Fixed Bayonets (1951)

This is an early movie from Samuel Fuller, who started as a studio director and worked his way to independent film maker since he didn't like dancing to other people's tunes. 

Fuller, a WWII infantry veteran, made low budget movies, generally with unique viewpoints. 

One of Fuller's movies I saw many times was Merrill's Marauders, a film about the seldom recognized China-Burma-India Theatre of WWII. I loved it because it showed the hardships of the troops, had a lot of thrilling action, and also used a lot of cowboy actors from TV, something Fuller emphasized over and over - familiar actors doing heroic things. 

One of Fuller's most renowned works is The Big Red One, the story of the First Infantry Division who wear a red numeral one as their identification patch.  This movie starred Lee Marvin and several other recognized actors and showed the 1 ID as it fought its way from North Africa through Sicily, Italy, France and the Battle of the Bulge in their way to Germany's heartland.

Fixed Bayonets is one of the few movies about the police action in Korea, 1950 - 53. It was made during the war and starred Richard Basehart as a corporal in an infantry company on the famous Heartbreak Ridge.  The platoon Basehart was a member of, 48 men, was selected to fight a holding action as their 15,000 man division retreated secretly. It was an open secret that the brass didn't expect anybody to emerge alive but the troops played their cards close to their vests and made a better showing than anybody could have expected. 

The soldiers were very similar to those depicted in Battleground, which I have said was the most authentic view of the life of a dogface, or infantryman, ever depicted. I have this on the authority of more than one veteran who fought in the same engagement depicted that it was as real as being there. My own experiences, sleeping in the snow as a soldier,  leads me to believe the testimony of the vets, without the added stress of being under fire.

Basehart as a corporal is the third ranking man in the platoon, a sergeant and lieutenant being the ranking leaders.  The sergeant is named - no kidding - Sgt Rock; and I'll bet money that is where Stan Lee and Marvel got the idea for Sgt Fury and the Howling Commandoes, a great comic book available in the 1960s and maybe later.

Basehart's conflict is revealed early in that he can't fire on a single target.  Sure he will fire off in the general direction of noise but when a single enemy appears right in front of him he freezes.  A nearby buddy shoots the enemy and Sgt Rock congratulates Basehart and welcomes him to the club of guys who have blooded themselves.

As the days unwind the troops are under attack from personnel, artillery, and finally tanks.   The sergeant had already told Basehart that he could become the ranking officer in the matter of seconds.  Three bullets - bang bang bang is all it would take. This in fact happens and then Basehart has to lead the men in destroying a pair of tanks as well as leading his platoon back to friendly lines.  He also is confronted with his own difficulty with shooting at an individual enemy again.

One thing I recognize Fuller for is good storytelling and little if any padding.  The story rings true and the characters are like people you know - the sign of a well told story.

The 20th Century Fox DVD is presented in black and white in 4X3 full screen format as it appeared in theaters in 1951.  The running time is 92 minutes and it fills out the characters and their trials and tribulations quite well for the several days the story plays over.  The extras consist of subtitles, language choices, a trailer, and talent files.

As one of the few Korean War movies made, I find Fixed Bayonets well worth watching.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV