Sniper's Ridge (1961) User Reviews

A Poor Man's Version of Pork Chop Hill

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 12 November 2005]

Saying that Sniper's Ridge is just a poor man's version of Pork Chop Hill is not to denigrate this film, but merely to point out it's a B film. Sniper's Ridge is the kind of B film that used to fill out the bottom part of a double feature back in the day when they had double features. The sixties was the last decade that happened in.

The two most prominent names in this film are Jack Ging and Stanley Clements a pair of soldiers who are sweating out the final hours before the cease fire is to take effect in Korea. Both give good believable performances as do the rest of the cast. No mock Hollywood heroics here, these are men just trying to stay alive and get home.

If this is ever shown again on television try to catch it.

Not exactly buried treasure, but worth a look (spoiler)

[jozefkafka · 6/10 · 13 April 2008]

Not exactly buried treasure, but worth a look

A while back I was channel surfing late at night/early in the morning and landed on AMC showing something I'd never heard of called SNIPER'S RIDGE (1961). It's a very low-budget Fox B movie, a sub-WAR HUNT Korean War chatfest with C-list TV actors like Jack Ging and Douglas Henderson.

But there's something about the film that lifts it out of the ordinary. It has an attitude and atmosphere that are remarkably ahead its time (one of the plots deals with Ging planning to kill his commanding officer, a harbinger of Nam "fragging") and presage the anti-military films of the 70s.

I don't want to see you again unless your guts are spilling out!

[sol-kay · 7/10 · 9 December 2005]

Little known but highly effective anti-war movie set in no-mans land around the 38th parallel in Korea in late July 1953.

With the agreed upon armistice, by the UN and Communist forces, to go into effect within 48 hours the Communist Chinese troops launch a deadly daylight attack on the troops along what's called Sniper's Ridge. The fighting shaking up the commander of the US unit stationed there Capt. Tombolo, John Goddard. With his best man Cpl. Sharack, Jack Ging,due to leave for home Capt. Tombolo pulls strings to keep him there in order to keep his US Army company, considered the worst US combat unit on the front-lines in Korea, from going under in another determined Communist assault.

Capt. Tombolo calls Cpl. Sharack into his office and tells the startled soldier that instead of leaving this hell-hole he's sending him out on a deadly night patrol in no-mans land against a company of heavily armed Chinese Communist troops.

Sharack just comes apart and not only goes AWOL but high-jacks a medical jeep and has himself taken back to the nearest MASH unit to be considered unfit for duty and sent back home to the states. With nothing found psychically wrong with him Capl. Sharack is sent back to his front-line unit but refuses to partake in any combat. Sharack even volunteers to dig latrines behind the lines to avoid being killed or wounded with his time already served and the Korean War slated to end at 10:00PM July 27, 1953, less then 24 hours away.

The night attack, without Cpl. Sharack, on the Communist troops turned out to be a disaster for Capt. Tombolo's troops. Now with the war about to end he orders his troops to launch another senseless attack which has his man, who want to be able to live out the day, about to mutiny against him. It's then when Capl. Sharack shows just what he made of by taking control of the matter not by killing any enemy troops or even the hated and despised Capt. Tombolo but by saving his life when he foolishly tries to be a hero to not only impress the men under his command but overcome the deep insecurity he feels about himself.

Solid performances all around in this almost forgotten and unknown little war movie with Jack Gling as the heroic and at the same time troubled Cpl. Shareck. Sharecks sense of pride and honor, as well as his concern for his fellow GI's, makes him forget the past and risk his life to save a man who had no good feelings towards him but only wanted to used Cpl. Sharack's skills and ability as a combat soldier in order to promote himself as an effective combat commander.

John Goddard as Capt. Tombolo also gives a standout performance as the obsessed minded military man who want's to make points with the brass upstairs. You can see how his mind is effected by the war and his need to please his superiors and how that causes him to push his men to the point where he's worse to them then the enemy that their facing on the other side of no-mans land.

