Plot
In the first winter of the Korean War, during the Red Chinese intervention, a 48-man platoon is left to defend a choke point while covering the withdrawal of their division over an exposed bridge. Frostbite poses as large a problem for the soldiers as does as enemy fire. The platoon's first duty as a rear guard is to lay a minefield, but they struggle to memorize where the mines have been placed. Sgt. Lonergan becomes trapped in the minefield while wounded and one soldier is killed by an exploding mine while attempting to rescue him. Corporal Denno manages to bring Lonergan back, but Lonergan dies soon after.
Sgt. Rock, on whom the men have depended in order to survive the conflict, is killed by a freak ricochet bullet. Cpl. Denno, shows no responsibility for the lives of others, must take command. The weary survivors of the rear-guard action slowly file across the river.
Production
Fixed Bayonets! was the first film of a seven-picture deal between Twentieth Century-Fox and writer/director Samuel Fuller. Fox had been impressed with Fuller's The Steel Helmet and sought to make another film about the contemporary subject of the Korean War. [3]
After having problems with The Steel Helmet, the army assigned Medal of Honor recipient Raymond Harvey as the film's technical advisor. Fuller, himself a decorated World War II veteran, forged a lasting bond with Harvey, who again served as technical adviser in the 1958 film Verboten! . Fixed Bayonets! also included the first appearance, albeit uncredited, of James Dean in a feature film.
Although the film's script is an original screenplay, Twentieth Century-Fox head Darryl F. Zanuck felt that the story of a reluctant corporal's unwillingness to take command was reminiscent of the studio's Immortal Sergeant , so a screen credit was added for the writer of that film, Lamar Trotti. [3]
According to Fuller, it was difficult to find extras for the opening retreat sequence, as many action films were also in production at the time. A production assistant found some dancers from a musical and Fuller convincingly simulated the soldiers' fatigue and depression by loading the extras' uniforms and packs with heavy weights. [3]
Although the 1st Infantry Division did not serve in Korea, Fuller named the general and regimental commander after the men under whom he had served in World War II and the regiment after his own.
Roy Webb composed the film's score using two songs, "American Flag" and "Indiana", composed by James F. Hanley with lyrics by Ballard MacDonald.
Reception
In a contemporary review for the Los Angeles Times, critic Philip K. Scheuer wrote:
Samuel Fuller, who wrote and directed the noteworthy "Steel Helmet," released less than a year ago, has done a virtual repeat with ''Fixed Bayonets!" Fuller has a knack for the job. In "The Steel Helmet" he got closer to the in-fighting than the filmmakers usually do. Also his soldiers were more seasoned than Hollywood's usually are. Also, he let us in on what all the shootin' was for—and about. These three virtues are again apparent in "Fixed Bayonets!". Indeed—and pending the long overdue arrival locally of John Huston 's '' The Red Badge of Courage"—I cannot think of another creator functioning currently who is Fuller's superior at permitting us these intimate brushes with death on the battlefield. He may fictionize here and there; he is not above a running gag or two, and his GIs possibly do not escape a partial charge of being stereotypes, Nevertheless, he has been through it himself and on the screen a Fuller war means business." [4]
In The New York Times , critic Bosley Crowther wrote:
Except in its general admiration for the tenacity and fortitude of men who suffer and die in a rugged, manly fashion, Mr. Fuller's latest film is lacking in any qualifications that might raise it above the routine. Its action appears staged and synthetic, its characters are all conventional types and its standard of heroism is an ability to stand firm and kill. [1]
This page is based on this
Wikipedia article Text is available under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
