User reviews

It's 1953 in the wee small hours of the Korean War winding down. While the peace talks proceed slowly at Panmunjom, the UN forces are evacuating their positions as the truce lines come into being. But the fighting still goes on. Another Korean War film, Pork Chop Hill, also dealt with this time of the war which President Truman called a police action.

A Korean pilot in a MIG Jet attacks some US soldiers who are loading supplies on a freighter and only three of them survive, Kirk Douglas, Robert Walker, Jr., and Nick Adams. Later on the pilot of the MIG is shot down and he's picked up by the freighter that the three soldiers are on with the supplies which includes a lot of barrels of oil.

Radioing for instructions, Kirk Douglas is told by a South Korean major to kill the North Korean pilot. He's certainly up for it, he's a veteran from this war and World War II. Walker doesn't want to and Adams is kind of on the fence because he's personally loyal to Douglas who got him out of a jam once.

The majority of The Hook is spent on the conflict between the three GIs. It's a rather unreal story because these three would be up for war crimes charges, Walker realizes this best. But two wars against oriental people have given Douglas some pronounced views on the subject. The holes in the script are covered up by the performances of the cast.

Nehemiah Persoff turns in a fine performance as the ship's captain who on his ship is the one in charge. But the best acting is done by Filipino player Enrique Magalona as the confused and frightened North Korean prisoner.

Pork Chop Hill is a better film, but The Hook is not a bad one. The ending is ironic to say the least.

I enjoy watching movies and will most often make a selection because of the actors, then maybe because of the theme, or occasionally because of a recommendation. "The Hook" is a movie that I had never heard of, so seeing Kirk Douglas on the cover is what hooked me for this war movie. Also Robert Walker Jr is someone that I first saw in TV's _"Star Trek" (1966) {Charlie X (#1.2)}_ (qv) playing a 17yr boy, so what would he be like in a movie produced 3 years earlier.

The opening of this movie includes "This is a story of men in war, not men at war. And the two are not the same." To understand my view, I am a baby-boomer who has never served in the military, but I have known many who have served. Most of these men don't really talk about their experiences, so I often wonder if my views on war movies would be very different of those people who have served. My preference would be that countries would not be at war, but regardless of this I believe we need to support those who chose to serve in the roles in which they are assigned.

"The Hook" is a title that showed no relevance before I watched the movie, and I never did catch. Is this an anti-war movie, or a personal interaction story, or war conflict drama, and this question repeats itself for 90 minutes. Regardless the movie itself is compelling. We are engaged with three surviving servicemen vacating a military post upon a 'neutral' merchant vessel, plus an enemy retrieved after he has bailed from his failing aircraft. Your journey is to imagine your response to their scenarios. Would you have rescued the enemy at all? How would you treat him on this merchant ship? Just imagine how you would respond to engaging an enemy on the battlefield; how is it different or the same, across an eating table? Kirk Douglas, Robert Walked, and Nick Adams are the enlisted men facing these scenarios.

I enjoyed this movie, in spite of moments of "I wouldn't do that!". The movie is a must for Kirk Douglas fans, and highly recommended for anyone interested in war movies. I don't know if actual enlisted people would behave this way, but "The Hook" is wonderfully acted and does not need the tonnage of special effects that are today's production norms.

It is set during an evacuation in the waning days of the Korean War , this is a story of men in war , not men at war. And the two are not the same. Hence, this film is dedicated not to any army, navy, air or other military force, but to those who are the lowest common denominator of all military forces...and the highest...the individual man. For in the brief and quiet intervals between the loud and terrible noises of war, he is capable of great and revealing moments of nobility . As three American soldiers (Kirk Douglas , Robert Walker , Nick Adams) retrieve an enemy airman and take him prisoner aboard the civilian ship captained by Capt. Van Ryn (Nehemiah Persoff) and returning them to their lines . When an order comes down from the commander-in-chief the sergeant in charge, Briscoe, orders his men, Dennison and Hackett , to carry out the execution , before reviewing the evidence . As they cannot bring themselves to follow the order to execute their Korean detained. But first one and then the other refuse to follow the order. A STRANGE AND COMPELLING STORY in these days of man's inhumanity to man. It's haunting theme will not soon be forgotten, for it proves that all men, no matter how different, have one thing in common...their humanity!

