Battle Hymn (1957)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Douglas Sirk

Writers:

Vincent B. Evans (writer)
Charles Grayson (writer)

Release Date:

3 March 1957 (West Germany)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

A remorseful bomber pilot-turned-minister rejoins for the Korean War.

Plot Keywords:

Orphanage | Korean War | Korea | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

Won Golden Globe.

Cast

Rock Hudson	...	Col. Dean Hess
Anna Kashfi	...	En Soon Yang
Dan Duryea	...	Sgt. Herman
Don DeFore	...	Capt. Dan Skidmore
Martha Hyer	...	Mary Hess
Jock Mahoney	...	Maj. Moore
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Mess sergeant
James Edwards	...	Lt. Maples
Carl Benton Reid	...	Deacon Edwards
Richard Loo	...	Gen. Kim
Philip Ahn	...	Old Man, Lun-Wa
Bartlett Robinson	...	Gen. Timberidge
Simon Scott	...	Lt. Hollis
Teru Shimada	...	Korean official
Carleton Young	...	Maj. Harrison

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Nogales Airport - 11 Access Way, Nogales, Arizona, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

The gold flying helmet with the United Nations emblem that Rock Hudson wears in the movie was Dean Hess's actual helmet. It was a Navy-issue helmet that Hess scrounged from a Navy pilot who crash-landed at their airfield in Korea (since the Navy pilot was going to be issued a new helmet as a result of the crash-landing). The helmet is now on display at the US Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Rock Hudson's Home Movies (1992)

Heroic Korean War Story

With all the controversy surrounding End of the Spear where openly gay actor Chad Allen plays a Christian missionary, I was reminded of Battle Hymn where Rock Hudson plays a minister who goes to war. If Rock Hudson were alive today and open about his sexuality, the same kind of controversy would be surrounding this film.

Battle Hymn is based on a book by the Reverend Dean Hess who after service in World War II as an Army Air Corps flier enters the ministry. It seems as though he accidentally bombed an orphanage in Germany, killing several children.

In an effort to redeem himself he enters the ministry, but he feels himself going through the motions of his faith at the church he's assigned to in Ohio. When the Korean War starts, the newly formed Air Force needed not only pilots for combat, but pilots to train the newly forming South Korean Air Force. Hudson takes leave of his church assignment and goes to Korea.

Once there and quite by accident he gets involved with the littlest victims of war, the orphan kids of Korea who know no politics, only that their world is being destroyed. And when the North Koreans start to push the South Koreans and their allies into the Pusan perimeter Hudson organizes a march and then an airlift of over 400 children south to an orphanage.

Rock Hudson had really come into his own as an actor having received an Oscar Nomination for Best Actor for Giant. He brings to Dean Hess an infectious sincerity. As Hess both as minister and Colonel USAF he feels the responsibility of command and faith more clearly than he could ever have been just pastoring a church. In his scenes with Anna Kashfi and Philip Ahn on the march and airlift with the Korean orphan kids, he's just great. And his acting high point comes when he comforts the dying Don DeFore who was his friend in both wars. Hudson really reaches some sublime levels there.

Dan Duryea normally playing some of the nastiest villains ever on the screen shows the good side in his role as the tough Air Force sergeant who helps Hudson in his mission. And James Edwards who for some better breaks could have been the first black actor in leading roles instead of Sidney Poitier, is just great as the pilot who himself machine guns some children while on a mission. Hudson's scene in revealing himself to Edwards and urging to seek divine forgiveness is also touching and compelling.

Were we ever a silly people at times back in the day. If Rock Hudson had been open about his sexuality in 1956 he would have had no movie career. If Battle Hymn were made today it would probably be the subject of as much controversy as End of the Spear. As if love and compassion and care for orphans can only be the products of the straight people in this world.

One other note. Originally offered the role was Robert Mitchum who was turned down by the real Dean Hess because of his marijuana bust in 1948 as not having the proper image to play a minister. How ironic indeed.

Battle Hymn is a fine film, probably belongs on Rock Hudson's top ten list. Catch it if it is ever shown on TCM or AMC.