Fixed Bayonets

Director Samuel Fuller's "Fixed Bayonets" is my all-time favorite Korean War film, and in my opinion ranks as one of the war movie genre's best. Fixed Bayonets is a rather callous war movie that doesn't follow the typical patriotic fever of anti-communist propaganda films of the time. The movie seems more centered on the actual emotions and trials of the everyday grunt in Korea, as well as the time-tested fear if taking another human beings life. The movie sometimes lacks the action of a typically captivating war film, but Fuller uses the storytelling to make up for the lack of explosions and expenditure of ammunition.The premise of "Fixed Bayonets" is that a small platoon of forty-eight men is supposed to keep the onrushing communist throngs from finding out that an entire division is trying to move south to safety. 'Forty-eight men to give 15,000 men a break" is what the general explains is needed in the beginning of the film, and he handpicks the toughest fighting men to stay behind and blunt the "commies." The movie didn't have a monster budget, so the scenes and much of the acting is over-the-top, but for some reason it just seems to add to the enjoyment of the movie for me. Seeing the hardships and trials of the platoon throughout the movie, as well as the personal efforts of corporal Dano to keep Gibbs, Lonagin and "Rock" alive (due to his fear of leading) make the film more enjoyable than most Korean War movies in my mind.Make sure if you enjoy military films, or you really enjoy the Korean War itself, to check out the film "Fixed Bayonets." Also, as an added bonus, Fuller gives us one of budding star James Dean's first onscreen roles to soak up as well (Dean appears late in the film as a private standing guard at the river crossing).

Samuel Fuller's intent was, always, to "set the hook" in the moviegoer with Scene 1. Being a combat infantryman and the screenwriter AND the director, he pulls it off in this one. Richard Basehart's perfomance surpasses his effort in DECISION BEFORE DAWN as being far more revealing of his character. Gene Evans's U.S. Army time during WW2 helps nail his role as the platoon sergeant. This movie was as realistic a combat action film as Hollywood censors of the era would allow. Peruse the cast list, (James Dean's 1st screen appearance), then add this gem to your collection.HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

FIXED BAYONETS! is one of Sam Fuller's best war films. Set in the Korean War this is a gritty film with very little sentimentality. It is very memorable if you have ever seen it before. FIXED BAYONETS! was written and directed by Samuel Fuller and is very typical of his style focusing on specific events in the story that reflect on the psychological impact and giving way to an emotional reaction to them. Thus, FIXED BAYONETS! is rather thought provoking and does not lend itself to a sweeping narrative flow as was the case with Sam Fuller's later classic WWII films MERRILL'S MARAUDERS (1962) and THE BIG RED ONE (1980). FIXED BAYONETS! is set in the harsh winter and the "Chinese Intervention" into the Korean War where death and devastation were daily and hourly seeds of depression on the psyche. It is an interesting film and often difficult to absorb as Fuller intended.

The movie itself is good to go. Though it was one of the many war films that came out during the '50s I still enjoyed it. Even for a Blu-Ray of an older film, it does appear to be slightly grainy but I think that's expected. Sound quality is very good. This is probably one of thousands of original black and white films that was saved from total deterioration. The one thing I do apprectiate is it doesn't have that string of previews that you can't fast forward to get to the top menu.

In the early Winter campaigns of the Korean War, American troops were ill prepared, ill equipped and surprised by first, the North Korean invasion and, when the invasion faltered and the North was forced into retreat, the second invasion led by tens to hundreds of thousands of Chinese Army troops. The intervention of China forced the American retreat from the North."Fixed Bayonets" is about a U.S. Army unit having to fall back to the South. One smaller unit is left behind as the rear guard, to cover the retreat and give the impression that the larger unit was still in place. The movie is about the men in this rear guard. The heroes, the cowards, those unsure of themselves and those over confident. It's well acted, with many familiar faces. The violence is subdued by modern standards, but with this film the men's struggles with themselves and each other are more important than those with the enemy around them.If nothing else, "Fixed Bayonets" will give you a better idea of the Forgotten War.