Douglas Henderson gives a touching performance as the shell shocked Sgt. Sweatish who was a hero in WWII in Europe but here in Korea is only a shell of his former self. Older and wiser about war and what it can do to scared and emotionally broken, from the effects of war, men like himself. Sgt. Sweatish just can't be the soldier that he once was and feels that he's only a burden to the men that he's in charge of where he almost wants to be busted down to private so that the only person that he's really responsible for is himself.

There's also Stanley Celements as Cpl. "Pump" Pumphrey Sgt. Sweatish's friend and war buddy from WWII. Both brave and fearless, to the point of not even taking himself serious in what he does under pressure. Pump looked up to Sweathish as the perfect soldier under fire and man you can count on where your in a fix who sees that not every one can get used to war even those who become heroes because of it.

Bitter, uncompromising war movie

[lor_ · 14 April 2024]

I liked Jack Ging on TV, and it was a thrill to see him doing such a fine job starring in this excellent but forgotten war movie. Set during the Korean War just two days before a scheduled ceasefire to end the conflict, it's an uncompromising story of disillusionment and near-fatalism, unlike the false heroics of the genre.

Ging does heroic things but doesn't approve of same -he's just anxious to go home and be done with the war. But a seemingly evil, but just self-centered captain John Goddard has it out for him, and won't let Ging get the much-deserved trip home, giving him tough assignments instead right up to the end. The movie's tense climax sort of evens things out, but the movie doesn't let up, even then.

An all-male cast emphasizes the movie's unrelenting approach, no time out for romance or comic relief. The ensemble supporting cast, headed up by ex-Bowery Boy Stanley Clements, is quite good and always in character.

It was one of many low-budget co-features released by 20th Century-Fox back in the day but given an unusual black & white CinemaScopr format, but unfortunately it is now preserved in a TV ratio rather than widescreen by YouTube.

Low Budget war drama

[bux · 2/10 · 29 September 2001]

For the most part this low budget war drama is nothing more than routine. The story of a Corporal that has more guts than brains and more guts than his superiors. If anything is above average here, it is the performance turned in by Ging. It seems Hollywood noticed the appeal of low budget war pictures and a flood of them hit theaters in the late Fifties and early Sixties. TV followed with action series such as "Combat." The genre provided a testing ground for new talent, at a low dollar out-put, and occasionally one would hit the mark.

Pretty Good low budget war Film.

[gordonl56 · 7/10 · 12 May 2016]

SNIPERS RIDGE 1961

This low budget film starts out 48 hours before the cease fire that would end the Korean War.

Jack Ging is a NCO with an infantry company facing the Chinese Red Army. Ging is war weary and less that amused with his company commander, John Goddard. Ging has more than enough points to have been rotated out of the front line. Goddard however keeps him in the trenches because he is a hard core veteran.

Ging has on more than one occasion saved the company during Chinese attacks. Ging has had more than enough of combat, and he does not want to die just as the war is ending. Ging grabs the first medics he sees, and forces them at gunpoint to take him to a doc. The doctor calls the MPs and sends Ging back. The Captain, Goddard tells Ging he is stuck with him. It is either 10 years in the stockade, or stay in the lines. Ging decides on the latter choice.

Also in the mix in the company, is the lead Sgt, Douglas Henderson. Henderson is a veteran of WW2 who won a fistful of decorations in that conflict. He now, like, Ging, wants nothing but to live to see the States again. He dives for the nearest foxhole and covers up every time the Reds come a calling. Then there is the new man, Stanley Clements, also a WW2 veteran. Clements also has a beef with the Captain. It seems that Goddard had gotten the man busted in rank when the two had been with another unit.

Goddard orders a night patrol out to see if they can grab up some Chinese prisoners. The patrol goes sideways and several of the men are killed. Goddard of course blames everyone else for the foul-up. He chews out the squad Lt, Gabe Castle, and orders an assault on the Chinese positions. Castle tells him to get stuffed. He will not lead men out to get killed this close to the cease fire.

Goddard, who has annoyed his entire command, is called out to look at a dud Chinese artillery round. The round has landed in an un-cleared minefield. Goddard walks out to look at the round and steps on a mine. Goddard is now stuck out in the minefield unable to move.

