Dominated by the towering figure of a temple Buddha, this gritty, realistic film--probably the best atmospheric evocation of the Korean War to date--was shot in ten days in LA's Griffith Park. It features a fine performance by the underrated Gene Evans as the war-weary, cigar-chomping Sergeant Zack, and a haunting appearance by comedian Sid Melton as a silent soldier who finally speaks to protest his own death.

Solid war pic by fuller. I liked Evans as Sgt. Zack.

A very mixed bag. The best parts are very good, but when the action slows, it gets cheap and maudlin.

Gritty and absorbing--good grunt's-eye view of the Korean conflict. Evans a standout as Zack (especially in the first half). And the kid was cool. Things did get a bit sappy toward the end though.

Fuller delivers a gritty, socially conscious war film. Short, but sweet. Gene Evans is great as the cynical, sarcastic, and stubborn Sergeant. Highlights are a sniper episode in a foggy jungle and a game of cat-and-mouse throughout the Buddhist temple.

A damned fine war film, and proof that all the money in the world is no substitute for the ability to tell a good story. Gene Evans gives a thoroughly convincing performance as Sergeant Zack, a bull-headed, battle-hardened infantryman whose relationship with the orphaned "Short Round" is surprisingly moving. The film does have its flaws. In spite of a paltry 80 minute run-time, the story briefly stalls out in the middle third. But this is still a great war drama, and one I'd heartily recommend.

Solid melodrama, with surprisingly contemporary view of war itself.

Gene Evans = awesome

A lowbudget war movie? Yup, and all the better for it. More brash art from Fuller.

Sam Fuller's masterwork presents an ultragritty look at combat, as experienced by one of the offbeat auteur's greatest characters, Evans's grizzled, battle-weary Sergeant Zack. By my lights, the best modern war movie ever made.

Soooooo damn good.

What possesses war hero Fuller to make a war film so unrealistic? Never mind that every soldier here is a stereotype: There's baldy, mute guy, black guy, Jap, conscientious objector, frisky Korean kid, and asshole officer. People here have "after the war" conversations mid battle! A guy hops over auto gunfire! Performances reek, including the most hilariously awful bit of acting you'll ever see from a guy getting repeatedly stabbed in the back. The text sucks, and shots at humor are all unfunny.