THE HOOK
US, 1963, 98 minutes, Black and white.
Kirk Douglas, Robert Walker Jr, Nick Adams, Pancho Magalone, Nehemiah Persoff.
Directed by George Seaton.
The Hook is a sombre film about war, with a Korean War setting, especially in 1953 and the time of the ceasefire. The film shows some action, but it is more the Americans packing up, going in a boat into safe territory and the end of the war. The focus is on a group of three Americans, Kirk Douglas as Briscoe, the hard, rule-bound leader, commissioned by the stern authority to kill prisoners. There is also Nick Adams as Hackett, a young man, with Briscoe having a hold over him having saved him in a bar fight. There is also the young men, Dennison, played by Robert Walker Jr. and the Korean prisoner is played by a Philippine actor, Pancho Magalone. The captain of the ship is played Nehemiah Persoff.
Direction is by George Seaton, a prominent writer and director in Hollywood, with such credits as The Miracle on 34th Street, The Country Girl. At this time he made The Counterfeit Traitor and 36 Hours, with war themes. One of his final films was Airport.
The film raises issues about regulations, about racist and enemy hostility, about derogatory language, such as the word gook, as well sensitivities and conscience in killing.
The film was made during the Missiles of October crisis in 1962. It was released four months before the assassination of John Kennedy. And America was beginning its war presence in Vietnam.
1. A war film? Anti-war film? From the 1960s? Relevance today?
2. Korean locations, at sea? The atmosphere of the Korean War? The 1950s? Divided Korea? American involvement? The end of the war, the ceasefire? The background of the filmmaking, 1962 and the Missiles of October? Release four months before President Kennedy’s assassination? American involvement in Vietnam?
3. The war situation, the Americans packing up, leaving, the Korean attacks, prisoners of war? The Americans? Attitudes towards the Koreans, the use of the word ‘gook’? The criticism of the word during the film? Its being used during the Vietnam war and afterwards?
4. Briscoe, Kirk Douglas character, in command, the situation, packing up, the prisoner, the phone call from headquarters, the strong demands that the prisoner be killed? His taking the responsibility? His relationship with Hackett and Dennison? Supporting Hackett, his allegedly attacking an officer? Dennison as a young man, sympathetic?
5. On board, the captain, his crew, the mission, his skill in guiding the boat, his decisions about possible sabotage? His interest in the characters, critical of Briscoe, sympathetic towards the others trying to save the Korean? The funerals at sea? The plane attack, the strafings?
6. Briscoe, his demands, the Korean soldier, the rules, attitudes, towards Dennison, patronising, his power over Hackett? The confrontations with the prisoner? His orders? Getting Hackett drunk? The challenge for him to kill the prisoner, his being unable? His comments about moments of being soft? The information about the ceasefire? The escape of the prisoner, possible sabotage, his pursuing him, the fight, killing him? And Dennison explaining that he was saying that he was unable to kill? The aftermath, the funeral, Briscoe talking with the three, the effect of this war experience on him?
7. Hackett, the drink, his violence, attitude towards the prisoner, the hold of Briscoe, the discussions about being a corporal, Briscoe saving him, the revelation that he was drunk and did not attack the officer? Briscoe’s hold over him? His explanations to Dennison? The bottle, his drinking, unable to kill? His helping with the prisoner trying to escape?
8. Dennison, young, more sympathetic, understanding, issues of language, helping the prisoner? Helping him escape? Going overboard – and Briscoe helping them back?
9. The prisoner, his experience, his card, wife and child, trying to escape, possible sabotage, the group unable to kill him, being lowered in the boat, the capsizing, Dennison rescuing him, Briscoe pulling him to the boat? His escape, in the hold, the confrontation with Briscoe, his death?
10. The realities of American involvement in wars like the Korean War? American superior attitudes? And the war about to unfold in Vietnam?