The men just sit and watch Goddard standing, hoping that he blows himself to kingdom come. Goddard begs for help, finally, Ging, along with Sgt Henderson, go to have a look. They collect all the flak jackets from the squad first. These they wrap around Goddard's legs and body. Ging tells Goddard that he must throw himself to the ground as fast as he can. Hopefully the blast will be deflected by the flak jackets.

Goddard though is too frightened to move. This forces Ging to make a running tackle pulling Ging and Goddard off the mine. Goddard is unharmed but Ging is wounded picking up a leg full of metal splinters. Ging now has a legitimate reason to be sent to the medics.

The cease fire has arrived and the men all heave a sigh of relief, the war is over.

This is a pretty good little low budget film that says what has to say in just 61 minutes. The film was produced and directed by John A Bushelman. Bushelman was a former film editor who directed the odd film here and there.

Handling the director of photography duties, is long-time b film and TV cinematographer, Kenneth Peach. He worked in the industry between 1929 and 1984.

A minor "B"-grade entry!

[JohnHowardReid · 4/10 · 24 June 2017]

Copyright 27 January 1961 by Associated Producers, Inc. Released through 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. New York opening at neighborhood cinemas: 23 August 1961. U.S. release: February 1961. U.K. release: 24 March 1963 (sic). Australian release: 11 May 1961. 5,514 feet. 61 minutes. Cut to 5,097 feet or 56 minutes in Australia in order to gain a General Exhibition censorship certificate.

SYNOPSIS: This is a Korean War story which takes place on the line during the last hours before the "cease fire". The story starts with a brief attack by the Chinese in which a hard-bitten young private, Scharack (Jack Ging) distinguishes himself. A World War II veteran, Sergeant Sweatish (Doug Henderson) does less than his best.

Captain Tombolo (John Goddard), C.O. of the outfit, is a tough professional soldier who once showed cowardice; he now drives his men and himself because of it. His second in command is Lieutenant Peer (Gave De Lutri), a normal young man who plans to enter the business world when the war is over.

Tombolo is infuriated by the attack and orders a patrol action for that night. Peer is against this because the "cease fire" is so close. Meanwhile Scharack finds that he is not going to be rotated home. He blames Tombolo and defies him. He then hitches a ride to a tent hospital, pretending severe headaches, but is humiliated by the war-weary doctor. Upon returning, Tombolo assigns him to latrine duty.

VIEWERS' GUIDE: Adults.

COMMENT: The dialogue-bound story is as familiar as its Californian location terrain, but nevertheless, the director and his all-male group of players give this one an earnest go.

"Sniper's Ridge" is strictly for audiences that are not battle weary. It's true that the action sequences play effectively on the CinemaScope screen, but the trouble here is that there's simply not enough of this action material. Far too much television-style dialogue and watch-the-fireworks acting instead!

Low key but worth war actioner

[searchanddestroy-1 · 6/10 · 10 September 2022]

This is not an Aldrich nor Bill Wellman feature, but a not a crap either. A small scale topic, with few budget but, to compensate, with good characterization, with much psychological tension, far better than classic battle scenes with plenty of explosions and body count. The mine field scene is impressive as usual in this kind of sequence in any war film. Yes this is a pretty interesting little war film though not a masterpiece. There were many of them in the early sixties, indie movies for most of them, not from big studios, fast shot and released in double feature theaters. I think they are all more or less available now.

"Saddle Up!"

[richardchatten · 7/10 · 16 April 2024]

Those familiar with 'The Manchurian Candidate will recognise the late Douglas Henderson as the aptly named Sgt Sweatish, in a movie that like the latter begins with a caption identifying the action as located in Korea in 1953, but unlike 'The Manchurian Candidate' that's were the film remains.

Because the Korean War failed to end in outright victory films of that conflict tend to be short of the simple heroics that characterise films depicting the Second World War - described in this film as "The Big Bad War" - while the lack of women in the cast promises something mean and ugly.