This story is about such a moment in the lives of three men and although it could have happened in any time or any war , it is set in 1953 , Korean War , being starred by top-notch cast under superb and tense direction by George Seaton who makes this movie excellent in every aspect . This ultra-slick calustrophobic picture contains thriller , suspense , intense drama , extreme tension and is quite entertaining although with some flaws and gaps . Made in television style and set in the final days of the Korean War about soldiers who receive an order from their superiors : to kill a captured airman , however , being reluctant to execute him , as an intriguing stand-off ensues between the seemingly heartless sergeant and his conscience-stricken men . Though the whole is mostly set on a freighter ship it never lacks for taut , suspense , intrigue and inspired direction . The struggle behind closed cabins is tense , charged and riveting .Henry Denker's brilliant script was left virtually intact in its move to feature film based on the novel "L'Hamecon" by Vahé Katcha. It was splendidly directed by George Seaton with an extraordinary plethora of actors who give magnificent performances as Kirk Douglas and Robert Walker Jr , both of them recently deceased and Nick Adams who unfortunately died very young at 36 . The painstaking rehearsals for the film lasted exhaustingly a few weeks. However, nowadays none of the twelve stars are still alive . The acting level of the cast during some of the intense discussions and debates almost bursts in the screen .

It contains a moving and thrilling musical score by Larry Adler. As well as evocative cinematography in black and white by Joseph Ruttenberg. This old-fashioned motion picture was professionally directed by George Seaton (Country girl , Miracle on 34th street , Chicken Every Sunday, Anything can happen , Apartment for Peggy , Airport) . Being directed in the wake of the famous plays from the '¨Golden Age of Television¨ as Caine's Mutiny , 12 Angry Men, The Desperate Hours , Marty ,The Petrified Forest , Birdman of Alcatraz . Rating . 7/10 . Better than average .

When you think of Nick Adams, you probably think of Boomer in Picnic, the irritating nerd who pesters Kim Novak for a date. Or you remember his drunken ridiculousness in Pillow Talk as he paws Doris Day in his car. You certainly don't think of a good actor, which is why you should rent the heavy drama The Hook. If he earned a Rag award for his performance and beat out Bobby Darin in Captain Newman, M. D., it's a safe bet he's impressive.

This mental thriller involves a prisoner of war held captive by three American soldiers, Kirk Douglas, Nick Adams, and Robert Walker Jr. The unnamed Korean (played by Pancho Magalona) doesn't speak any English, so they're just left to interpret his expressions from his haunting stare. When they receive orders to kill the prisoner, each man goes through his own reluctance to pull the trigger. Kirk is the macho head honcho ordering everyone around, Bob Jr. Is the sensitive one who tries to get to know the prisoner, and Nick is the obedient soldier with a secret past.

This movie is very tense and at times hard to watch, especially since you can imagine situations like it playing out in real life. Sometimes soldiers received orders not to take prisoners. The Hook will keep you on the edge of your seat, so don't get up for more popcorn.

Kirk Douglas runs the gamut of emotion from about A to C, and most of the rest of the performances are similarly limited. In other words, some better actors would have made this a better picture. The most convincing performance comes from Enrique Mangalona as the POW, who, speaking no English, is almost silent throughout.

It's by no means action-packed. The action all takes place on board a neutral ship, on which three US servicemen wrestle with their consciences which get in the way of their murdering a Korean POW.

It's a psychological think-piece, but it's tense and quite involving. It's not in the class of Twelve Angry Men, but it's that sort of genre.

Not worth staying in for, or renting the video, but very likely better than the crud on the other channels, given that it's most likely to be shown as a space filler in the small hours.

For fans of the taut and psychologically grueling and philosophically provocative filmed one-act play, The Hook is right in the class of Lifeboat, The Petrified Forest, Obsession, The Desperate Hours, 12 Angry Men, and Time Limit -- all among my personal favorite movies. The movie hinges on one dilemma: What does a military man do when given a direct order from a Commanding Officer to kill an unarmed POW in cold blood? The questions of right and wrong are further blurred by the fact they are informed that all the other soldiers in the unit have all been wiped out by a brutal North Korean attack. Aboard a friendly vessel en route to reconnoiter with another fighting division, a Sergeant (Kirk Douglas), Corporal (Nick Adams), and Private (Robert Walker Jr.) have two days to dispose of the prisoner or disobey a direct order. For his part, the prisoner shows every sign of singlemindedly waiting for an opening to escape. He speaks no English and only one of the three speaks even a few words of Korean. The Sergeant orders each subordinate, in turn, to execute the prisoner, but they are both quite conflicted also.

