Pork Chop Hill | | Cast : | Gregory Peck, Harry Guardino | | Director : | Lewis Milestone | | Studio : | Mgm/Ua Studios | | Format : | Black & White, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | January 01, 1959 | | DVD Released Date : | May 01, 2001 | | Language : | French (Subtitled), English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | NR (Not Rated) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | June 30, 2005 | | Summary | "Welcome to the meat grinder." | Content
 | Gregory Peck stars as Lt. Joseph Clemons, who in the spring of 1953 leads Company K of the 7th U.S. Infantry in a bloody frontal assault on "Pork Chop Hill", which has been recently captured and occupied by Red Chinese troops. The Real Joseph Clemons, who'd attacked the heavily-defended hill with 135 men and had retaken it with only 28 of his men surviving, served as technical advisor throughout the filming of "Pork Chop Hill". Gregory Peck gave one of his best performances as Lt. Clemons, and throughout his career he often played officers in war movies ("Guns of Navarone", "Twelve O'Clock High", "The Purple Plain", "Captain Newman, M.D.", etc.).
Director Lewis Milestone, who'd already directed the World War 1 masterpiece "All Quiet on the Western Front" as well as the underated World War II classic "A Walk in the Sun", made "Pork Chop Hill" perhaps the definitive Korean War film, and wisely chose to cast many unknown actors (with the exception of Gregory Peck of course) in an attempt to create a more believable war movie. The battle scenes were superb and grimly realistic, and the friendly fire, lack of reinforcements, and inaccurate communication system were all portrayed correctly. It's hard to believe that this excellent and realistic movie was completed in just 40 days. In short, the acting, directing, and filming couldn't have been better.
The MGM dvd of "Pork Chop Hill" has an awesome picture and sound quality, and the bonus features include the original trailer as well as an eight-page booklet with plenty of historical trivia and behind-the-scenes info. "Pork Chop Hill" is a grim portrait of the absurdity and tragedy of war and is a definite must-see for every American. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 16, 2005 | | Summary | Stark Korean War epic | Content
| Gregory Peck is a commanding figure as the stoic and beleaguered U.S. Army lieutenant Joe Clemons in Lewis Milestone's grim and realistic "Pork Chop Hill". The movie which serves as a tribute to those that fought in the oft forgotten Korean conflict is based on a true story. Peck is ordered to lead a squadron to overtake Pork Chop Hill, many times overrun but now in possession of the Red Chinese.
The hill of no strategic significance appears to be a bargaining chip in negotiations designed to lead to an armistice held a scant 70 miles away. The deadly, murderous assault will cost many men their lives in the waning days of the war. Peck is stymied in his attempts to receive adequate reinforcements and supplies to enable him to carry out his mission successfully.
Milestone does a fine job in recreating the realism of this horrific and ultimately futile battle. Peck is supported by a fine cast that included George Peppard, Harry Guardino, Norman Fell, Martin Landau and George Shibata. Ex-footballer Woody Strode does a nice job as a cowardly soldier who finds his courage in the midst of battle. |
| Rating | | | Date | January 25, 2005 | | Summary | Lewis Milestone Pays Tribute to Korean War Heroes | Content
| "Pork Chop Hill" from 1959 is a grim but riveting look at an actual battle, near the close of the Korean War. Lewis Milestone, who already had left quite a distinguishable mark on Hollywood, directed this, his third entry into what may be considered his anit-war trilogy. "All Quiet on the Western Front"(1930), his academy award winning look at the horrors of WWI, and "A Walk In the Sun" made in 1945, his WWII entry, were the first two.
Gregory Peck stars as Lt. Joe Clemons, who is ordered to lead an Army Company to hold "Pork Chop Hill". The hill is insignificant to the outcome of the war, and not only that, but the war is all but over. Knowing this, the men are not exactly gung-ho to risk their lives. They are pinned down and outnumbered by the enemy, shells going off all around, they lack water, food, medical supplies, communication is practically nil, and were also taunted by psychologically destructiove messages, broadcasted by the Chinese. There was great loss and sacrifice of life and limb, yet the powers that be, commanded they "hold that hill". And so they did.
