Retreat, Hell!

The Korean War doesn't have the glory that goes with WW2, although there are a few films about that war that have helped shape an image of bitter fighting carried out in even more bitter weather conditions. Retreat, Hell! should be right up there with Pork Chop Hill as the definitive Hollywood depiction of that conflict. It has that deft mix of grim authenticity, of action, and of fine characterizations. It has to be one of Russ Tamblyn's best dramatic parts. A lot of well interspersed and well done action scenes of fighting in barren snow swept hilltops and ravines, with the finale being a furious Chinese charge right into the colonel's tent. In black and white, this film has a pervasive grimness to it, that contrasts with the story of a unit of Marines trying to keep up a sunny and positive spin on a desperate situation. It's a flag-waver, but exceedingly well done.

We are in the Korean War, and a U.S. Marine battalion are desperately trying to get thru a snow laden mountain pass before the better equipped enemy kill them all. With their own supplies running out and many of the Marine's losing their belief systems, it's likely that death or glory are the only options.

Film's set during the Korean War are few and far between, it's almost as if it's an overlooked cinema topic in many ways. Pork Chop Hill and MASH aside, you would be hard pressed to name half a dozen films set in and around what has become the forgotten war. Now Retreat, Hell! is nothing to greatly shout about, and certainly it isn't fit to lace up the shiny boots of Gregory Peck's pork chop sizzler (sorry for that). It's however one of those films that you can stumble on with no expectation and enjoy purely on an interesting scale. Riddled with clichés and serving only to achieve its aim of bravado flag waving heroics, it carries a little emotional weight (soldiers insecurities and fears) and molds nicely the mounting tension (the wait for attack is itchy) with its competently handled gun fire. Directed by Joseph H. Lewis (7th Cavalry & The Big Combo) and starring Frank Lovejoy (In a Lonely Place & House of Wax) Richard Carlson (The Ghost Breakers & King Solomon's Mines) and a young and bouncy Russ Tamblyn (Tom Thumb & West Side Story). Retreat, Hell! wont have you hankering for another visit some time in the future, but hopefully, just like me, you will be glad that you at least gave it the time of day. 6/10

"Retreat, Hell!" is an unusual film because Hollywood didn't make all that many movies about the Korean War compared to WWII. It follows a Marine unit from the invasion of Inchon through the first tough winter when the Chinese entered the fray.

The film does what too many war films do...uses too much stock footage that is scratchy and clearly NOT made for the movie in the first place. Aside from this, the story is reasonably well done, though most of the characters are a bit one-dimensional. Not a bad overview of this period, though.

War is hell. This grim movie bears that out. At least this black and white movie is consistent from start to finish as it portrays United States Marines landing and later retreating in the frozen hell of Korea. The movie's redeeming qualities are its educational aspects and the actual combat footage. Story, dialog, casting, acting and special effects are all about average. I thought the characterization was better than average at times, as it showed Marines struggling with loss, despair, fear, hope, joy and even expressing compassion. Korea has been termed the forgotten war. That is unfortunate as it was and still is very relevant, even to this day. Witness the recent demonstration of nuclear power by North Korea and the consternation it has generated. The younger generation should be aware of our nations history and this movie can be a fun and enlightening way to do so. They might wonder what Chinese soldiers are doing there. At one point our movie's characters are almost saying a famous line from a later movie--"Who are these guys?" Overall, Retreat, Hell! is a respectable war movie.

This film essentially begins with a Marine Corps Reserve officer by the name of "Captain Paul Hansen" (Richard Carlson) being informed that he has been called into active service due to an outbreak of hostilities in Korea. Naturally, being a family man, he doesn't particularly want to go to war but, since he has no choice, he follows orders and reports for duty. Upon doing that, however, he is shocked when his superior officer "Lieutenant Colonel Steve L. Corbett" (Frank Lovejoy) informs him that, rather than being assigned in an electronic specialty, he is given an infantry company to command instead. Although being somewhat out of his element, Captain Hansen does his best to adapt to his new situation even though Lieutenant Colonel Corbett is sometimes critical of his progress. Be that as it may, after extensive training in the United States, the Marine Corp division is shipped out to Korea just in time to conduct an amphibious landing near the port of Inchon. From that point on, Captain Hansen and his men learn firsthand the horrors of war against an enemy that shows little mercy and takes no prisoners. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this turned out to be a decent war movie which managed to show the raw emotions American soldiers felt having to engage in combat on the other side of the world. Admittedly, there were some parts that were a little corny and I would have preferred a more complete ending but, all things considered, I liked this movie and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.