After seeing Sam Fuller's "Steel Helmet" on one of the classic channels (AMC or TCM), I bought this DVD expecting a movie of similar originality and grittiness. While "Steel Helmet" confronts the issue of racism with stark realism and grittiness, Fixed Bayonets takes a somewhat softer approach on the issue of cowardice versus leadership.This movie describes the actions of a platoon left behind as rear-guard, to allow a badly mauled division to withdraw safely to regroup in the face of imminent Communist-Chinese attack. Richard Basehart gives a believable performance of a Corporal who shies from the thought of having to take command because he is afraid of making decisions that affect other mens' lives. Gene Evans, with an equally good performance, plays the Sergeant who ultimately convinces the Corporal that the yellow streak is not permanent. Ultimately, the Corporal's cowardice dissolves away when he confronts the responsability that is thrust upon him. Unfortunately, this point is made rather laborousily and the movie seems to lumber along part of the way.If you are a classic war movie buff, I'd say "Fixed Bayonets" would make your B list (while "Steel Helmet" should definitely be in your A list). Another Korean war movie that should be in your collection is Antony Mann's "Men in War".

I was quite impressed by this little known 1951 black and white war movie. Below, more of my impressions, with some limited SPOILERS.This was the fourth film turned by Samuel Fuller but only his second war film, after the famous ground breaking "Steel Helmet" he made earlier the same year. Both films action is situated during the Korean War - in both we can also see Gene Evans, who after playing the main character in "Steel Helmet" comes back here in a supporting (albeit important) role of Sergeant Rock.The action of the film is situated during the hardest moments for allied forces engaged in Korea, immediately after the Chinese Army intervened into war. A surprise massive Chinese offensive broke through allied lines and forced Mac Arthur to order a general retreat to fall back positions further south on the peninsula.One of the retreating divisions needs some extra time to withdraw orderly behind the river through the only bridge left, so the general in charge selects a platoon to fight a delaying action, at a narrow passage through the hills. They must hold the position until night and then they can withdraw and make a run for it, to reach the river - if the enemy doesn't exterminate or surround them before that...Amongst the 48 riflemen from this platoon is also Corporal Denno (Richard Basehart), an experienced soldier who certainly can take an order, but simply can't give one... But the butcher bill keeps mounting, ranks keep thinning and before the day is over he may be forced to give some orders after all - and very difficult ones with that...The strength of this film resides in two things. The first is a very realistic portraying of war as seen by the simple riflemen of a small infantry unit. The fight against Chinese soldiers is a very tough one, as the enemy is not stupid at all. The fight takes also place in the wilderness, in the middle of a very harsh winter and therefore the land and weather themselves can maim and kill, before even the first bullets start to fly. In fact simply watching the first ten minutes can already make you feel cold...The soldiers in the platoon offer a really good gallery of characters, very various in their perception of world and reality in general and of this war in particular. In some occasions we can hear their thoughts, especially when expressing their most secret and passionate longings - and, no, sorry ladies, but in fact women play a much smaller part in those deep desires than one could expect...)))The sense of realism in this film was certainly helped by the presence on the set of an adviser, a very decorated veteran of World War II, Captain (later Lieutenant-Colonel) Raymond Harvey, who also took part in Korea War and won the Medal of Honor for his exploits in March 1951. Harvey and Fuller (himself a veteran of World War II) became good friends during their work on this film.Fuller wanted to make this film as a tribute to the simple rifleman of infantry and he made it clearly obvious in the opening statement just after the initial credits: "This is the story of American troops in Korea early in 1951. It is dedicated to the Queen of Battles - the United States Infantry."The second strength of this film is in the psychological tricks with which the director regularly increases the tension. It begins already with the title - in modern warfare, when in a battle soldiers defending a position hear the order "Fix bayonets!" that usually means that s*** really hit the fan and the situation REALLY stinks... The enemy troopers approach slowly and carefully but on another hand there is a lot of them and they have many surprises up their sleeves. And especially we can observe the principal character watching with terror as his greatest fear is slowly but surely closing on him and he simply cannot do jack about it!Richard Basehart, Gene Evans and Michael O'Shea were all solid, good actors and in 1951 they were all in their prime and at the top of their game - and it shows in this film. If anything Samuel Fuller certainly knew how to pick his actors...Bottom line, this is an excellent war movie, which I recommend warmly (even if it is a really cold treat). To buy, watch and keep. Enjoy!

Classic

Not as good as I remember. Sold it on

yet again another classic. the disc itself arrived on time and in good conditon

trump we are still at war , prime example.