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A Hill in Korea

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A Hill in Korea
Original American film poster
Directed byJulian Amyes
Written byAnthony Squire
Ian Dalrymple
Based onnovel by Max Catto
Produced byAnthony Squire
StarringGeorge Baker
Harry Andrews
Stanley Baker
CinematographyFreddie Francis
Edited byPeter R. Hunt
Music byMalcolm Arnold
Production
company
Wessex Films
Distributed byBritish Lion Films
Distributors Corporation of America (US)
Release dates
2 September 1956 (Edinburgh Film Festival)
  • 18 September 1956 (1956-09-18) (London)
Running time
81 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

A Hill in Korea is a 1956 British war film based on Max Catto's 1953 novel of the same name. The original name was Hell in Korea, but it was changed for distribution reasons—except in the US. It was directed by Julian Amyes and produced by Anthony Squire. Incidental music was written by Malcolm Arnold.[1][2]

It was the first major feature film to portray British troops in action during the Korean War and introduces Michael Caine (himself a veteran of the Korean War) in his first credited film role. There are also early screen appearances by Stanley Baker, Robert Shaw and Ronald Lewis. The movie was also the first cinematographer credit for Freddie Francis.

Plot

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During the Korean War in 1951, a small force of British soldiers is in danger of being cut off by the advancing Chinese army. The plot emphasizes the plight of the National Servicemen who, as they say, were "old enough to fight, but too young to vote."

The film also depicts a "Friendly-fire" incident, in which the British are bombed by the Americans. (refer to Friendly-fire incident in the Battle of Hill 282)

The film opens in Korea with a British Army patrol, led by Lt. Butler. In the patrol is tough veteran Sergeant Payne, a slightly psychotic Corporal Ryker, and the cowardly signaller Wyatt. As they search a small village, one of the party falls victim to a bomb planted in a small shack. With the death of one of his men, Butler moves the patrol out of the village. Out in the open plain, Butler and Payne discover a large force of Chinese soldiers heading directly for them. Sending Payne and the patrol back towards their own lines, Butler and three of his men stay behind to cover the withdrawal. After fending off two attacks, Butler discovers Lance Corporal Hodge is dead. Payne returns with the patrol, informing Butler that they were cut off by other enemy forces.

The patrol heads through the village and up a winding path towards an isolated temple located on a hill, with only a steep cliff to its rear. On the way, Wyatt throws away the only radio because he cannot be bothered to carry it up the hill. Then they run into an enemy patrol on the path. They ambush the Chinese, and continue up to the temple. With the Chinese knowing now exactly where they are, Butler must keep his troops together, and fend off the enemy attacks.

Cast

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Production

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The film was based on a novel by Max Catto which was published in 1954 and based on true events.[3] Film rights were optioned by Ian Dalrymple’s company, Wessex Productions. Dalrymple borrowed George Baker from Associated British to play the lead. Juliam Aymes took leave from the BBC to direct the film.[4]

Robert Shaw said "I had quite a nice part, that of a simple country boy."[5]

The film was shot on location in Portugal and at Shepperton Studios from September to November 1955, followed by studio work at Shepperton.[6][7][8] Baker recalled, "It was cheaper to keep us all there [in Portugal] rather than pay air fares back and forth to England. The actual location was miserable; miles from anywhere, in the middle of sand dunes. The heat by midday was almost unbearable. We were based in Lisbon and had a two-hour drive to work every morning and, of course, two hours home at night."[9]

Michael Caine was cast in part because of his experience in the Korean War, where he had served as a soldier. He later said, "My function as a technical advisor was completely ignored during the making of the film. For example, I advised the crew to spread the troops wide as the latter advanced, which was militarily correct, but they replied that they didn't have a lens of sufficient width to take it all in! I also pointed out that the officer would have removed his signs of rank and worn a hat, the same as the other men, to disguise which one was in command, but George [Baker] was allowed to go into battle with all badges and hat gleaming, every inch an officer. In a real fight, he would never have lasted all of ten seconds."[10] He was paid £800.[11]

Caine added, "The most glaring mistake that I never brought to their notice was that Portugal did not in the least resemble Korea; if anything, Wales was more similar. I did not say anything because I wanted to stay in Portugal – I could go to Wales at any old time."[10][12] Caine later recalled, "I had eight lines in that picture, and I screwed up six of them."[13]

Release

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The film debuted at the Edinburgh Film Festival on 2 September 1956. The Daily Telegraph argued "the characters, though not particularly original or drawn at any great depth, are sketched in sufficiently to arouse interest."[14] The movie was released in London cinemas in 20 September 1956 with the premiere attended by Gerald Templar.[15]

