Customer Reviews
Great War Film from the late 50's 
2008-07-10
I've loved this film since I was a kid. Always enjoyed it for what it was - A Film.
Ever get the feeling that [some] of these "vets" commenting on films such as this, take them a little too seriously; or literally. It's as if they (the "vets") are trying to tell us that soldiers in combat (heavens-never a Marine) can never crack, quit or be cowards. Well, I guess they've never read books by real veterans who say that soldiers can go "wacko," "bonkers," and do stupid things to get themselves killed. New flash - They have in the past, and they will in the future. With all due respect, "Grunts" aren't the most intelligent people in the service - That's why they're "Ground-Pounders" Get real! Even you so-called "tough, macho men" out there, are human. I mean, really.
This movie is a classic, for those who enjoy war movies. Robert Ryan (Lt. Benson) and Aldo Ray (Sgt. Montana) give First Class performances in this Anthony Mann film. The supporting cast of Robert Keith (Colonel), Nehemiah Persoff (Sgt. Lewis), Vic Morrow (Pvt. Zwickley) and James Edwards (Sgt. Killian) were excellent. You'll love this MOVIE.
Good premise, but weak. 
2007-11-24
If Korea was this bad, we would have lost. Ryan and Montana (or is it Willamette) have a constant sparring match, then seeing Vic Morrow (SGT Saunders of "Combat!" acting like a sickly coward, was a bit much. There is the unbalanced and cowardly Platoon Sergeant (Nemiah Persoff). Oh well, Korea was tough, but these guys would never have survived. A good idea for a story carried off in a mediocre manner.
Don't buy this "C" movie 
2007-10-09
Men In war is one of those films whose script was written by someone with no Military, let alone wartime experience. I feel the film was an insult to the men who fought and died in the Korean War, in that the author, screenwriter and director lacked any real-world knowledge of Military People (Men or Women). The total lack of discipline and Military organizational skills was more reminiscent of Corporate America than any Military organization I have ever served in. Cap all that off with bad costuming and acting that would embarass a High School drama club, and you come up with a screaming:"DON'T BUY THIS DVD!!!". It was also extremely BORING! Since I was a child I've made it a point to watch every war film I can find. I am a Combat Veteran, Former Marine, Former 101st Air Borne Division, former 1st Cavalry Division, seventeen and a half year Veteran who was put out on a Medical Discharge. I've seen it all, and this film is BAD, REALLY BAD!. I had never heard of it, so I bought it. Not worth the plastic it is burned into. It resides atop my DVD cabinet, as a reminder that: If I haven't seen it, it isn't worth seeing, certainly not worth buying. Next time I'll rent it from Netflix to see if it is worth owning. Do Not Buy This DVD unless you take joy in feeling like you got screwed.
MEN IN WAR is not a bore 
2007-10-06
It seems reviews are divided on this movie so I thought I would weigh in on the side of liking it. In addition to all the fine comments made about the actors and action, I would like to add the cinematography (sic?) is ahead of it's time. The camera angles and lighting are not what are usually found in a 1950's war movie.
Also, please note a young Vic Morrow in the supporting cast 6 years before the TV series Combat!
Tries too hard 2007-09-17
The makers of Men in War are attempting to show many of the psychological defects that involvement in war can cause. The problem with this movie is that you end up with the most ridiculously ineffective and incompetent combat unit ever placed on the screen.
You've got the kid (played by Vic Morrow) who is "sick". Well actually he's just a coward and is being mollycoddled by the others.
You have a supposedly experienced Platoon Sergeant who goes psycho at the thought of being in a mine field and runs amok in blind panic stepping on a mine. The Lieutenant tries to conceal the fact of being in a mine field from the rest of the men fearing that they too will panic.
Every order the Lieutenant gives has to be explained and justified to the men until they finally and grudgingly agree to follow it.... maybe.
The rear guard soldier is so stupid that he sits down in an area infested with guerillas (the Korean War wasn't a guerilla war, by the way), takes off his boots and puts flowers in his helmet!!! And we're supposed to feel sorry for this clown when he gets it. Unbelievable.
What kind of unit is this? Were these men simply drafted and placed in uniform without any training? And what's with the guy in the jeep (Aldo Ray) with the crazy Colonel (yes, another soldier gone bonko) who has apparently decided that he's had enough of the war and is driving to Pusan to quit the Army and get on a ship and go home. I didn't know you could just quit the Army in 1951 in Korea and just head back to Cleveland.
I understand what the movie makers were trying to do: show the debilitating effects of combat. Too bad they didn't get someone who actually knew about such matters in real life to help with the screenplay. What we have is something more like an early attempt at a spoof like MASH or Stripes.
Men in War 2007-09-01
Great 50's war flick.Cast is second to none.If your a war buff then you should buy this movie.Lots of action.
......NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!..... 2007-04-19
I did not like hardly a thing about this war picture, Anthony Mann or no Anthony Mann [Director]...Robert Ryan was superb being in command of a motley squad of straggler/soldiers...even the macho Aldo Ray was a know-it-all who showed NO fear whatso ever [that included Army Officers also]...that's alot of claptrap...hip/hip/hooray for Hollywood...this stuff may have permeated US Army cadres in the field [ and in Hollywood studios] but it could never have happen with a US Marine squad of highly trained riflemen [13 Marines]...nary any semblence of discipline nor any sense of mission showed amongst the enlisted men in this drab Army movie...it was a foregone conclusion that most of them would be KIA by movies' end...I saw this movie in 1957; it never impressed me with what we,[I]saw and done in Korea with my Fleet Marine Force comrades in the field...many decades later, I review it with even more snickering hysterics...no way, GI...no way!!....Semper Fidelis....SSGT CHRIS SARNO-USMC FMF
OK Movieta 
2007-04-01
Not an Oscar winner but OK for 90 minutes of
enter
one of the top korean war movies ,and one of the best war movies ever 2006-06-05
this is a true overlooked masterpiece from anthony mann,and one of the finest war movies made!
1950,korea, a group of men is traped behind the lines after a retreat that goes bad. now they must make their way to a hill and the rest of their men,through the enemy lines and more traps and ambushes that you can shake a stick at. robert ryan,one of the best actors to ever grace the screen OWNS this movies as the leader of the group that is joined by a very good (maybe his best )aldo ray as a sgt. worried about his shell shocked colonel and can't stand ryan. the way they fight each other but still pull together to get "home" is the touchstone of this grim war tale that will keep you on pins till the end!! check it out!!!!!!!
GREAT QUALITY 2006-02-08
The image and sound quality is great. It's hard to give better praise than the other reviewers. I would only add that none of solidiers portrayed fit into the stereotypes of the typical war movie. Also, Ryan and Ray give exceptional performances. Geneon [Pioneer]
