This drama about the ending of the Korean war is profound for several reasons. While the performance by Robert Walker Jr. may not be placed in the acting hall of fame, most viewers will identify with his character's inability to kill the prisoner of war (Pancho Magalona) they have captured after the plane he used to attack them crashed. There are only three survivors from the attack: Walker, Nick Adams and their sergeant in command, Kirk Douglas. Wanting to turn Walker into a complete soldier, Douglas takes the orders he has been given to kill him and hands it over to Walker. But it is obvious from the start that the gentle Walker will be unable to go through the order, and then Adams ends up with a gun in his hand. It appears that he believes that he owes a debt of gratitude towards Douglas, but Walker utilizes the analogy of a dead man's eyes following its killer through the remainder of their life to scare him in order to prevent him from going through with it. Then, it's Douglas's turn, and the same analogy of the eyes are utilized. When armistice is declared, there is a twist in the drama that gives the film a downbeach, disappointing ending, but fortunately, what had happened before remain strongly in the viewer's memory.
This film indeed has a claustrophobic feeling towards it. You get the opportunity to know a little something about not only Douglas, Walker and Adams, but Magdalona as well. Certainly, there will be little sympathy fort Douglas throughout most of the film, but his character is indeed very complex, and he makes him understandable if not always likeable. There is definite sympathy for both Walker and Adams, and of the three actors, it is Adams who delivers the best performance. Magdalona is outstanding barely saying a word, showing that acting can be done through the eyes rather than through the lips.
Veteran character actor Nehemiah persoff is also very good as the ship's British captain, basically staying away and leaving the Americans to themselves. It is a small, quiet film with many profound moments, but it is also obvious that it will not end happily even though if you were is never sure who will end up being the most unhappy or victimized at the end.
This film indeed has a claustrophobic feeling towards it. You get the opportunity to know a little something about not only Douglas, Walker and Adams, but Magdalona as well. Certainly, there will be little sympathy fort Douglas throughout most of the film, but his character is indeed very complex, and he makes him understandable if not always likeable. There is definite sympathy for both Walker and Adams, and of the three actors, it is Adams who delivers the best performance. Magdalona is outstanding barely saying a word, showing that acting can be done through the eyes rather than through the lips.
Veteran character actor Nehemiah persoff is also very good as the ship's British captain, basically staying away and leaving the Americans to themselves. It is a small, quiet film with many profound moments, but it is also obvious that it will not end happily even though if you were is never sure who will end up being the most unhappy or victimized at the end.