Men - hard as iron
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Men - hard as iron |
| Original title | The hook |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1963 |
| length | 97 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 16 |
| Rod | |
| Director | George Seaton |
| script | Henry Thinker |
| production | William Perlberg |
| music | Larry Adler |
| camera | Joseph Ruttenberg |
| cut | Robert Kern Jr. |
| occupation | |
| |
Men - Hard As Iron (Original title: The Hook) is an American drama directed by George Seaton from 1963 against the backdrop of the Korean War . The script is based on the novel L'Hamecon by the Syrian writer Vahé Katcha. The film had its cinema premiere in Germany on November 1, 1963.
action
During the last days of the Korean War , the fuel load of a neutral tanker is unloaded. Private Dennison, a newcomer, is assigned to guard and does not notice that an enemy plane is approaching. The plane attacks, killing a lieutenant. After the plane has been shot down, the tanker runs out again. Dennison conceals the wounded enemy pilot, who is then captured.
Sergeant Briscoe makes a radio report to headquarters. He learns that the captured pilot has also bombed headquarters and a Red Cross hospital. He is to execute the prisoner. Briscoe first objects, but in order not to endanger his career, he soon gives in. He asks for mercy for the prisoner. When Briscoe tries to shoot the pilot, Dennison hits him on the arm, causing the bullet to miss.
Over time, the relationship between the pilot and the ship's crew changes. The prisoner, known as the “gook”, is becoming more and more part of everyday life on the ship. However, Briscoe insists on execution. Dennison and Briscoe's orderly Hackett refuse to kill Gook. Briscoe decides to carry out the execution himself, but something prevents him from pulling the trigger. The prisoner does not understand the behavior and escapes just as news of a truce reaches the ship. Gook did not understand the message either and tried to destroy the fuel depot, armed only with a sharpened razor. Just before Briscoe can knock Gook down with a wrench, he says: "I can't". The astonished Briscoe realizes that neither Gook nor himself want to kill the other.
Reviews
"A scene as impressive film with the question of insubordination and conscience but makes only the periphery of the problem. The script avoids giving its own answer by the fact that at the decisive moment the armistice is announced. "
"Conclusion: inconsistent drama on the subject of humanity"
background
The MGM production marked the cinema debut of Robert Walker Jr.
Art director George W. Davis and set decorator Keogh Gleason and Henry Grace, all three Oscar-winning, were responsible for setting the film. The sound engineer was Franklin Milton, who also received an Oscar. The later chief cameraman and Oscar winner Fred J. Koenekamp worked as a camera technician .
Web links
- Men - hard as iron in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Classic Film Guide (English)