Take the High Ground! (1953)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Richard Brooks

Writers:

Millard Kaufman (story)
Millard Kaufman (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 October 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | War | Drama

Plot:

Sgt. Thorne Ryan, who once fought bravely in Korea, now serves as an instructor to privates in a southern state of the USA...

Plot Keywords:

Sergeant | Korean War | Drill Instructor

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Richard Widmark	...	Sgt. Thorne Ryan
Karl Malden	...	Sgt. Laverne Holt
Elaine Stewart	...	Julie Mollison
Carleton Carpenter	...	Merton 'Tex' Tolliver
Russ Tamblyn	...	Paul Jamison
Jerome Courtland	...	Elvin C. Carey
Steve Forrest	...	Lobo Naglaski
Robert Arthur	...	Donald Quentin Dover IV
Chris Warfield	...	Soldier
William Hairston	...	Daniel Hazard
Maurice Jara	...	Franklin D. No Bear
Bert Freed	...	Sgt. Vince Opperman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Iris Adrian	...	Mrs. Butterfly (scenes deleted)

Also Known As:

The Making of a Marine (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Anscocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #16412) | West Germany:12 (f) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

El Paso, Texas, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the first scene, of a firefight in Korea, one soldier is seen drinking from a canteen in view of the enemy defenders on a hill. Next, a rifle barrel is seen pointing downhill toward the oncoming American soldiers. And then the drinking soldier is seen again as he's shot. The problem is that the front end of the rifle is clearly an American Garand M-1, not an enemy rifle.

Quotes:

Sgt. Thorne Ryan: This is your rifle, and not your gun; it's made for shooting, and not for fun!

Soundtrack:

Take The High Ground!

Fort Bliss? Fort Jackson is where it was then and where it's now.

A recruit movie based around Fort Bliss? Why Fort Bliss? Even during the Korean War it makes no sense. Richard Widmark might as well been instructing Boy Scouts. Geez, why not change the locale to a Boy Scout Jamboreee to be realistic. Yes, Fort Bliss did trained inductees during the time but never reached its number nor status ever reached that of Fort Jackson, South Carolina - the top proving ground for an Army recruit undergoing Basic. Today, Fort Bliss' role has totally changed into more of an aircraft defense development & training center.

Fort Jackson still produces Army troops ready for anything whether it be Advanced Infantry Training or another MOS. A Fort Jackson soldier will have the discipline to continue on with his/her goals in the United States Army. God Bless them and their endeavors no matter where they lead.