Men in War

MEN IN WAR is reportedly director Anthony Mann's personal favorite. Mann thought he could invest every asset of his personal beliefs into this film. Raw psychology of fighting men, dynamism of landscape and a conflict between two different moral standards. Beyond any doubt MEN IN WAR is those things. The film is the most simple war tale which I have ever seen. Yet, it is sometimes more powerful and obseving than ATTACK! or PATHS OF GLORY. We don't see any domineering generals, flash back family memory of the soldiers, smart tactics, or phony patriotism. A platoon was cut off from bigger outfit in unknown Korean land, and the platoon must make effort to rejoin with the big stuff for its survival. Consequently, the film offers us an almost endless march of exhausted soldiers. Of course we will see some actions including shooting, bambing, exploding, and attacking along the way, but they are treated with quite restrained manner, so that the entire texture of the film remains strangely calm and even beautifully meditative. I would say that is quite unique and innovatively original for a war film, and I believe that is why MEN IN WAR proves itself as a cinematic art. By encountering this silent yet dreadful atmosphere, we are able to sense meaninglessness of war, and stupidity of mankind. Furthermore, the film itself does not make any ovbious judgement, and this uplifts the film to an almost philosophical poem. Lt.Benson, a leader of the platoon, played by Robert Ryan, is a steady officer who tries to do everything to save his men, however he mercilessly confiscates a jeep from an unwell colonel and his subordinate. Sgt. Montana, the opponent of Benson, played by Aldo Ray, is a deserted soldier with rude attitude, but he sincerely respects his unwell colonel. These two deliver excellent performances and they have succeeded to project the film's depth and sophisticated ambiguity. MEN IN WAR persuades us to make our own reasoning of mankind. So, I must admit the film is an existential masterpiece from its director and it proved Anthony Mann was a great cinematic philosopher.

Sam Fuller often made simple, low budget war films that were ahead of their time. This Anthony Mann movie set during the Korean war was of that ilk. There are some 1950's platitudes. But most of the time, the film feels genuine. It's at it's best in the simplest moments with sparse dialogue. A good entry in the foot soldier sub-genre of war films. Robert Ryan is well cast in the film.

a cult fim classic for those who have watched this a million times! this is a dark psychological story of war and conflict between the soldiers in combat. the characters are derived from classic archetypes, and are portrayed by an outstanding cast. I think what really makes this a unique and excellent movie that stands the test of time, aside from solid performances from robert ryan and aldo ray, is the character development of the supporting cast. everyone in this film builds into the intracacies and mental trauma of war. If you can see beyond some minor technical flaws of this low end budget production, any of you psych major types will be highly rewarded. this is a brutal movie that can start to rub off on you, especially if you watch it a few times.men in war is on my top 10 list of b movie greats!

Not the most original insight, but one worth remembering. The impact of the Korean War on 20th Century America has been woefully understated. This is particularly true when compared to Vietnam when Americans woke up to our policy of carnage. It's indisputable that, between those two wars, Korea was worse. (58,220 American military casualties in Vietnam. 2 million civillians. Korea saw 54,246 Americans die, 2,730,000 civilians, approximately 20% of the population. North Korea was subjected to massive firebombing over 3 years, courtesy of General LaMay. Pyongyang was razed to the ground.) That's the background to this film. It concerns a group of solders given an impossible task. They must capture a hill, while negotiating their way through a Dantesque landscape. Death comes at them sideways and without warning. The toll upon the men is made palpable, most obviously in the characters of a shell-shocked colonel and a battle-hardened sergeant. The question of maintaining a sense of humanity in a hellscape is forefront. Some do, Some have given up. The film has aged surprisingly well. We are presented with a sense exhaustion that borders on hopelessness. The choice to film this in B&W lends itself well to the task. Color would have been a distraction. I personally appreciate a film that explores warfare without graphic detail. We don't see bodies blown apart. It's not necessary. We can surmise. The one quibble I have is with the score. It tends to be bombastic. The acting is superb. Underlining it with this score seems excessive.

If you like war movies with Aldo Ray and Robert Ryan, then you will like this one. It's a classic and entertaining. Can't watch it too much or too often though, but still good for when nothing good is on TV. Some exaggerated scenes but, what the heck, that's movies for you. Bought it at a good price so it went into my DVD library as a good choice to have.

The first 10 minutes of this movie are as good you can find in any war film of that time and since, and not a shot it fired. There are other fine parts where I found myself wishing that the whole film could be that good, but alas. The flaws come in scenes where decisions or logistics don't make sense, or lapses back to war film acting conventions. Robert Ryan is very good, as always. And Robert Keith does fine work as a catatonic old colonel who gradually recovers his senses as the story unfolds. Plus you will see a very young L.Q. Jones and Vic Morrow. It's worth watching but not a gem. Kind of a low-budget Pork Chop Hill.

Highley reccommended 5 ***** plus

Little known Anthony Mann film about early days of of Korean done without Pentagon assistance; strictly about survival. Surprised and elated to get in on Blu-ray.

good movie and good price as to be expected from amazon.ca

One of the better movies on the Korean War.

thank you fast shipping verry good item