A HILL IN KOREA

UK, 1956, 80 minutes, Black and white.
George Baker, Harry Andrews, Stanley Baker, Michael Medwin, Ronald Lewis, Stephen Boyd, Victor Maddern, Robert Shaw, Percy Herbert, Michael Caine.
Directed by Julian Amyes.

A Hill in Korea is a small British film of the mid-50s. At a time when the British cinema was making films about World War Two and about life in prisoner-of-war camps, this is a small acknowledgment of a British presence in the Korean War.

However, it is a familiar story of a small group, sent out to reconnoitre, trying to retreat back to base but caught by the Chinese advance.

It is interesting to look at this film in the light of subsequent wars, especially the Vietnam War and the attitudes of western troops towards Asians. There is a lot of racist language in the screenplay, referring to the Chinese as Chinks, making remarks about Chinese culture and lack of it, ignorance of Buddhist traditions, an emphasis on English superiority over all others.

The film is strong in its cast. The main actors were stars of British films at the time. However, Stephen Boyd was on the rise to become a star, as was Robert Shaw. While Michael Caine appears in a brief role, he did not make his mark in films until almost ten years later.

The film is an interesting alternate to the American films on Korea.

1.The impact of the film? A British perspective on the war in Korea?

2.The familiar formula, the small group, reconnoitring, under attack, men being killed, the small group, taking refuge, being rescued? The personalities of the men themselves? Stiff upper lip, collaboration, criticism? The odd man out?

3.The black and white photography, the atmosphere of Korea? The Buddhist temple? The footage of the American planes bombing? Musical score?

4.The mission, to get information, the retreat back to base, the radio not working, Wyatt throwing it away? The dangers, the snipers, the deaths? The effect on morale?

5.The leadership of Butler? A good man, young and inexperienced, putting his mind to the task? The criticism of the men? His work with Sergeant Payne? The leadership, his reaction to Wyatt, his grief at the deaths, the burials? His strategic and tactical decisions?

6.Sergeant Payne, the traditional sergeant-major? Supportive, good advice, shrewdness?

7.The picture of the other men: Ryker and his stammer, his dislike of Wyatt, his death and his confrontation of Wyatt? Docker, the missiles? His associate? Rabin, his memories of London, his talk, the ordinary soldier? Lindopp and Moon, the ordinary men, criticisms? Hodge, his working in London, wanting to be on a farm? His death? Sims, his injury, his death? Lockyer, on the lookout, his support? A familiar group of men?

8.On the ground, the Chinese advance, the music? The shooting? The retreat through the woods? Climbing the hill? The Buddhist temple – and Butler contemplating Buddha and his message? The reaction of the others to the temple? The bombing of the temple by the Americans? The bombing of the Chinese? The group able to make its escape?

9.The film’s comment on the Korean War, on warfare in general?