The last attack

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Movie
German title The last attack
Original title Fixed bayonets!
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1951
length 88 minutes
Rod
Director Samuel Fuller
script Samuel Fuller
production Jules Buck
music Roy Webb
camera Lucien Ballard
cut Nick De Maggio
occupation

The Last Attack (original title Fixed Bayonets! ) Is an American war film by Samuel Fuller from 1951 . The script is based on a novel by John Brophy. The film premiered on television in Germany on July 3, 1993.

action

In the Korean War , a beleaguered division of the US Army has to withdraw. In order to secure the retreat, the commanding officer ordered a 48-man unit as rearguard. The unit is commanded by Lieutenant Gibbs. Sergeants Rock and Lonergan are at his side. The unit is stationed on a pass in the mountains. During the march to the goal, the soldiers plan their approach. Mines are to be laid and scouting posts set up.

Among the soldiers is Corporal Denno, who is unable to fire at individual soldiers. Rock informs him that if Rock, Lonergan, and Gibbs are killed, he will be in command. Soon the unit is attacked, but the attack is repulsed. The men discover a cave in which the whole unit has space. Gibbs is shot dead by a sniper. During the night, Denno told Rock that he gave wrong orders twice in officers' school, which injured some of his men. Rock reassures him that he should trust his rifle.

The next morning a signal trumpet sounds. Whitey, seen by his comrades as a know-it-all, explains that the Chinese resort to psychological warfare. Rock sends Whitey and another man to steal one of the trumpets. Both return successfully, but Whitey's comrade is wounded. While the wounded man is being tended to by the medic Wheeler, Lonergan is looking for Bigmouth, who has left his post. Lonergan finds him unconscious from the cold. When he tries to bring him back, he is hit by a sniper. Wheeler tries to reach Lonergan through the minefield. But he steps on a mine. Denno crosses the minefield and reaches the sergeant. But while Denno is carrying him back, he dies.

The following day, the Chinese attack one of the scouting posts, causing the men to flee into the cave. The men, who according to the orders only have to hold out for an hour, are afraid of ricochets. Rock is killed by such a ricochet, Denno has to take command despite his fear. He orders to persevere. When the unit can finally withdraw, they hear an incoming tank. Denno decides to destroy the tank so that the enemy cannot follow the retreating unit. The tank is destroyed with a bazooka , but the unit gets into a tough battle with the Chinese.

The division has now successfully completed its retreat and is destroying the bridge behind it. As the soldiers make their camp, they notice men trying to swim across the river. You can see Denno with the rest of the rearguard who won the fight.

Reviews

"Oppressive war and survival drama, which, renouncing any heroization, does not derive its intensity from exciting external action, but from a study of individuals who depend on one another in order to survive."

- Lexicon of international film

background

The 20th Century Fox production was shot in the early months of the Korean War and was the feature film debut of James Dean , who had a minor role as a soldier.

For Samuel Fuller, who directed an episode of the German crime series Tatort in 1973 , it was the fourth directorial work. It was after Hell of Korea (The Steel Helmet)  - in which Gene Evans can again be seen in a leading role - the second film with the theme of the Korean War. Oscar-winning Lyle R. Wheeler and Thomas Little were responsible for setting the film . The costumes came from Charles Le Maire, the special effects from Fred Sersen. The musical director was Lionel Newman and the military adviser to Captain Raymond Harvey.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The final attack. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed August 24, 2017 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used