The Hill (1965)

After Network, The Hill is Lumet's Other Masterpiece

Remarkable that this film isn't better known here in the states. Over 40 years old and "The Hill" hasn't lost any of its dramatic power. A masterful treatment on the themes of authoritarian psychosis in the military, and Lumet was at the height of his powers. Utterly brilliant and not to be missed. February 27, 2008

A hot climb to the top of drama

Saw this film the first time round on PBS as a kid. Was mostly wrapped up in the British dialogue on first viewing. Caught it again years later on TCM and as an adult, and was then able to understand the true drama of this gripping film set in a WW2 era British miliary prison in the searing North African desert. Became hooked from that point on. One of director Lumet's best, and in my opinion not given it's full due. Finally lucky to have found it on DVD through Amazon. As fellow inmates, the young Sean Connery is brilliant as Sgt. Roberts as is the equally youthful Ozzie Davis as Pvt. Jacko King. My recommendation is to come for the British-ness and dark humor, and stay for the drama and tense ending. February 13, 2008

Smart Effective WW2 Prison Drama

The Hill is quite possibly the best WW2 movie you've never heard of. For a movie directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Sean Connery, Ossie Davis and Michael Redgrave, The Hill is surprisingly anonymous.

The plot is simple. An excellent soldier and leader of men, played by Sean Connery in arguably his finest performance, is sent to a brutal military prison for refusing to send his men into a hopeless situation.

There he encounters cruelty and stupidity in the name of British Army discipline. Harry Andrews plays the prison wardon and plays him excellently. He is a martinet, pendantically and rigidly enforcing outdated rules he doesn't pretend to understand simply because he believes rules and orders must be followed no matter what and soldiering is all about rigid discipline. His staff of prison guards are the perfect embodiment of how certain men will respond to the opportunity to torture and humiliate all too readily. There is, of course, the kind reasonable guard who provides contrast for the viewer.

I have no doubt that the vast majority of British Army officers and soldiers during WW2 were of the highest caliber, both personally and professionally. However, in a organization as huge as a powerful nation's wartime army, there is that unavoidable small percentage of officers and soldiers who have no business in the military. The Hill concerns those few. Sean Connery's character is exceptionally only because he is, quite possibly, the only excellent professional soldier among hundreds of rejects and pretenders.

In just two hours, The Hill covers alot of ground. Ossie Davis plays a West Indian immate who chafes under the constant racism he encounters in His Majesty's Army. Michael Redgrave plays a weak, indifferent, incompetent prison doctor. A do-nothing who turns a blind eye to the cruelty that surrounds him. He becomes involved only when his perfect little world is personally threatened. The movie discusses abuses of authority and the need for thinking men to think and feel. How do loyal and capable soldiers respond to superiors unfit for command? Inevitably, the are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

If this sort of moral tug of war in themilitary interests you, I'd like to recommend three fairly similar movies about soldiers serving under dubious leadership: Fort Apache, Bridge on the River Kwai and Breaker Morant. January 10, 2008

Even better than "12 Angry Men"

Sidney Lumet is best known for his classic "12 Angry Men", with Henry Fonda. I have been trying for almost twenty years to get hold of this prisoner camp/WWII movie after hearing great recommendations from trustworthy friends. Finally I can say that this one is even better. In my opinion it is simply one of the best 100 film of all times. Why it hasn't been on dvd till now is beyond me.

Shot in beautiful and stark black and white in the desert of Almería (Spain). During WWII in north Africa the British run this prison camp for British petty criminals whose lives are made miserable to the brink of going mad. One cell is shared by five very different persons, each one very interesting for the type they represent. Harry Andrews plays the cruel sergeant-Major who sadically enjoys torturing his "human specimens" march up and down a man-made sand hill. His staff-sergeant embodies the loathable lackey who takes orders and even exceeds in carrying them out. All the cast is superb, wonderful. Connery, the star in the film is very good but I felt the other characters were as interesting -if not more- than him. The tension in the film increases by the minute, to a point when you can't even blink an eye, it's gripping, absorbing. One really feels like being there, tortured in the 100 degree sun, running out of breath, with no way to escape. The system is rotten but nobody dares speak out.

It is very realistic. It reminded me of my own Spanish military experience: the officer's cruelty, drunkenness, the commanders away with prostitutes and relaying responsibilities in the brutes of the lower ranks always willing to take it on the rank and file. Even the physical exhaustion, and the beating. The feeling of being isolated from the world, and that nobody outside will ever know what's going on inside. All of those emotions run vivid in this film. It's as close as it can get to living it.

One lesson out of this story is that every insitution is made up of human beings, and always the bad guys are going to end up ruling and corrupting the system if the system has no way of being checked; call it the Army or what have you.

A masterpiece. July 23, 2007

Underrated WWII Drama

The Hill, undeservingly, has been a much underrated Sean Connery movie. It was filmed in 1965, in black and white, and without any of the typical Hollywood special effects. It relied solely on the intense acting and brutal plot. British actor Harry Andrews, as Regimental Sgt. Maj. Bert Wilson was especially memorable. Non Brits may have a hard time understanding the heavy accent if they do not turn on the subtitles which were not available in the VHS version. I have been searching for ages for a DVD version of this movie and am delighted that it will be available this coming June. A must have for all Sean Connery fans. March 26, 2007

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