R.S.M. Wilson
Ian Bannen	...	Harris
Alfred Lynch	...	George Stevens
Ossie Davis	...	Jacko King
Roy Kinnear	...	Monty Bartlett
Jack Watson	...	Jock McGrath
Ian Hendry	...	Staff Sergeant Williams
Michael Redgrave	...	The Medical Officer (as Sir Michael Redgrave)
Norman Bird	...	Commandant
Neil McCarthy	...	Burton
Howard Goorney	...	Walters
Tony Caunter	...	Martin

Storyline

World War II, in a British disciplinary camp located in the Libyan desert, prisoners are persecuted by Staff Sergeant Williams (Ian Hendry), who made them climb again and again, under the heavy sun, an artificial hill built right in the middle of the camp. Harris (Ian Bannen) is a more human and compassionate guard, but the chief, R.S.M. Wilson (Harry Andrews), refuses to disown his subordinate Williams. One day, five new prisoners arrive. Each of them will deal in a different way with the authority and Williams' ferocity.

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Plot Keywords:

punishment | british military | military prison | heat | humiliation | 

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Taglines:

They went up like men! They came down like animals!

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 June 1965 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Hill

Filming Locations:

Málaga, Andalucía, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Seventh Art Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In Sidney Lumet's autobiography "Making Movies", he recalled suffering through the horrendous heat of the location and asking Sir Sean Connery if he was urinating at all, to which Connery's reply was "Only in the morning".

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Goofs

When Staff Sgt. Williams "introduces" the five prisoners to the hill, he refers to the "north face" but from the shadows, it's clear that it's really the south face.

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Quotes

SSgt. Williams: [tauntingly] One of those shy lads, are you, Stevens?... Well?
George Stevens: Well...
SSgt. Williams: [raising his voice] Well?
George Stevens: [somewhat bewildered and disoriented] I was...
SSgt. Williams: [deliberately trying to intimidate] You what? One of those cads who can't make up his mind whether he's a boy or a girl?
George Stevens: I'm married, sir.
SSgt. Williams: Are you now? And who is who in your little partnership?
George Stevens: We don't have to be treated like that, do we?
[he begins to turn to face Williams]
George Stevens: I mean...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in By Sidney Lumet (2015)

User Reviews

'We're all doing time, even the screws'

This was one of the most poinant lines of the film, neatly summarising the general mood and feeling of the characters.

A lot of people think that this is an anti-war film, which to some degree it is. More accurately, however, it could be labelled an anti-army film. Interestingly enough both views could be maintained without there being any real warfare displayed on the screen. This is a measure of how powerful the film is.

The fighting which we see is actually between the various prison officers and convicts. The film does not simply divide them into opposing groups, but rather explores the differences and tensions between the people who are in power and those who are subject to it.

Like 'Full Metal Jacket', many years later, this movie is a condemnation of the dehumanising process soldiers are forced to go through in order to survive the army. Military prison, as we learn, is a further step down into the merciless and brutal world of the army.

If 'The Hill' was made today, the violence we see would undoubtedly be more explicit and obvious. However, this does not take away anything from the original , as it is the mental torture more than the physical suffering which is portrayed so well in Lumet's work.

It has aged fairly well, mainly due to the accomplished and original way the film is shot and the script is written. Camera angles to induce feelings of dominance, claustrophobia and pressure are utilised perfectly as are the varying degrees of light and dark contrast which accentuates the blazing sun. Every actor is well cast and gives well judged performances, most career bests. Those that stand out are Bannen, Hendry, Connery and Andrews.

At the core of the film is the struggle between Andrews and Bannen's respective characters for ultimate authority in the prison. The bittersweet ending shows that Andrews' charcter, although shaken, will still reign in the hellhouse of a military prison.

Superb, thought provoking film, that rewards the viewer for staying with it as the powerful ending is reached.