War Buffs and Film Buffs alike will well appreciate the authenticity of the battle, and the superb way it was shot. The black and white cinematography, adds to the starkness and bleakness of the situation these infintry men faced. Peck turns in a masterful performance and the film is also known for so many young talented actors involved that would go on to be stars and great character actors. The cast includes, George Peppard, Harry Guardino, Rip Torn, Woody Strode, Martin Landau, Harry Dean Stanton, and Robert Blake(who oddly enough can't seem to find his gun). And that is just to name a few.
It's an eye opener and wonderful tribute to these Korean War Heroes, who didn't get quite the attention or accolades of those from other wars. A must have addition to your Gregory Peck, or great war films collection.
Enjoy...Laurie |
| Rating | | | Date | September 06, 2004 | | Summary | harrowing | Content
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This a stark and claustrophobic look at battle, one that manages to harrow with out the special effects and the gore of Saving Private Ryan, but rather makes its most powerful statements in moments of quite, much like A Thin Red Line. In fact, though Red Line is superior, it owes much to Pork Chop Hill, and in many ways Pork Chop Hill seems an extended meditation on the Hamlet scene in which soldiers in the army of Fortenibras discuss the idea that they are fighting for nothing more than straw, for a little stretch of land that really means nothing to anybody but rather has just become a place on which to pitch a battle and see who is most powerful and most willing.
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| Rating | | | Date | January 12, 2004 | | Summary | Gregory Peck orders a bayonet charge | Content
| In the spring of 1953, a company of the U.S. Army was ordered to assault an otherwise unprepossessing lump of Korean real estate called Pork Chop Hill. It's only value to either side was as a chess piece in the peace talks at Panmunjon, which were stalled on the question of where to pencil-in the cease-fire line. The Americans had occupied it; the Red Chinese had overwhelmed it; and now Gregory Peck (as Lt. Joe Clemons) is ordered to take his 135-man company and re-take it. PORK CHOP HILL is ostensibly based on the actual battle, and a qualifier at the beginning even states that most of the names haven't been changed. As the battle unfolded, I began to mentally compare the production with recent, outstanding, "last stand" epics, specifically WE WERE SOLDIERS and BLACK HAWK DOWN - both also based on true events. PORK CHOP HILL comes up short, but not by much. The obvious difference is that PCH - released in 1959 - is filmed in black and white. This mutes the gore, which, in any case, is positively negligible compared to the grisly and graphic realism of today's simulated combat footage. However, the resulting tension felt by the viewer as Joe's unit is surrounded and faced with impending annihilation is only a click less than that felt during the height of the WWS and BHD on-screen fighting. At one point, Clemons orders a bayonet charge, which, as he says, may be the last one ever carried out by the U.S. Army. Well, the last perhaps until Mel Gibson's character, Lt. Col. Harold Moore, orders his Air Cav troopers to do the same to get out of a tight spot in WE WERE SOLDIERS. PORK CHOP HILL is anti-war to the extent that it condemns the rear echelon desk jockeys tempted to sacrifice American boys on the altar of political expediency, or just from pure incompetence. It also isn't afraid to show the demoralization within Joe's command, and that not every grunt was itching to go over the top and charge the enemy trenches. In a film made well before the Vietnam debacle, such candidness must have been some sort of cinematic milestone for U.S. audiences used to the gung-ho dramas based on the nation's relatively recent World War II victories. My sole motivation in watching this film was to see Peck. I can't think of any actor today whose on-screen presence exudes such dignified strength and integrity. I'm so convinced of this fact that I've gone ahead and ordered a biography of the man. We are missing the likes of him (and icons Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda, and Cary Grant). |
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