Fixed Bayonets [DVD]

I was quite impressed by this little known 1951 black and white war movie. Below, more of my impressions, with some limited SPOILERS.This was the fourth film turned by Samuel Fuller but only his second war film, after the famous ground breaking "Steel Helmet" he made earlier the same year. Both films action is situated during the Korean War - in both we can also see Gene Evans, who after playing the main character in "Steel Helmet" comes back here in a supporting (albeit important) role of Sergeant Rock.The action of the film is situated during the hardest moments for allied forces engaged in Korea, immediately after the Chinese Army intervened into war. A surprise massive Chinese offensive broke through allied lines and forced Mac Arthur to order a general retreat to fall back positions further south on the peninsula.One of the retreating divisions needs some extra time to withdraw orderly behind the river through the only bridge left, so the general in charge selects a platoon to fight a delaying action, at a narrow passage through the hills. They must hold the position until night and then they can withdraw and make a run for it, to reach the river - if the enemy doesn't exterminate or surround them before that...Amongst the 48 riflemen from this platoon is also Corporal Denno (Richard Basehart), an experienced soldier who certainly can take an order, but simply can't give one... But the butcher bill keeps mounting, ranks keep thinning and before the day is over he may be forced to give some orders after all - and very difficult ones with that...The strength of this film resides in two things. The first is a very realistic portraying of war as seen by the simple riflemen of a small infantry unit. The fight against Chinese soldiers is a very tough one, as the enemy is not stupid at all. The fight takes also place in the wilderness, in the middle of a very harsh winter and therefore the land and weather themselves can maim and kill, before even the first bullets start to fly. In fact simply watching the first ten minutes can already make you feel cold...The soldiers in the platoon offer a really good gallery of characters, very various in their perception of world and reality in general and of this war in particular. In some occasions we can hear their thoughts, especially when expressing their most secret and passionate longings - and, no, sorry ladies, but in fact women play a much smaller part in those deep desires than one could expect...)))The sense of realism in this film was certainly helped by the presence on the set of an adviser, a very decorated veteran of World War II, Captain (later Lieutenant-Colonel) Raymond Harvey, who also took part in Korea War and won the Medal of Honor for his exploits in March 1951. Harvey and Fuller (himself a veteran of World War II) became good friends during their work on this film.Fuller wanted to make this film as a tribute to the simple rifleman of infantry and he made it clearly obvious in the opening statement just after the initial credits: "This is the story of American troops in Korea early in 1951. It is dedicated to the Queen of Battles - the United States Infantry."The second strength of this film is in the psychological tricks with which the director regularly increases the tension. It begins already with the title - in modern warfare, when in a battle soldiers defending a position hear the order "Fix bayonets!" that usually means that s*** really hit the fan and the situation REALLY stinks... The enemy troopers approach slowly and carefully but on another hand there is a lot of them and they have many surprises up their sleeves. And especially we can observe the principal character watching with terror as his greatest fear is slowly but surely closing on him and he simply cannot do jack about it!Richard Basehart, Gene Evans and Michael O'Shea were all solid, good actors and in 1951 they were all in their prime and at the top of their game - and it shows in this film. If anything Samuel Fuller certainly knew how to pick his actors...Bottom line, this is an excellent war movie, which I recommend warmly (even if it is a really cold treat). To buy, watch and keep. Enjoy!

Old fashioned and studio bound, but a solid and gritty war film nevertheless, giving a reasonably realistic portrayal of American soldiers in combat in the Korean War.

I thought this film was okay,with good actors in it,this film was in B&W.

Classic

Not as good as I remember. Sold it on

yet again another classic. the disc itself arrived on time and in good conditon

trump we are still at war , prime example.

Great