The Hunters
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Movie Reviews of The Hunters
Movie Review: Romance Lacks, Flight Scenes Worthwhile
Summary: 4 Stars
Major Cleve Saville (Robert Mitchum) seems to have been made for war. Just as some men are good at sales or good at sports, he is good at killing. He has been hardened over the years over WWII and is a good commander. During the Korean War, he is assigned two young men to fly as his wingmen: Lt. Ed Pell (Robert Wagner) and Lt. Carl Abbott (Lee Philips). Pell is talkative and friendly while Abbott is a tremendously headstrong drunk. Unfortunately, Saville falls in love with Abbott's wife Kristina (May Britt). The two are suddenly conflicted and find it difficult to work together. Then tragedy strikes and the war becomes all the more personal.
Mitchum is a good man for the job in his masculine and somewhat mysterious role. Britt's acting is tremendously wooden; she seems more concerned with getting the words out than emoting. Thanks to Mitchum's professionalism, he is able to fudge the love scenes well enough, but this isn't a romance you're likely to remember. Wagner makes a good impression in a somewhat small role and Philips has several good scenes.
Director Dick Powell had a love for flying and it absolutely comes through in this film. If you're not interested in airplanes, you might get a little bored, but he keeps the visuals interesting enough to keep even the average citizen's interest.
There are some very violent scenes in this film, one in particular. It foreshadows the brutal war films that would be made decades later and makes a powerful statement about the Korean military.
Movie Review: Definitely an Ace
Summary: 4 Stars
"The Hunters" (1958) and "The Enemy Below" (1957) are 2 war movies produced by Dick Powell for 20th Century Fox filmed in Cinemascope both with Robert Mitchum in the leading role. Major Cleve Saville (Robert Mitchum), the squadron commander, is a famous ace and veteran fighter pilot of World War II. He is a career man whose world was his squadron and the men who flew with him. Lt. Pell (Robert Wagner), in the early part of the movie, is a reckless but eventually courageous young jet ace to whom Saville owe his life. Lt. Abbott (Lee Phillips) is the confused husband of Kris (May Britt) whom Saville falls in love with although their acknowledged desires are never to be fulfilled.
The picture is based on the novel "The Hunters" by James Salter who is himself a jet ace in the Korean conflict. In the late 50's long before the development of CGI technology, real fighter jets F-86 Sabrejet and F-84 Thunderjets (painted gray with a red star to simulate MIG-15) were flown in the aerial battle sequence which made it the more realistic than Pearl Harbor (2001).
I have kept like a treasure a copy of "The Hunters" VHS tape and it is pretty worn out by now from years of repeated viewings. Thank you Fox for putting it on DVD...46 years after its theatrical release.
Movie Review: Fine Film for Its Era
Summary: 4 Stars
While not holding up against the special effects of today, I thought this movie was quite good in its portrayal of Korean War air combat. In almost all the scenes, those are real jets doing real maneuvers, which is particularly impressive when they're close to the ground.
The romance between Mitchum and Mary Britt is less than compelling. Director Dick Powell would have been better served by a better actress. Sometimes when watching old movies, particularly from the 50s and 60s, one is simply astonished by the casting choices.
Robert Wagner's character, I have to admit, is so over the top that it actually works. His best line, delivered in a rapid, manic speed: "I'm a killer, man, I cut 'em up, you know."
In all, this is a movie worth watching, and due to the neat early jet footage, probably worth owning.
Movie Review: A welcome addition to the "War Library"
Summary: 4 Stars
This is definitely a "better-than-average" war film, and is better than most of the Korean War oriented films. Robert Mitchum and Robert Wagner were perfectly cast for their roles in this fast-moving and exciting film. As is the case with other reviewers, I did not place much stock or value in the "romantic sub-plot," nor did I intend to. The relationship among Mitchum, his wingman, and his wingman's wife was merely a catalyst for exploring how personalities and related behaviors play important roles in combat effectiveness. Also, the maturing of a cocky young pilot (Wagner) was an important, tragic sub-plot.
I waited years to see this film to come out on DVD, and it ranks very well against other Mitchum war films, such as "The Enemy Below," "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison," and others.
Movie Review: Korea, Hollywood style
Summary: 4 Stars
This is one of the rare times where I liked the movie better than the book. The book does more character development but has a surreal ending being told by the pilot AFTER he is dead. The F86's have correct markings, and using F84F's as Mig 15's was a good a choice as you could expect when this movie was made. They were similar in appearance although the F84F came after the Korean war was over. The movie has more action than the book, but alas, also had to have the required "love plot". Mitchum, a.k.a. 'Mister Thunder Road', will always personify cool. Enjoy the movie for what it is, late '50's Hollywood.