Can you trust me that "Operation Dames" is a beautiful film? In general, you don't expect much from a movie thought for the drive-ins. Moreover, the title and the beginning of the movie are misleading. You expect some more-or-less-funny (and probably silly) comedy about military life. In fact the starting point is a company of comedians, dancers and pretty girls traveling in the 1950 Korea to entertain the US troops, with girls singing, kissing the soldiers and all that. A sudden major attack from the North Korean army turns the comedy into drama. The company is trapped behind the enemy lines, the South Korean escort soldiers are killed, and the guys drift, abandoned in a hostile country, ruthlessly chased by the reds. Fortunately, they meet a lost patrol of US soldiers. Now they must join their forces, to make a desperate attempt to cross the lines and reach the US army.
The movie clearly had a meagre budget at its disposal. Nonetheless, it is remarkably well- made. The camera work and the photography are first-rate, with a creditable quest for simplicity. The action scenes are realistic, and sober as in an authentic war documentary, but very well filmed. The dialogue is dry and suited to the dire straits these men and women are in. The psychological study of the characters is accurate. Exaggerations or over-the-top melodramatic situations are avoided. There are moments of emotion, and several love- scenes of rare intensity. And the ending is satisfactory, as well.
The job by a bunch of unknown actors and actresses is generally very good, somehow surprisingly. Chuck Henderson as sergeant Valido is really remarkable. Few words about Eve Meyer, the main heroine. Of course, she is gorgeous. But she can act, as well. Here she gives an intense performance, both physically and vocally. Well, I've read that she was a Playboy model, and I guess that this fact essentially erased her chances of a career on the screen. She acted just in two movies. Seeing "Operation Dames", I think that a talent was wasted. Eve Meyer was not just pretty and sexy.
Well, believe it or not, "Operation Dames" is a recommendable movie. Seventy minutes of very good cinema.