Take the High Ground!_720p(480P)

source: Take the High Ground!

Moviecut—Take the High Ground!

Take the High Ground!

Richard Widmark and Karl Malden portray two US Army drill instructors whose task is to prepare a new group of recruits and draftees to face combat in the Korean War.The real basic training seems to take place off base in the bars. The film is somewhat reminiscent of From Here To Eternity with its portrayal of the military and its sordid social life. The men hang out in the bars around Fort Bliss, kind of like the bar scenes in From Here to Eternity, only but these bars are shot in cheap color. Elaine Stewart as an attractive young widow who hangs out at the bar, is sort of the Donna Reed or Deborah Kerr of this movie. This was a pretty stand out role for Richard Widmark in a movie that has slipped into obscurity.The use of Ansocolor makes the night time scenes in the bars look even more lurid than they already were.

At Fort Bliss, Texas in 1953, tough-as-nails drill sergeant Richard Widmark (as Thorne Ryan) prepares the usual motley crew of potential soldiers for service, humphing, "You will never make it!" Assistant sergeant Karl Malden (as Laverne Holt) gives Mr. Widmark a knowing look. Probably, he's seen Widmark whip a series of recruits into fighting shape. In fact, the film might even end with a reprise of the opening scene. Beautiful widow Elaine Stewart (as Julie Mollison) provides the star with romantic interest. "Take the High Ground!" covers familiar territory with no imagination. Everyone is competent, with supporting actor Russ Tamblyn (as Paul Jamison) obviously kicking it up a notch. ***** Take the High Ground! (10/30/53) Richard Brooks ~ Richard Widmark, Karl Malden, Elaine Stewart, Russ Tamblyn

It's 1953. Marines Sgt. Thorne Ryan (Richard Widmark) and Sgt. Laverne Holt (Karl Malden) return from fighting in Korea to teach new recruits at Fort Bliss, Texas. They encounter drunken Julie Mollison (Elaine Stewart) at a bar. The harsh-talking cinematic sergeant character trope had not been fully developed at this time. Quite frankly, the real world hadn't settled on that idea either. Widmark is trying his best to be that hard drill sergeant. The realism is not always there but he's trying. There is a bit of over-acting and the story is a little melodramatic. I can do without the old style melodramatic romance. Despite all that, I appreciate that everyone is trying.

Dull, Clichéd, and Uninteresting Boot Camp Movie with Nothing Much to say except these are America's Fighting Men and the Military is well, the Military. This is without doubt the most Boring Film Ever made about Drill Sergeants and the "Young People" They turn into Soldiers. Richard Widmark, Karl Malden, and Director Richard Brooks Can Not Save this Conservative Piece of Propaganda and elevate it beyond the Mundane. The Soldiers mostly Overact, especially Russ Tamblyn, and the Film is made in such a Pedestrian way that as Entertainment it Fails Miserably. Unlike the WWII Films of the Forties, This one, Ironically like the Korean Conflict, comes Off as Half Hearted, listless, and Uncommitted. It is Truly one of the most Unimpressive Movies ever made about the Military, Soldiers, or War. A Failure from Frame One. Note…The Movie does reflect the newly implemented integration of the Army and gives a Black Actor a prominent Role.

All things considered there's nothing "wrong" with this film, but there isn't much right with it anyway.There are far more engaging films about basic training. The "DI" (1957) came out about this time and was far superior. Since then films like "The Boys of Company C" (1978), "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982), "Full Metal Jacket" (1987) and "Tigerland" (2000) have all improved this genre. Of course nothing beats "Buck Privates" (1941) but that's an entirely different POV. As far as the time period, consider that in the same year as this film came out, "From Here to Eternity" and "Stalag 17" appeared, and these were far superior films about war.

I could tell this plot less film would go downhill from the beginning. In the opening scene we see a platoon of soldiers attacking a North Korean position, and one of them casually stops for a drink and is shot by an enemy soldier with a U.S. Army M1 rifle! That a real soldier would do this under fire, and that the props department couldn't afford an AK-47 speaks volumes about this film. Then we go to Fort Bliss for what is supposed to be boot camp but is actually a summer camp for teenagers. I say this as an Army veteran. Richard Widmark was on loan to the studio that made this film, but I think he should have remained with his contract studio, for I don't believe "Take the High Ground" was a milestone of his career.