The foreword that opens 'Sniper's Ridge' from the outset puts us on notice that as in many a cavalry film the men spend more time in fighting each other than engaging the enemy; a warning defined at a climactic moment (SPOILER COMING:) when an officer announces to his men that he's stepped on a mine and his sergeant says "Good!"

another tough Korean War film

[RanchoTuVu · 8/10 · 4 February 2010]

As the Korean War is down to its last days before the armistice, a captain orders his men on a meaningless and dangerous night time mission. Since the men and the captain all know that the war is going to be over, the mission assignment causes a lot of friction which is displayed in several dramatic confrontations between the members of the platoon and the captain. Shot outdoors in what looks very much like a Southern California canyon, with quite a bit of shouting, and a no-name cast with and a low-budget production, AND an at times questionable script, this film could easily be turned off by a viewer with short patience. This person will, however, miss the final half hour or so, a very solid ending which features a tense situation with a land mine. In the panoply of tough and relentless Korean War movies, this one ranks up there with the other tough and low budget but better known ones.

Where did that shot come from?

[tomsview · 7/10 · 3 September 2022]

"Sniper's Ridge" was at the peak of something that was happening to war movies in the 1950s.

Although some of the tactics are ridiculous, the equipment and sets look realistic enough in this small-scale film. However it's the idea behind it that counts.

The opening sequence has a platoon of American soldiers totally monstered by North Korean troops. Everyone hides, including the sergeant. The only effective soldier in the outfit saves them by pretty much performing his duty. The company commander, whose cowardice is exposed by a new arrival, petulantly orders his reluctant soldiers to attack hours before the ceasefire.

Hardly a recruitment film.

These days we are used to cynical portrayals of the military often still as a backlash against the Vietnam War. However, 1961s "Sniper's Ridge" already showed the changing attitudes towards service and even patriotism.

Movies exaggerate and distort for the sake of drama or even an agenda, but whether or not they reflect the truth, they do create a perception.

Maybe Korea coming so close to the end of WW2 caused this shift. Earlier movies celebrated the allied victory and bravery of the military during the war. However Korea caught everyone napping. America dug deep, reservists called up and draftees filling out the ranks, but the "police action" was different to the effort in WW2. Movies of the 50s reflected this. Although some movies were still about WW2, many took on a cynical edge.

The cowardly captain in "Sniper's Ridge" had cinematic company. Look at Captain Cooney in "Attack" and Captain "Waco" Grimes in "Between Heaven and Hell", both in 1956. Then there was "The Bridges at Toko-Ri"; Navy fliers in Korea asking, "Why am I here"?

The guys in the Hollywood military weren't just following orders anymore they were questioning everything. And it was happening in the movies of other countries as well.

"Pork Chop Hill", made in 1959, but based on fact, showed American soldiers well led by competent officers. Still the overall disillusionment with the Korean conflict comes through, and some of the soldiers definitely represented the social issues of the 50s.

The baby boomers that went to Vietnam were brought up on those movies, which helped shape attitudes. Anyone viewing "Sniper's Ridge" in that context would have guessed that Vietnam would be even more problematic.

Direct Hit

[telegonus · 9/10 · 25 January 2002]

An unrelentingly grim and emotional Korean War drama, Sniper's Ridge is a tidy piece of work, well-directed by John Bushelman, it gives a nice sense of how confining war can be; accustomed as moviegoers are to vast beaches and endless jungles, this film paints a more accurate portrait of war, as small, remote and cramped, with men scurrying in and out of ditches and bunkers like rats.

The film is as much as character study as anything else, as it follows the unraveling of an heroic, reluctant and homesick soldier on the last day of the war. There are also parallel stories concerning, among others, a vindictive officer, a compassionate career dog-face, and a sergeant who has lost his nerve. The sergeant is the most interesting and tragic of the bunch, as he was once a genuine hero, for reasons he didn't understand, and is now afraid of being killed, and again doesn't comprehend what's going on. For all this, he remains highly likeable and sympathetic throughout the course of the film.

Jack Ging, as the reluctant hero, is excellent, breathing life into what in lesser hands might have been a thoroughly obnoxious if at times admirable character. Stanley Clements is superb and wholly believable as a two-fisted tough guy. As the sergeant, Douglas Henderson is magnificent, as he plays, with great dignity, a man haunted by ambivalance and fear, yet in whom we sense a fine if wounded individual.