Customer Reviews
Almost Suicidal Rearguard Action. 
2007-09-26
"Fixed Bayonets" (1951) is a very good war movie, directed by a specialist as Samuel Fuller, who also directed "The Steel Helmet" (1951) and the exceptionally good "The Big Red One" (1980).
As a WWII veteran Fuller knows what war is and what really happens in front line small units.
The present film IMHO, represents a new approach to war movies, stark reality is shown, not as realistic as in "Saving Private Ryan" (1998) or "Band of Brothers" (2001), but definitely more lifelike than "Guadalcanal Diary" or "Gung Ho" both from 1943.
The story is about a Company left to fight an almost suicidal rearguard action during Korea War. Being the main character a Corporal reluctant to assume leadership notwithstanding his personal courage and sense of duty.
Playacting is really good with Richard Basehart as Cpl. Denno and Gene Evans as Sgt. Rock (performing Sergeants is a trademark for him) as the acting high points.
If you are a movie fan try to discover Jimmy Dean in his first film appearance as an uncredited GI.
B&W photography enhances the film by accentuating the desolate winter landscape and martial music follows an old tradition for war movies.
It is a very commendable movie for all those interested in war films.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.
Fixed Bayonets 2007-08-31
A classic war movie , set in the Korea war period.
A must for war buffs.
Very pleased 
2007-06-27
We received our item in a very short time and were pleased with our purchase.
A dissappointment! 
2007-06-14
Frankly I'm quite dissapointed in this film. It's in black and white, which actually is no problem for me since I enjoy classic war films. The dissappointmnet is that the whole movie seems to be shot in a studio!!! and a very small studio! Really dissapointed. Also nothing really special about the story.
Good solid Sam Fuller Movie 2007-06-14
A solid Sam Fuller directed movie with outstanding performances by Gene Evans and Richard Basehart. Classic Fuller with more dialogue than 'action'. Similar to his other Korean War movie "Steel Helmet" including the use of WWII Infantry packs in Korea which had been replaced by then. Overall, a good movie for a Saturday afternoon. Fuller was a veteran WWII Infantryman who showed us the grimness of the front-line soldier's world. It would make a great DVD set with "Steel Helmet". Throw in "Big Red One" and you would have the key Sam Fuller war movies.
We spend too much time in Richard Basehart's head 
2008-06-16
An okay movie that felt more like the original made for TV dramas of the late 1950s than a full blown movie. Appears to have been shot mostly on a sound stage, and the feel is of early video tape rather than film.
The story involves an Infantry platoon in Korea left behind to secure the withdrawal of the rest of their regiment. They are to hold a position and create a diversion while the regiment withdraws, then to withdraw themselves. The pivotal character is a corporal who does not wish to have command responsibility, but will have it thrust on him. (I think this was a theme borrowed from Henry Fonda's role in "The Imortal Sergeant"). As he agonizes over the emerging reality that he is going to be put in charge by the slow elimination of those above him, Richard Basehart's character conducts entirely too much internal monologue, which we get to share in.
The small unit Infantry tactics, weaponary, and interactions all feel quite authentic, and this is not a bad little movie, just not one I'd put on my "A" list.
Good war film 2008-04-14
Low budget war film with great script and performances. A classic film well worth watching.
SAMUEL FULLER, OPUS 4 2008-04-12
***1/2 1951. Based on a novel by John Brophy, FIXED BAYONETS! was written and directed by Samuel Fuller. After the success of The Steel Helmet, Fuller was hired by the Fox company to direct another war thriller about the Korea war that had just started. This time, it's the story of a platoon ordered to stop the red army while the rest of the regiment is trying to come back to its base. Replace the STEEL HELMET temple by a cave hidden in the middle of a hill covered by snow and you have FIXED BAYONETS!. Samuel Fuller was more interested in the study of the characters than in the originality of the plot. Anyway, after a film like THE STEEL HELMET, any movie about Korea will seem inferior. Recommended.
Would I Measure Up? 2008-04-08
This movie had haunted me ever since I first saw it on Los Angeles TV when I was twelve years old. Being the son of a career soldier it was always expected that some day I would serve in the Army. I always wondered whether I would measure up and be able to lead men in combat.
In 1991 I found myself leading a team of American soldiers advising an army in a very deadly war against a communist insurgency. Leadership in combat is the ultimate challenge and when my tour ended, I felt no different then how Richard Basehart's character did at the end of this movie.
Though a bit dated, this movie is my all time favorite and definitely a keeper.
Sam Fuller's classic finally on DVD 2007-12-22
Some of the best work that came out of the Hollywood studio system of the 1950s is tragically not available on DVD, but the release of Sam Fuller's "Fixed Bayonets" is a step in the right direction. This low-budget, Korean War story covers all of the great themes of the time: personal sacrifice for the greater good, every soldier's struggle with fear, and the capacity for heroism in the most unlikely places. Now, how about a DVD of "The Steel Helmet," Fuller's other great Korean War film?
