The National Board of Review picked this as one of their Top 10 of 1962, the biggest reason I sought it out. It's an understandable choice: a fable about a psychopathic maverick soldier in Korea, the war orphan under his care, and the novice soldier who butts heads with him. But the script is too shallow for the film to pack its intended punch, although Denis Sander's direction is fine, Robert Redford (the novice) makes a good debut, and John Saxon is intriguing as the anti-hero.

Melancholy, ahead-of-its-time thriller. Strong premonitions of Platoon, and an incredible cast. Tom Skerritt steals the show in a relatively minor role. Lots of evocative sets playing off the low budget.