Some American International Pictures films were pretty good, but good or bad (and often bad) the movies all have one thing in common...incredibly low budgets. So, when I saw they made a movie set during the Korean War I assumed it would be made on the cheap...with stock footage, no-name actors and the like. While a couple of the actors is a 'namer', at the time Frank Gorshin and BarBra Luna were pretty much unknown. Another familiar name but NOT familiar face is Edward G. Robinson Jr....and I had no idea that the famous actor's son was also an actor, though he only made about a half dozen movies.
The story is about a group of men who man a tank. Additionally, they spend a LOT of their time chasing women and talking...lots and lots of talking.
So is this any good? No. It's pretty much what I expected...with a poor use of stock footage, bad dialog and acting that is just okay. It also features an M-41 Walker Bulldog tank that in one scene turns into a Sherman tank! Yes, the editing was that bad. Overall, a cheap and bad film. It's sad because a Korean War film CAN be made on the cheap and still be excellent...such as with "The Steel Helmet" by Samuel Fuller.
By the way, early in the film after a damaged tank limps back to the base, you see a sergeant kissing a nurse who is a lieutenant...right in front of another officer. Well, a sergeant is an enlisted man and is NOT allowed to kiss or have any sort of relationship with any officer...and the lieutenant is an officer. It was observed by a captain...and later he said he didn't like the fraternization...when he COULD have had both parties arrested or put on report. I cannot imagine the rule not existing in this war and such a relationship is definitely forbidden and subject to punishment for both parties. I'm not a military expert but recognized this and then double-checked to be sure it was a mistake...which it was. And, since this was a major plot element...it sure didn't help the film any.
The story is about a group of men who man a tank. Additionally, they spend a LOT of their time chasing women and talking...lots and lots of talking.
So is this any good? No. It's pretty much what I expected...with a poor use of stock footage, bad dialog and acting that is just okay. It also features an M-41 Walker Bulldog tank that in one scene turns into a Sherman tank! Yes, the editing was that bad. Overall, a cheap and bad film. It's sad because a Korean War film CAN be made on the cheap and still be excellent...such as with "The Steel Helmet" by Samuel Fuller.
By the way, early in the film after a damaged tank limps back to the base, you see a sergeant kissing a nurse who is a lieutenant...right in front of another officer. Well, a sergeant is an enlisted man and is NOT allowed to kiss or have any sort of relationship with any officer...and the lieutenant is an officer. It was observed by a captain...and later he said he didn't like the fraternization...when he COULD have had both parties arrested or put on report. I cannot imagine the rule not existing in this war and such a relationship is definitely forbidden and subject to punishment for both parties. I'm not a military expert but recognized this and then double-checked to be sure it was a mistake...which it was. And, since this was a major plot element...it sure didn't help the film any.