Fixed Bayonets

[soundmotor]

Fixed Bayonets



This film is a gem. It is not a gung-ho portrayal of beating the Communists but a soldier's-eye view of confict. The level of technical detail is truly surprising as well. The NK soldiers are armed w/ PPSh41's and the US soldiers are carrying follow-up Garand ammo on lanyards around their necks! Whomever advised on this film knew the ground. Further, they are constantly wet & cold. You can feel the discomfort through the screen. When an NK soldier is killed early on it is his spare dry socks that are prized. The filmaker also used very convincing snow. Even though this was shot in a studio, you rarely get the sense of that as nearly all the shots are close in & claustrophobic.

What surprised me more is that this film was made during the Korean War. It is unlike war films made during WW2 that describe the enemy as cartoon cutouts. Here the NK soldiers are shown as crafty & tough and, as soldiers. Also refreshing is that although there are typical war movie casting hallmarks, the lovable kid, the career grunt, the malcontent, they aren't lingered on and the individual characters are quickly developed beyond that.

If you are a war film fan, you should enjoy this one too.

[pmsummer]

Sam Fuller knew.