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WarDramaAction

Fixed Bayonets!

- Bayonets All-Steel…Hearts ALL-AMERICAN…Their story ALL GLORY!

The story of a platoon during the Korean War. One by one, Corporal Denno's superiors are killed until it comes to the point where he must try to take command responsibility.

Release Date : 1951-11-21

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : 20th Century Fox

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Richard Basehart

Character Name : Cpl. Denno

Original Name : Richard Basehart

Gender : Male

Gene Evans

Character Name : Sgt. Rock

Original Name : Gene Evans

Gender : Male

Michael O'Shea

Character Name : Sgt. Lonergan

Original Name : Michael O'Shea

Gender : Male

Richard Hylton

Character Name : Medic John Wheeler

Original Name : Richard Hylton

Gender : Male

Craig Hill

Character Name : Lt. Gibbs

Original Name : Craig Hill

Gender : Male

Skip Homeier

Character Name : Whitey

Original Name : Skip Homeier

Gender : Male

Howard Banks

Character Name : Doggie (uncredited)

Original Name : Howard Banks

Gender : Male

Paul Burke

Character Name : Doggie (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Burke

Gender : Male

George Conrad

Character Name : Zablocki (uncredited)

Original Name : George Conrad

Gender : Male

Glenn Corbett

Character Name : Lieutenant (uncredited)

Original Name : Glenn Corbett

Gender : Male

James Dean

Character Name : Doggie (uncredited)

Original Name : James Dean

Gender : Male

John Doucette

Character Name : 18th Infantry Colonel (uncredited)

Original Name : John Doucette

Gender : Male

John Drexel

Character Name : John (uncredited)

Original Name : John Drexel

Gender : Male

Pat Hogan

Character Name : Jonesy (uncredited)

Original Name : Pat Hogan

Gender : Male

Tony Kent

Character Name : Mainotes (uncredited)

Original Name : Tony Kent

Gender : Male

Robert Knapp

Character Name : Chuck (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Knapp

Gender : Male

Henry Kulky

Character Name : Vogl (uncredited)

Original Name : Henry Kulky

Gender : Male

Weaver Levy

Character Name : Communist Tank Leader (uncredited)

Original Name : Weaver Levy

Gender : Male

George Lynn

Character Name : 26th Infantry Colonel (uncredited)

Original Name : George Lynn

Gender : Male

Herbert Lytton

Character Name : Army Doctor (uncredited)

Original Name : Herbert Lytton

Gender : Male

Richard Monahan

Character Name : Walowicz (uncredited)

Original Name : Richard Monahan

Gender : Male

Neyle Morrow

Character Name : Medic (uncredited)

Original Name : Neyle Morrow

Gender : Male

Wyott Ordung

Character Name : Fitz (uncredited)

Original Name : Wyott Ordung

Gender : Male

Don Orlando

Character Name : Borcellino (uncredited)

Original Name : Don Orlando

Gender : Male

John Pickard

Character Name : Vic (uncredited)

Original Name : John Pickard

Gender : Male

Mel Pogue

Character Name : Bulcheck (uncredited)

Original Name : Mel Pogue

Gender : Male

Stuart Randall

Character Name : Major General at Headquarters (uncredited)

Original Name : Stuart Randall

Gender : Male

Paul Richards

Character Name : Ramirez (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Richards

Gender : Male

Robert Stevenson

Character Name : Col. Taylor - 16th Infantry (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Stevenson

Gender : Male

William Thourlby

Character Name : Husky Doggie (uncredited)

Original Name : William Thourlby

Gender : Male

Joe Turkel

Character Name : Soldier (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Turkel

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

There's nothing dirtier than a rearguard action! Fixed bayonets! is directed by Sam Fuller and Fuller writes the screenplay which is based around a novel by John Brophy. It stars Richard Basehart, Gene Evans, Michael O'Shea, Richard Hylton, Craig Hill and Skip Homeier. Music is by Roy Webb and cinematography by Lucien Ballard. The Korean War, and a platoon of GIs are tasked with diverting the enemy to allow the command units time to regroup and prepare for a counter attack. "Somebody's got to get left behind, get their bayonets wet. It's tough picking out an outfit, but it's got to be picked" Samuel Fuller was a real life infantryman combat veteran of WWII, so any time he chose to direct a war film it was time to sit up and take notice, Fixed bayonets! finds him in prime form. All his great traits are here, how things are so understated yet so potent, how his characters are stripped to a very real human form, there's no fuss, filler or pointless flab here. Every line of dialogue and the various combat scenarios positively beg our utmost attention, so as to get some sort of feel as to just what it must have been like in war. Plot revolves around 48 men holding a rearguard action so as to give 15,000 others a break. The odds aren't really in their favour, because not only do they have to face the oncoming enemy and all their numbers, but they have to battle the terrain, for they are up in the snowy mountains, the harsh coldness a fitting accompaniment to the psychological pangs at work in the platoon. The main narrative thread is based around Basehart's Cpl. Denno, who has trouble shooting an enemy soldier, which is not great since there's a very real chance he may soon have to take command. Ouch! The pressure of impending command... Combat action scenes are thrilling, artillery warfare in the snow constructed with skillful thought. While this wouldn't be a Fuller film without some edge of seat drama, with the stand out here a breath holding sequence of events in a minefield. Tech guys come up trumps, the sound mix is bang on (a haunting cacophony of Asian bugles really rattles the head), Ballard's black and white photography is crisp and captures the pending peril vibe suitably, and Webb's musical compositions are unobtrusive and rightly keeping focus on the human drama. A lesson in being simple yet so potently effective, Fuller on blob. 8/10