According to Caine, "the company held on to the film for ages before releasing it. After a year of waiting for the perfect moment, with true movie genius they premiered the film on the night that we invaded Suez. The picture went straight down the pan, and my movie career along with it. I bemoaned the fact that nobody had seen the film, until I actually saw it myself. I was terrible! My voice was awful...My eyelashes are blond and so are my eyebrows, which has the effect in close-up of something speaking that hasn't got a face, and it's not much better in medium shot..My appearances were mercifully few, the editor having decided that the cutting-room floor was the ideal place for my first effort at international stardom."[10]

George Baker recalled in his memoirs, the film's release "coincided with a national newspaper strike and, although Dilys Powell put it in her top ten films for 1958 at the end of the year, we didn’t get a single review at the time of its release."[16]

However contrary to Baker's statement there were some reviews. Evening Standard felt it had familiar plot and characters but "Julian Aymes manages to get his camera closer to the real men than most and reveals the human beings beneath the dirt and the khaki."[17] The Daily Herald felt it was "an exciting film with good acting."[18] The Daily Mirror said it "hit the spot".[19] Variety called it "well made".[20]

Linsday Anderson later wrote that the movie:

Is far from being a realistic film about modern war. It is not about its futility; and it says nothing very convincing about courage. It is not about why we were right to send these men to fight in Korea, and it is not about why we might have been wrong, either. Presented with a certain, ineffective good taste, it is a pointless reworking of stale conventions: the isolated patrol, the inexperienced lieutenant, the fatherly sergeant, the coward — and, of course, the inevitable chorus of indomitable Cockney wit. The Bren guns blaze away; the British infantrymen grit their teeth in close-up; the Chink Commies are mown down. ‘Honest,’ as one of the characters remarks, ‘it binds you rigid.’[21]

The film was released in the US. The Los Angeles Times called it "taut, no-nonsense".[22]

Legacy

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Caine said his performance in the film led to his agent firing him. However director Julian Aymes later cast Caine in a small role in a TV play The Lark.[23]

References

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  • Baker, George (2002). The way to Wexford : the autobiography.
  • Time Out Film Guide, published by Penguin – ISBN 0-14-029395-7
  • Lentz, Robert J. (2003). Korean War Filmography. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 148. ISBN 978-0-7864-1046-0. OCLC 50630520.

Notes

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  1. ^ HILL IN KOREA, A Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 23, Iss. 264, (Jan 1, 1956): 125.
  2. ^ A HILL IN KOREA Picture Show; London Vol. 67, Iss. 1752, (Oct 27, 1956): 9.
  3. ^ PICTURE SHOW Gossip Filmer, Fay. Picture Show; London Vol. 66, Iss. 1711, (Jan 14, 1956): 3-4.
  4. ^ "TV and radio". Liverpool Echo. 16 April 1956. p. 8.
  5. ^ Ross, Lilian (1984). "Robert Shaw". The Player: a profile of an art. Limelight. p. 146.
  6. ^ "Five films in 12 months". Lincolnshire Echo. 27 September 1955. p. 4.
  7. ^ Fowler, Roy (19 November 1991). "Interview with Cedric Dawe, art director" (PDF). British Entertainment History Project.
  8. ^ "Making Money But artistically". Herald Express. 31 October 1955. p. 4.
  9. ^ Baker p 173
  10. ^ a b c Strafford, Jeff. "A Hill in Korea". Turner Classic Movies.
  11. ^ Bray, Christopher (2006). Michael Caine : a class act. p. 47.
  12. ^ Caine, Michael (1992). What's it all about?. p. 104.
  13. ^ "Michael Caine the Butler with Bite". The Independent. 17 June 2005. Archived from the original on 1 February 2019.
  14. ^ "An action in Kora". The Daily Telegraph. 3 September 1956. p. 9.
  15. ^ "March". Evening Standard. 21 September 1956. p. 20.
  16. ^ Baker p 177
  17. ^ "Back to Korea". Evening Standard. 20 September 1956. p. 7.
  18. ^ "Anthony Carthew at the films". Daily Herald. 21 September 1956. p. 3.
  19. ^ "Robert Tee at the pictures". Daily Mirror. 21 September 1956. p. 19.
  20. ^ "A Hill in Korea". Variety. 10 October 1956. p. 7.
  21. ^ Anderson, Lindsay (2004). "Guys and Dolls, A Hill in Korea, Smiles of a Summer Night". Never Apologise. p. 492.
  22. ^ 'Rodan' New Japan-Made Horror Film C S. Los Angeles Times 14 Nov 1957: C10.
  23. ^ Freedland, Michael (2000). Michael Caine. p. 151-152.
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