Kirk Douglas is perfectly cast as the tough-as-nails-on-the-outside-Sergeant Briscoe. But, Nick Adams truly steals the movie as the Corporal who nearly relinquishes his humanity trying desperately to support his Sergeant. Walker gives a solid if unremarkable performance as the Private that Briscoe relentlessly tries to bully into executing his dirty work.

That's all of it. So, if you are looking for a war movie with lots of action and visual effects, look elsewhere. But, if you wish to look into the souls of three enlisted men faced with Hobson's choices within an unrelenting pressure cooker, this fast-moving and well-acted psychological study will haunt you for the rest of your film-going life. I give it 10/10 for its genre.

Sgt. P. J. Briscoe (Kirk Douglas) and two others are clearing out an outpost when they are attacked by a plane during the waning days of the Korean War. Their job is to destroy all the equipment and load the remaining fuel onto a civilian ship run by Capt. Van Ryn. The plane crashes and Private Dennison manages to save one of the pilots. The three Americans and their prisoner get a ride on Van Ryn's ship. They are ordered by command to get rid of the prisoner.

This is trying to be a character study play rather than a compelling war thriller. There seems to be an easy solution right from the beginning. The way the order is worded, Briscoe could simply let the prisoner swim for freedom. There has to be more. By his own words, Briscoe is only concerned about getting out of the Army and retiring with a full pension. He's been hardened by the war but he needs to be harder. There has to be some malevolence in his character for the good vs evil to work at peak performance. It's also weird to have the enemy bomb them with what looks like a WWII allied bomber. The dialogue is overly wordy. I like the unique premise but it feels too much like an overly written play. It feels dragged out.

The intro to this film indicates that this story is universal and could apply to any war...or any country...and this is quite true. And, this universality of the story make this an exceptional war film.

When the story begins, some American soldiers are loading trucks with airplane fuel which will soon be transported to the front. However, during this process, a North Korean plane attacks...killing one of the men. The plane soon crashes and a lone man bails out of the craft. Now when the surviving three American soldiers enter the ship, they have a prisoner.

Once aboard the ship, the men contact headquarters and are told that they were NOT to bring the prisoner in with them. In other words, they were to kill him! This is clearly a war crime...and is against the articles of war. The sergeant (Kirk Douglas) clearly seems to LIKE this order...one of the men, one of the privates (Robert Walker Jr.) thinks the order is monstrous and refuses to do it. The sergeant takes delight in goading this private but despite this, he will NOT kill the man. So, the sadistic sergeant then tries to get the other private to do it...

The story is a great look at human nature...the good as well as the bad. And, it reminds us that the German soldiers of WWII were not the only ones who murdered and chalked it all up to 'just following orders'. A very strong film whose only shortcoming is its pacing (it could have been shortened a bit and that would have made a stronger picture).

I have to agree with Bosley Crowther and the other critics of the day who largely advised audiences to give this one a pass. THE HOOK is noble in its intent, but nothing about it rings true. When I was seven years old, watching TV alone at home on a Saturday afternoon, some network show without warning broadcast the footage of a Vietnamese prisoner being executed by an American military man. I have never been able to get the image out of my head -- and nothing anyone can say will convince me that the Kirk Douglas character in this movie, on receiving the order to execute his Korean prisoner, would do anything other than march the prisoner immediately to the deck of the boat, blow his head off and let the body drop into the water. End of story. It's all very well to have the discussion that THE HOOK has and wants us to have -- but military men do what they are trained to do and they don't have philosophical arguments about it. There's a lot of good work on screen, and the purpose is admirable, but it never for one second feels authentic.

The intentions are quite sincere, generous, but I hardly got glued to this story, despite the good directing from a guy whose movies have never excited me that much. I mean George Seaton, who was at his top with 36 HOURS, offering a plot far more engrossing than this tedious one. I won't say any harm about this movie though, as I did with another George Seaton's film : COUNTERFEIT TRAITOR. So, it remains a film to watch, if only for Kirk Douglas. Only the finale part is quite the best of the film, but that's not a surprise to find the most exciting of a movie in the end. It could be seen as a pacifist film; at least a bit.